Animals as Leaders

Formed in Washington D.C. in 2007 around guitarist Tosin Abasi, Animals as Leaders operates in an instrumental vein that blends progressive metal, djent and jazz fusion. Initially conceived as a studio project, Animals as Leaders became a trio when Javier Reyes joined Abasi on guitar, and with the arrival of drummer Matt Garstka in the early 2010s the group gained a stable lineup oriented toward international touring. The self-titled debut album (2009) established a language of irregular meters, layered melodies and a highly structured approach to the guitar. Weightless (2011) broadened this direction toward airier structures, while The Joy of Motion (2014) emphasized the crossover between technical metal, jazz-derived harmonies and more fusion-oriented passages. With The Madness of Many (2016) Animals as Leaders explored denser, repetitive, almost chamber-like forms, before returning in 2022 with Parrhesia, which condenses these various strands. On record and on stage the band develops a collective playing style centered on rhythmic interaction, without vocals, and has secured a place within progressive metal and contemporary instrumental music circuits in Europe and North America.