The album was leaked in full on or around August 29, 2007. The album was also released on
LP, and in a special edition
digipak featuring a bonus track and an extended booklet. The album debuted at No. 42 in the
Irish Singles Chart on September 27, 2007. The album debuted at No. 26 on the U.S.
Billboard 200 chart, selling about 29,000 copies in its first week. On the
UK Album Charts, the album debuted at No. 46 on September 30, 2007.
Over the Under was No. 4 in
Revolver's list of the 20 best albums of 2007 and No. 2 in
Metal Hammers year-end list. It was ranked No. 37 on
Rolling Stones list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007. Reviews for the album were mixed. Matthew Cooper at Last Rites praised the production, musicianship, and backing vocals. He commended "Nothing in Return (Walk Away)" to be a "slow, massive nine-minute closer is a supremely commanding emotional climax built on a dominant back-and-forth drum pattern, astral noodling, and impassioned vocals, in an undeniable display of the band members' combined talents." Don Kaye at
Blabbermouth rated it 6.5/10 stars, and opined "the group is just not playing or writing at the top of its game here", as well as "many of the songs on
III are drawn-out and unmemorable, consisting mainly of one or two riffs repeated over and over while
Anselmo's vocals cascade and echo on top. He heaped additional criticism on Anselmo's vocals as well, noticing a weakness he did not see while Anselmo was in his prime. However, he noted there were flashes of the "old Down", referencing guitar work on "In the Thrall of It All", while saving his biggest praise for "Nothing in Return" as "the mournful, massive feel of some of the band's best early numbers and ends the album on a majestic note." Vince Neilstein of
MetalSucks rated it 3.5 out of 5 horns, echoing the mixed opinion, writing it "...isn't a spectacular album that is going to change the face of metal and save the day. But what it is is an awesome album to groove and smoke a bowl to while being reminded that metal doesn't always have to be all about tough guy posturing..." == Track listing ==