Animals As Leaders is an odd choice for a band name; however there is nothing unusual about the technical instrumental music performed on this self titled project from the Washington DC based hotshot guitarist Tosin Abasi.
Tosin Abasi really displays his creative flair on this CD, this guy really is one exceptional guitar player that has put together an impressive collection of quality music. Animals As Leaders is so much more than simply a bunch of well played guitar shredding solos with the usual backing instruments.
Experimental/electronica progressive metal is the chosen genre featured on this release, and there is a wealth of alluring and diverse arrangements on Animals As Leaders. If you are not a metal fan you would be doing ones ears an injustice to ignore this album as it's not all an adventure into that heavier territory, as there are many breathers so to speak or lighter moments, and there's a jazz feel present at times.
The drums are programmed, but not with just simple grooves here it gets more complex, as Devin Townsend showed was possible with Ziltoid The Omniscient, for such a recording as this one they do sound very fitting, and the keyboard inclusions and effects also complement Tosin's wonderful guitar work.
Animals As Leaders is a fresh sounding CD that contains some of the best instrumental music I have had the pleasure of experiencing in quite a while, and Tosin Abasi is a name to certainly look out for.
Track list:
1. Tempting Time
2. Soraya
3. Thoroughly At Home
4. On Impulse
5. Tessitura
6. Behaving Badly
7. The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
8. CAFO
9. Inamorata
10. Point To Point
11. Modern Meat
12. Song of Solomon
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