Animals as Leaders: Animals as Leaders (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Metal Album of 2009
#1 of 10


Year: 2009
Genre: Progressive Polymetric Metal
Label: Prosthetic Records
TRT: 51:50

This is the latest offering from Tosin Abasi (Reflux), and it's the best thing he's ever done. Initially Abasi rejected the idea of releasing a solo instrumental album, feeling it would be "egotistical and unnecessary".

I for one am thrilled that he decided to put aside his misgivings, and essentially prove himself wrong.

Here we have an incredible collection of groovy tracks that are actual songs, not just an excuse for some virtuoso to demonstrate their guitar wankery to the world. This album is actually a lot of fun to listen to, because it's a good album, not simply because it's technically proficient.

Having said that, Abasi is surely at the top of his game with this release, and there are many "WTF" moments that leave me reeling every time.

Abasi enlisted Misha Mansoor (also known as Bulb) of Periphery renown to help with the production, and it's rumored he actually helped with a bit of the writing and playing at times.

01 Tempting Time
02 Soroya
03 Thoroughly at Home
04 On Impulse
05 Tessitura
06 Behaving Badly
07 The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
08 CAFO
09 Inamorata
10 Point to Point
11 Modern Meat
12 Song of Solomon

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