Prog metal is having its moment in the Plank household the past few weeks, with excellent albums like Colors by Between The Buried and Me and Remember That You Will Die by Polyphia being a handful of favorites. Today we take a trip to the harder side of instrumental metal with the raucous Parrhesia by Animals As Leaders.
There’s a ton to love about Animals As Leaders, specifically how they manage to tell a story throughout their songs without the benefit of vocals. It all starts with de-facto leader Tosin Abasi, whose virtuosic guitar playing transitions from ethereal and beautiful into a brutally dense deluge of overdriven fuzz at a moments notice, with guitarist/bassist Javier Reyes playing a solid supporting role. But the true standout for me throughout this album is the performance of drummer Matt Garstka, who absolutely rips behind the set during the entire 37 minute run-time. His complex rhythm patterns, massive fills, and ear for the off-beat groove is just an absolute treat to listen to.
Standout Songs: “Red Miso”, “The Problem of Other Minds”, “Monomyth”
