Author: Primož Novak
Artist: Animals as Leaders
Label: Sumerian Records
Release: year_month
Runtime: 54:23
Rating: 4.5/5
A few years back, Animals As Leaders signaled with their self-titled debut (2009) that a new scene was waking up, one that puts the technical side front and center and flirts with jazz. Sure, we could talk about the djent scene here again, but AAL started standing out with their unique style right from the beginning of their career. You could put Scale The Summit and Cloudkicker alongside them, though Cloudkicker is working with a pretty different concept of music.
The central figure of AAL is the incredibly gifted guitarist Tosin Abasi, who these days turns up in every guitar magazine imaginable. Amid the flood of eight-string bands, Abasi has proven that the eight-string guitar isn’t just there to stand out with a low tuning, which undoubtedly has its power, but that he can do a whole lot more with it. He showed off his versatility even further in the jazzy project T.R.A.M. Guitarist Javier Reyes plays a very important role too, with an excellent sense of rhythm, laying down great foundations for Abasi’s soloing.
AAL’s third album is full of surprises, among other things introducing the talented drummer Matt Garstka, who has a great sense of rhythm and can go toe to toe with plenty of drumming giants. Of course, with AAL the guitars are the heart of it all, but without a good, original drummer AAL could never stand out the way they do.
The Joy of Motion is the band’s most varied release yet. The dynamics of the album are beyond description, and AAL wander through many genres, though the marriage of metal and jazz remains the strongest. And just to show off his versatility, Abasi also reaches for the odd blues element, and on the track Para Mexer he shows his chops on acoustic guitar too. Many of the tracks also feature unobtrusive electronics, handled by the band’s former drummer, Navene Koperweis. The electronics fit perfectly with the syncopated riffs and the rhythmic foundation, while breaking up any monotony that instrumental bands can fall into. The band also shows a real feel for aggression, which at times is straight-up Meshuggah territory, and for calm, which comes through in the undistorted passages, deepening the dichotomy of the whole record. This time Abasi doesn’t overdo the soloing, but his style is still unique and virtuosic, and it undoubtedly stands out in the flood of schooled guitarists populating the metal scene. After hearing all this, it has to be said that vocals in AAL would be completely superfluous and at odds with the concept of the music.
Without good production the album wouldn’t have the same charm. For the writing and recording, the band worked with Misha Mansoor and Adam Getgood (who also played bass guitar on some tracks) of Periphery, and Diego Farias of Volumes. The Joy of Motion showcases interestingly structured songs and a more than solid sound, thanks to all the musicians involved.
The Joy of Motion is yet another outstanding release in the career of Animals as Leaders, standing out for its variety, its quirkiness and its unexpected twists. Without a doubt, it’s a record we can comfortably rank among the best releases of 2014.
Lineup
Tosin Abasi – rhythm, lead guitar
Javier Reyes – rhythm guitar
Matt Garstka – drums
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Misha Mansoor – co-production, programming
Adam Getgood – production, programming, bass guitar
Diego Farias – pre-production, programming
Navene Koperweis – electronics
Production
Misha Mansoor, Adam Getgood, Diego Farias
Tracklist
1. Ka$cade
2. Lippincott
3. Air Chrysalis
4. Another Year
5. Physical Education
6. Tooth And Claw
7. Crescent
8. The Future That Awaited Me
9. Para Mexer
10. The Woven Web
11. Mind = Spun
12. Nephele
