Animals as Leaders

Animals as Leaders, the instrumental trio led by guitarist Tosin Abasi, pushes the boundaries of metal and rock by freeing itself from vocals. Joined by Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka (trained at Berklee), the band combines irregular meters, jazz-derived harmonies, djent accents and razor-sharp riffs to make music that speaks as much to technique enthusiasts as to listeners sensitive to texture and atmosphere. On stage, the dialogue between the two eight-string guitars and the drums traces shifting soundscapes, playing on dynamics, precision and a firmly grounded sense of melody.

Across their albums — from the self-titled debut to The Joy of Motion and then Parrhesia, produced by Misha Mansoor — Animals as Leaders have refined a collective language focused on rhythmic interaction and imagination. In Wasquehal, at The Black Lab, on August 4, 2026, the trio promises a set that draws on these different periods, alternating nervous bursts, more airy breaths and polyrhythmic motifs capable of generating a supple tension without ever overwhelming the space. A performance crafted for fans of progressive metal as well as for those who want to discover another way of hearing the guitar.