It has been nearly seven years since The Throne Within, an album defined by its spiritual and metaphysical themes. With Against, the band takes a more grounded approach, focusing on the experience of being pushed beyond reasonable limits and refusing to comply. The album captures that moment of resistance “that fire of defiance, which ultimately defines its title and message”, as Ram states it.

The songwriting process for Against stretched over a long period, with ideas emerging sporadically and some material reaching back many years. One track in particular, “Leaving,” even contains elements dating as far back as 2006. Despite this long gestation, the creative process itself felt natural and unforced. Drawing on years of experience, the band leaned into a more instinctive approach while deliberately aiming for shorter, more direct songs. In their own words, the guiding principle became to “cut the bullshit,” a mindset that shaped both the structure and intensity of the material.