Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders
Rating
RIYL
CloudkickerChimp Spanner
Reflux
Release Date
04/28/2009
Label
Prosthetic RecordsTracklist
1. Tempting Time2. Soraya
3. Thoroughly At Home
4. On Impulse
5. Tessitura
6. Behaving Badly
7. The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
8. CAFO
9. Inamorata
10. Point to Point
11. Modern Meat
12. Song Of Solomon
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It is hard to argue the impact technical metalcore outfit Reflux had on their respective genre. Despite only releasing one album, The Illusion of Democracy in 2004, it is held in high regard as a modern metalcore classic. The most impressive part of Reflux was guitarist Tosin Abasi’s knack for cohesive songwriting and technical ability – a combination that is hard to come by in a current scene that is obsessed with out of place breakdowns and sweeps.
Needless to say, Reflux’s break-up was a difficult pill to swallow for a large portion of the metal scene, and until now, all of the band’s members have remained quiet. Animals As Leaders is the ambitious new project of Mr. Abasi and Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor (Mansoor helps out on record, but isn’t a part of the live band). The goal was simultaneously complex and simple – progressive instrumental metal that incorporates elements of electronic and ambient music. A major task, but a task that Mr. Abasi makes look like another notch on his musical belt.
This musical force he captures on the album is immediately realized with the intro of “Tempting Time” – a number that manages to capture the metal, electronic, and ambient influences I mentioned, while still being one of the more straightforward – and ultimately, weaker - tracks on the album. It is not until the time signature-avoiding “Soraya” that Tosin’s ability to outplay and outwrite everyone really comes into play. Elegant guitar leads, bass lines that are bound to drop your jaw, and rocking guitar riffs (that take a backseat to the impeccable lead-work) all mesh together seamlessly. The album really starts to take off with the brilliantly composed “Behaving Badly”, another track that shows off the desire for ambience and eletronic sections on top of having a beautiful and very complex main melodic line.
Despite the six tracks of bliss that have been encountered, the best tracks on the album haven’t even been touched. “The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing” is flawless and has an ending that is breathtaking, while “CAFO” is the album’s best track as it showcases Tosin’s playing ability to perfection. The album finishes out with two quiet numbers “Point to Point” and “Modern Meat”, the latter simply being an acoustic number that leads into the closer “Song of Solomon”.
This self-titled effort from Tosin Abasi’s Animals As Leaders is without a doubt one of the best albums of 2009 so far and is bound to knock any fan of progressive rock and metal off their feet.
--Logan Broger
Comments
Ann Arbor, MI
great cd, great review!!!!!!
DETH ROK!!!!
Minnesota
If these guys sound anything even remotely as good as Reflux, we have some top 10 material on our hands.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Edmonton, AB
I miss Vinnie Vinh, dude was incredible, but this stuff is pretty solid anyway
Los Angeles
Really happy with this and I didn't think I would like it at all. Pleasant surprise.
Infinitely Inwards
Fucking, mind-blowing instrumental album
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
London, UK
Traditionally, instrumental albums just don't do it for me. But this, & From Monument To Masses, are both going to be in my best of year list.
Still miss Reflux though.
Currently listening to:
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster - Exegesis
Suspyre - Suspyre
Hot Water Music - Exister
7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution
ARIZONA
this album is so f-ing sick! brother makes Steve Vai and the likes look like a bunch of jokers
Los Angeles
No.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJs82JFBuD0
Don't fault Steve for not having Meshuggah breakdowns.
Minnesota
Yeah, going to totally agree. Phenomenal album. Listening to it at work today made the day go by so much quicker.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Minneapolis, MN
I'm late to the party on this one. Damn, is this thing great to listen to at work.
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Infinitely Inwards
welcome to the djent train jared....all aboard.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Minneapolis, MN
Yes indeed. I've started listening to Cloudkicker and Pelican as well.
Blog | Twitter | Flickr
Minnesota
Pelican... definitely not djent, but awesome nonetheless. Cloudkicker is ridiculously awesome.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
