Animals as Leaders - Lippincott

     The Joy of Motion, the latest disc from the instrumental guitar proggers in Animals as Leaders, is chock full of good grooves and riffs, and since the animals themselves recently saw fit to demonstrate some of said riff and grooves for a podcast from the Guitar Center in Holywood, I think it's the perfect time to put one of their tunes before you once again.

     "Lippincott" has a very Meshuggah feel to me, with lots jagged edges and angular riffs. But Animals as Leaders tend to rise above their djenty peers by throwing their own twists and turns into the standard Meshuggah formula, twists like some sweet two-handed tapping and even a little finger picking. We all know Tosin and Javier are incredible guitarists, but seeing some of these techniques, especially the finger picking, used in new and interesting ways in a genre like metal is what sets Animals as Leaders apart.

     Unless of course you think I'm out to lunch. Do you find Animals as Leaders too mainstream? If I really want to hear some new and interesting uses of this technique or that technique, should I be listening to band X, Y or Z? Leave it in a comment!

Saturday: Numbers - Frames

     In addition to The Joy of Motion, I've also been listening to a fair amount of Numbers' new disc Three over the past couple of days, and while Numbers aren't reinventing their wheel with their first LP, they are working on the best damn Numbers-shaped wheel they can muster.

     As an example, take "Frames": its combination of energetic core riffing and some bloopy, glitchy electronic elements sums up Numbers' sound, and Kyle's versatile vocal performance is likewise par for the course. The bad news with the new record, if you can call it that, is that Numbers haven't strayed too far from the sound that made their self-titled EP stick out, preferring to refine and hone their current direction. The good news, of course, is that Numbers haven't strayed too far from the sound that made their self-titled EP stick out, preferring to refine and hone their current direction.

     I know I've sung the praises of this band before, but that's only because they're so good at what they do. If rock solid metalcore appeals to you, and the idea of techno added to that metalcore sounds even better, then you need to know about Numbers. Full stop.

Animals as Leaders - The Woven Web

     I've spent a fair amount of time over the past couple of days with the new Animals as Leaders album The Joy of Motion, and so far I have learned at least two things. First, this album is badass. Animals as Leaders have, with the help of co-writer Misha Mansoor of Periphery fame, crafted another tasty collection of jazzy, proggy, instrumental grooves.

     Second, my current favourite of those grooves is "The Woven Web", a late-album number that opens up with some labyrinthine riffing before transitioning into a recurring, syncopated aggro-funk part that's just plain fat. I highly recommend you indulge of said funky goodness with all possible speed. It's for your own good.

Tuesday: Animals as Leaders - Tooth and Claw

     Hey instrumental progheads! Have you heard about the new Animals as Leaders album The Joy of Motion? Oh. You have. Well have you heard the first song to be released from the new record?

     That's right, this is no mere teaser, there's a full new Animals as Leaders song online today, and it's pretty rad. It's a bit of a departure from some of their material -- a bit more riff-oriented and straight-ahead heavy, if you follow me --but it's nonetheless noodly and shreddy and all the other good things we've come to expect of Animals as Leaders. And then there's Matt Garstka'a muscular drumming... mmmm...

     If "Tooth and Claw" is any indication, The Joy of Motion is going to be a doozy. Check it out and see how it compares to the rest of the band's catalogue in your eyes.