Against Nature
Ghosting (cd)
Wydane przez Bland Hand RecordsRok wydania 2006Kraj USANapisał Wouter7
"Ghosting", the fourth release by Baltimore, Maryland-based traditional doom metal band Against Nature - featuring former members of Revelation (guitarist/vocalist John Brenner, drummer Steve Branagan and bassist Bert Hall, Jr.) - and will most likely appeal to fans of Black Sabbath, Trouble and early Cathedral. There's little new to be found on this offering, but Against Nature are able to make it sound exciting and fresh. There's a healthy dose of stoner in the guitar work and the spoken, tortured clean vocals by Brenner made me think of a downbeat, limited range Lee Dorrian (Cathedral). The guitar leads sound derived more from classic rock more than their metal peers. The band does little in the way of innovating the known compositional doom structures but the tracks surprisingly never suffer from that aspect. The riffs by Brenner flow tirelessly and while they might not be the most complex to date they drive the tracks forward without outstaying their welcome. Branagan's drumming is quite minimal but this is compensated by the finesse and class that his work behind the kit permeates. Hall provides a steady backbone and foundation for Brenner's more upfront mixed riffs. Production-wise this release is a bit flat as the guitars aren't high enough in the overall mix and don't nearly hold enough punch. Bass and drums are clearly audible but sit a bit lifeless and static in the whole. Recommended listening for fans of classic doom metal such as Candlemass, Cathedral and the likes.
www.againstnature.us
