ANIMALS AS LEADERS — Animals as Leaders (review)

ANIMALS AS LEADERS — Animals as Leaders album cover Album · 2009 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
topofsm
There are a lot of ostentatious solo albums out there. Sometimes there is too much shred for the listener to handle. Other times the songs are poorly written or repetitive. This album is neither. Strangely enough, Tosin Abasi did not want to do this album under this name because he felt it was too self-indulgent. Contrary to his expectations he created one of the most unique and groundbreaking albums in the past decade, under the name "Animals as Leaders"

There is not a very good way to describe the album entirely. Because of the production all the tracks are spacey, but that is not to say they sound anything like Pink Floyd since there are quick sweeps and shreds all over the place. It is a very light metal album, but there are quite a few rapid dissonant riffs. Not only are there just metal riffs, but electronic drum machines and synths are present throughout the album, as well as clean or acoustic guitars playing light jazz chords. Overall, this album owns a sound that hasn't been released before.

Most of the songs are highlights. The opener "Tempting Time" opens with spastic insanity and shredding madness and rapidly shifts into several sections, not letting up. "On Impulse" opens with mystical clean playing and builds electronic percussion until it closes with a climactic emotional prog guitar solo. "Behaving Badly" is dark and atmospheric that feature video game reminiscent guitar sound that speeds through a dark atmosphere. The short "Point to Point" develops great for a prog metal piece under two minutes, and "Modern Meat" is a low key acoustic jazz piece that like the previous track is well placed and written. The closer "Song of Solomon" is an energetic joyous piece with soaring guitar and impressive quick tapping in the middle. All the tracks in between are much like these: fast, melodic, energetic, and innovative.

There really aren't any downsides to this album. Abasi's techniques such as his tapping and shred styles are elements that haven't been found in music before. His work with Misha Mansoor in producing the album shows unique results: the atmosphere is phenomenal and unlike most other sounds. Not only that, but the guitar tone is perfect and complements the unique melodies and quirky noises the pair wanted to present.

Overall, this is simply a solid masterful album. Animals as Leaders, Tosin Abasi's solo project has produced a self titled album that can be called progressive in the creative sense, something very few bands can claim in the past decade. Although it is clearly a prog metal album, it has a ton of new elements that separate it far from Pain of Salvation and Dream Theater clones. Not only that but the pieces are well composed, and the lack of vocals does not hurt it in the least. This album belongs in every prog and metal lover's collection, period.
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