A Third Eye opening experience.
As the main part of a triple-bill with Plini and Intervals, the instrumental progressive metal band Animals As Leaders took over Webster Halls grand ballroom on December 1st. Ive been an a fan of Animals As Leaders since right after they released their debut in 2009, and considering their new album, The Madness Of Many, is not only one of their best records but also their most complex and technical; I was curious as to how such tight performances would translate live on stage.
Now unfortunately (thanks to underestimating traffic and overestimating the I.Q. of people crossing NYC streets during rush hour) I missed most of Plinis set. Plini is a relatively new guitarist from Australia whose sound is unique from other Djent musicians due to his custom fretless guitar and extra jazzy technique. I was already impressed. After a short break complete with 40s Christmas tunes playing on the PA, Intervals (who were already acting as Plinis back-up band) took over and chugged and arpeggiated through their set with Plini taking on duel guitar duties. The crowd was already reciprocating the music with maximum energy with the front left corner of the room turning into a black hole of bodies being thrown around at all directions (an energy that was enough for Intervals band leader Aaron Marshall to be taken aback and comment on how much he loves playing in New York). It was then Animals As Leaders turn.
Ive tried to describe Animals As Leaders music to friends whove never heard a single note of them before. The best description I could come up with is Optimus Prime vomiting a calculus equation while Neil Degrasse Tyson trips on DMT and plays jazz guitar
and I mean that with the highest praise possible. It would seem that the band would also agree with this description as they jumped right into their set with the tongue-and-cheekily titled Arithmophobia (the opener from their new album) to begin their down-tuned assault through every polyrhythm possible: 4/4, 5/4, 7/8, 16/9, 256/320², π/tan + 3.67^-23.
I have to comment that whoever was in charge of the sound engineering was ON. POINT. All the instruments came through the speakers with a super clean, open sound with plenty of separation and zero audible clipping. The lighting design too was a perfect balance of flashy strobe bars against a sporadically glow-lit in white Lateralus-like head used as backdrop art. The trio continued with one of my personal favorites Tempting Time from their self-titled debut (Fun Fact: This song was my ringtone when I still had a RAZR knockoff). Track after track the syncopation between drummer Matt Garstka and bassist Javier Reyes was incredibly tight. During The Brain Dance, guitarist Tosin Abasi swapped his signature 8-string for an acoustic guitar which climaxed in technical interplay between Tosins temporarily calming arpeggios and Javiers use of pedals to turn his bass into a low-growling riff machine. Though there were small moments of pre-programmed electronics; such a full-bodied, enveloping sound coming from only three people is nothing less than astonishing.
Are Animals As Leaders actually cyborgs? No
at least I dont think so. However, upon leaving the venue at shows end I overheard an audience member say Tosin doesnt just play an instrument, he makes music come alive. That was one of the cheesiest, most cringeworthy sentences Ive ever heard; but I cant say that guy was entirely wrong.