As 2008 plows forward, John Brenner of AGAINST NATURE shows no signs of slowing, laying down both a full-length album and a couple of EPs before the year is even half-over. Of course, anyone familiar with the band will attest that John's Zappa-like work ethic is exceeded only by his originality in creating superb, engaging heady metal.

"Descend" delivers the moods and sounds we've come to expect from both REVELATION and AGAINST NATURE: majestic changes, shimmery guitars, and haunting lyrics. But this time, some moody keyboards have been added to the mix as well. "Rue" sounds like the guitar riffs are doubled with a bizarre synth setting, like an old bass pedalboard. The track shifts from a cold, lonely dirge to a midpaced proggy jam before capsizing back into the quicksand at it's finale. "After All" is an instrumental guitar piece along the lines of Sabs "Orchid", and a good example of the band's knack for creating despair-drenched, tragic music without needing avalanches of distortion or monstrous screaming. Overall, it's one of John's mellower offerings, but fantastic nonetheless, and highly recommended for fans of the proggier SABBATH material or the mellow side of COLOUR HAZE.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.againstnature.us

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