[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nimals As Leaders is an all instrumental progressive metal outfit hailing from Washington, D.C., featuring guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes, and drummer Matt Garstka. Since forming in 2007 the band has released two LPs, with their newest effort, ‘The Joy of Motion’, set to be released on March 25th via Sumerian Records.
So what is there to be said of the latest endeavor from one of progressive metal’s most virtuous stable of musicians? Well, keep that progressive part in mind, but there is a hell of a lot going on here than just metal. I’m sure that if you’re reading this you’ve probably heard the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well I think that these guy turned the script on it’s head, because ‘The Joy of Motion’ is nothing short of an imaginative and delightful example of the brilliant music you get when a new dog teaches itself old tricks.
The album opens up with the heavily jam-impulsive fervor that is Kascade. Showing an appreciation for their old habits, this track sounds the most like the AAL that fans have come to know and love. Unapologetic riffs and blistering drum beats glide in and out at break neck speed while delicately making room for groove oriented chords and ambient effects. Think of Kascade as the home base for what Animals did so well with their early work; delving head first into the experimental side of this well beloved niche known as progressive metal.
Next up is Lippincott. Now I know exactly what you’re thinking. What the hell is Lippincott? Ok, I can explain this. Lippincott is that classic scene from all the old movies about aliens where the Joe Blow human is abducted, teleported onto their ship, and has all sorts of crazy experiments done to them. Or at least, I would swear on my life that’s what it sounded like to me. The deliberate yet perplexing timings. The deep, droning strings. The enigmatic, interstellar effects. You can call me crazy ’til your blue in the face, but I heard a lot of great music and then I saw this really bright light…
By far one of my favorite moments on this album is the daring duo of Another Year and Physical Education. The former starts with a jazz guitar riff that promptly leads into some snazzy effects that remind you of the heart warming 8-bit era of gaming music, bouncing back and forth between the two to form an almost dance fusion-esque vibe until it reaches an epic conclusion: an outright cavalcade of dazzling keys, tones, and the aforementioned riffs and effects. The end result sounds like the musical intro to an after school special from Mars. Physical Education then takes all these ideas, as obscure and awesome as they are, and throws them into the prog metal blender. And if you have any other words for these tracks I’d absolutely love to here them, because I’m completely spent.
Animals As Leaders, Photo/Sumerian Records
At this point it’s becoming clear that Animals have reached a point in their musical identity where they feel not only comfortable enough to play scientist with their patented approach to guitar oriented collaborations, but also a genuine need to do so. And with that we are made blissfully aware of the magic that is this band. Instead of following a set in stone way of blowing minds with their brand of eclectic riffage, Animals As Leaders completely demolishes any and all preconceived notions that they hold loyalty to genres or the traditional way of doing things. All the while demonstrating an undeniably admirable respect for music of all kinds.
I mean, for heaven’s sake, wait until you hear Para Mexer. IT’S PROGRESSIVE SALSA MUSIC. That’s right. AAL invented a thing you never would have even imagined. Prepare to love it. And then manage to lift your jaw off the ground and attempt to fathom the out of left field pitch that is Mind-Spun. To prepare for this, I recommend that you play both the band’s monolithic masterpiece ‘Wave of Babies’ and any heavy song by Nine Inch Nails at the same time. Hell, just whip out that handy dandy ‘Garage Band’ and edit it together. Go ahead, I dare ya.
Ok, don’t do that. You’ll be disappointed. Just wait for the album. But you get the idea.
To say that this album delivered exactly what I was expecting would be as honest as claiming that the child inside of Scarlett Johansson is mine (a man can dream), but to be completely honest I couldn’t be happier about that (the album thing. Scarlett never returned any of my calls).
With ‘The Joy of Motion’, Animals As Leaders delivers their most ambitious and unique work to date, and does so in a manner that only they are truly capable of. But more importantly, this record boasts a remarkable talent to create music that is as detailed and well educated in production as it is mesmerizing and unusually fun to drink in. Bravo guys. I think it’s your best yet.
Oh, and where on earth (or this universe) will you go with the next album?
