Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders

"Animals As Leaders" is the solo project of shredtastic prog guitarist Tosin Abasi. This self titled album (100% instumental btw) is basically jazz influenced metal, with some electronics thrown in for good measure. The drums, notably, are all programmed.

Sure, Tosin's not the first one to combine metal with jazz sensibilities, but he does it very well. On top of that his guitar skillz are pretty insane, and the songs he writes don't sacrifice their melodic ideas for sheer technicality (most of the time). Some moments can get pretty heavy but the album sometimes goes through several songs in a row without doing so. In the end, what makes this album stand out is that it's just as beautiful as it is impressive: one thing that even the most skilled technical bands sometimes fail to achieve.

Animals As Leaders

Downfall of Gaia - Epos

Been a while (too long) since I posted anything so here goes. Di g this. Skramzy crust-punk that will eat your soul.

acquire

The Polar Bear Club

Polar Bear Club is a hardcore punk band I found a couple years back. When I first heard them I didn't really think a whole lot for there sound, it all kinda sounded the same at first. But I was wrong. This band has aged really well; their music is still fresh to me. The song writing is what really holds the band up. They are never on repeat, there's always something building, some new guitar texture, an addition to the chord, a slightly changed bass line, a new vocal line, or a different drum beat. And the whole band meshes really well, everything is audible, and nothing overpowers. I'm posting all three I have, because well, they are all great. The EP's the best starter though.

The Redder, The Better EP

Sometimes Things Just Disappear

Chasing Hamburg

The Holy Shroud - Ghost Repeaters

I good post hardcore/emo/indie album that I found a few weeks ago off the Kray. Their slightly under-produced sound fits nicely with their 3 genre mix. They have a tendacy to sit on a section, slightly changing it up every repetition, right until you realize it's on repeat, and then change it. I like it. The vocalist manages to balance on the fine edge between yelling and screaming rather precisely.

Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost