Band: Animals As Leaders
Album title: Animals As Leaders
Label: Prosthetic Records
Distributor: Prosthetic Records – Suburban - Bertus
Release date: 25/04/2009
Release: CD

I believe we have a new wave of instrumental metal with this one. Washington D.C. based band ”Animals as leaders” just released a self-titled album.

Metal gives us something to constantly look forward to, but these days, most metal has a saturated market of particular sounds. Now that’s not to say that metal doesn’t have stand out performers anymore, but in the mainstream, where the bands are receiving all the critical attention, most of the scene sounds the same, and that depresses me.

Luckily some bands get it and go the other way for more technical stuff like Mastodon, Marc Rizzo’s solo project and this band. Featuring guitarist Tosin Abas (ex Reflux) got attention with his fierce riffs and shred solos that sharpened the edge of the band.
Technically speaking, the talent of this band is very good, but much of the focus is taking place around the skills of Tosin Abas, who wields both a 7 string and an 8 string guitar that makes music that one might confuse for jazz fusion other than metal, which is exactly what makes this album stand out than other releases these days. The downside to it all is no vocals and it’s not a cd you can listen to from start till end in one time, there are lots of notes in there and may be a bit overwhelming.

90/100

Jeroen.