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Animals As Leaders
Animals As Leaders
Animals As Leaders
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Animals As Leaders
Title: Animals As Leaders
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Prosthetic Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 4/28/2009
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
Styles: Progressive, Progressive Metal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 656191004329

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CD Reviews

Simply Stunning
Mr. L. E. J. Fischer | 06/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm going to start off this review by saying this is a profound advancement in technical and progressive metal. This album is a true reflection of an incredible amount of skill that does not overbear a wonderful sense of musical taste. Overall the album is hardly repetitive, constantly shifting in mood and intensity from heavy, rhythmically interesting riffs to subtle melodies and pleasing phrases, giving this album an incredible depth and texture most new musical projects fail to deliver.



The first track, Tempting Time, seems to be a logical place to start. This song is truly staggering in every way imaginable. Beginning the song with careful use of synthesizer and sampling effects lays the foreground for a monster jackhammer riff courtesy of Tosin Abasi. The technical skill in this song is unbelievable, with such sonic intensity created and the surprising thing to note is none of this is repetitive or tiring to listen to. Midway, the song shifts to a cleanly executed 7 finger tapping line, one of my favourites in the whole album; a clear indication of the phenomenal writing and technical ability of Tosin.



The contrast of this album is a feature I find to prominent. The wonderfully delicate and tasteful Soraya almost resembles the musical variation of Scale the Summit. The jazz fusion influence is noticable throughout the album, and adds a unique dimension to each song's development. "Behaving Badly" and "The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing" are examples of this. Coupled with shifts in time signature numerous times hint an obvious Meshuggah influence, but this is definitely not even close to a Meshuggah clone album in any respect. Each song develops in its own unique way, offering a wide range of distinct musical tones that intrigue every part of the listener.



Modern Meat is another example of a wonderfully orchestrated jazz influenced track played on a detuned acoustic, which provides a reefreshing break from the onslaught of intense shift in time signature and aggressive lead playing. The lack of accompaniment gives the carefully chosen guitar phrase to develop beautifully. My only grievance is it only goes on for 2 minutes!



Overall, this album is a masterpiece. The involvement of Periphery's Misha "Bulb" Mansoor on the album of whom I am a huge fan only makes me look forward any and all new material from the project. Do not hesitate for a second. Buy this album and you will never regret it.

"
Hands down the best metal cd I've ever bought, one word "EPI
A. Phillis | pgh pa | 10/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album cover to cover absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it. This is progressive metal at it's best! I've never even heard of these guys before I bought this album. Every track on this album is a work of art, an epic journey. Tosin Abasi is a musical mastermind. All instrumental, no vocals, just raw talent. I simply cannot stop listening to this record! I must see these guys live! Best $9 bux I've ever spent."
Essential Listening
Noah Wolfe | 09/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. L.E.J. Fischer's review is dead-on. I don't wish to rehash what has been said, other than to add - do yourself a favor and pick this up; particularly if you are looking for a wonderfully fresh perspective on highly technical guitar work. Make no doubt, Tosin Abasi is pure monster, with a wholly unique and inspirational approach.



To answer a below reviewer's comment on the drum work; it is programmed by Misha Mansoor, polyrhythmic 7/8 string-weilding maven of DC-based Periphery fame. Though not listed in the liner notes, I am pretty sure he uses DFH (Drumkit From Hell, Tomas Haake sample library).



This is an incredible piece of programming work, to say the least. The last time I was this impressed with percussion programming as a work of art was Meshuggah's Catch-33. The mix here is superior to the infamous Catch-33 recording, however. The kick and rhythm guitar tracks absolutely leap off this disc, just begging to be cranked on a high-end system.



Want. More. Now!"