ANIMALS AS LEADERS

'Animals as Leaders' is the 2009 debut album by the eponymous instrumental prog metal band from Washington D.C., a flaming collection of fast-paced and palm-muted compositions, expanding the scope of what is otherwise referred to as djent, one of the popular contemporary sub-genres in progressive metal. This very intriguing first album by Animals as Leaders is recorded by founding member Tosin Abasi, initially planned as a creative output for the showcase of the guitarist's style of play and unusual picking techniques, an aspect of the music that ought to be infinitely interesting for guitar players in general. The recording also features the prominent contributions of Periphery's Misha Mansoor, eventually introducing the project to the world of prog, producing the entire work as well as helping out with drum programming, engineering, mixing and mastering, or else, the more technical side of recording.

All twelve pieces on here are guitar-centered prog metal compositions, all of which really technical and subtle, full of fascinating micro-movements, complex time signatures and incredibly dynamic shifts, which has also been the reason for comparisons to the style of Periphery themselves, but also Meshuggah and Dream Theater, although Tosin Abasi certainly displays a characteristic style of his own that would be developed brilliantly on later releases. Synth and drum programming has been covered by Misha Mansoor, also responsible for various additional effects embellishing the compositions, while all bass parts are played by Abasi. The programming can provide for a somewhat artificial feel quite seldom, which is a drawback of this record, but all the mesmerizing guitar crescendos and masterful playing naturally steal the show and provide for a very well-composed album that touches upon fusion, metal, classic rock and funk. Some of the passages on here can be really melodic and inviting, like in 'Soraya', 'On Impulse', 'Modern Meat', while others can get muscular and heavy, as seen on great numbers like 'Thoroughly At Home', 'CAFO' and 'Song of Solomon', with Abasi even referencing 80s Crimson in the opening notes of 'Behaving Badly'. Just a very gritty, focused and well-produced work, almost all of the pieces on here have become quite significant for the band and offer a graceful rendition of prog metal, albeit in the instrumental domain.

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