Animals as Leaders "Kascade" At Guitar Center

Animals as Leaders joined us in the artist relations room at the Hollywood Guitar Center to share with us songs and stories. Be sure to check out the full Animals as Leaders episode featuring 3 songs plus an interview with host Nic Harcourt for free at www.guitarcenter.com/podcast. Plus, get Animals as Leaders new album The Joy of Motion available now at bit.ly/1tCwGeY
Recorded with AKG

[@JockoJonson17]

This is jazz for people that like metal.

[@chikakumask4693]

Jocko Jonson yes

[@wengwengtv1440]

Correct.

[@tromboneman4517]

Jocko Jonson, and likewise.

[@lmfz4800]

Basically

[@ivonsmith3095]

Hahaha very funny-true!!! I still cant get into this band...Im trying...?

[@Dancingstillborn]

so a hispanic guy, a black guy and a white guy walk into guitar center...

[@inthekitchenwithbigd2749]

best comment ever

[@hddrummer8838]

hahaha thought of that

[@adahbombdon1512]

Lol brilliant

[@TheBunnygirl20]

lol

[@Zachary_Sweis]

Your joke's a little late, just like my comment.

[@vanchuvega3696]

Everybody talking about Tosin. But all forgot Javier, he is a such a talent guitarrist.

[@ulfingvar1]

They ALL are.

[@vanchuvega3696]

@@ulfingvar1 yes, you're right

[@ulfingvar1]

@@vanchuvega3696 By which I meant they are all great MUSICIANS 😁 Matt G blows me away everytime I see him..

[@M4NA5]

@@ulfingvar1They are AAL

[@clydekaila25]

Anyone following Tosin better be at the top of their game too..that drummer also on some mad off beats and switching time signatures holding his own..I think this is why Plini plays with backing tracks 😅

[@RooEfx]

Love the drum fill from <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="28">0:28</a> to <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="337">5:37</a> 😉

[@nsldsfv1202]

Matt garstka is such an intelligent and self aware musician. He takes AAL to the level they always deserved. This take is special. Look at him keeping the intensity while lowering his usual volume! He knows he is in a small room and not a huge concert hall. He knows it’s going to be mixed (badly) later; so he keeps his little nuances but doesn’t destroy his crashes like he does at the big gigs.

[@theycallmefilip]

It appears that the level of skill is inversely proportional to the length of the guitar strap.

[@ChilisauLP]

That's why the length of a drummers guitar strap is 0 :D

[@peinturebeaucoup882]

+ChiliLP lol nice one

[@PilviLease]

Haha. Then Def Leppard sucks: images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/6400000/Steve-Clark-def-leppard-6466743-269-360.jpg

[@theycallmefilip]

Pilvi Lease Well, you're completely wrong there.

[@PilviLease]

Filip Suciu I actually like Def Leppard but your original comment about guitar strap length (which is hilarious, by the way) made me think of how insanely low they wore their guitars in the 80s.

[@ProfessorChops]

Matt Garstka is like the Steve Vai of drumming when it comes to facial expressions.

[@Matheus-ki9zo]

More like Robert Fripp

[@Yorkoholic]

Three individuals with impeccable sense of rhythm.

[@bubbyj]

As a guitar player, I adore Tosin. I still wonder why no one ever talks about the drummer. Dude is seriously incredible.

[@Metaljesuslol]

Love how he switches keys like 3 times in that solo and lands right back on the root note. Punches my soul

[@rajsundram5672]

+Seth Hamilton I felt a solid chop to my emotions as well!

[@3gdosrsfs]

+Raj Sundram Like a solid kick right in the old musical nut sack but somehow enjoyable. Am I coming across?

[@rajsundram5672]

Like a swift and well placed slap across the face!!!

[@3gdosrsfs]

Raj Sundram Yeah..but you liked it. I'm down...I'm down! You did pick up what I put down..Excellent!

[@sreeshnelp]

This is the first time I'm hearing this band. Fuck, what have I been doing with my life? *Proceeds on musical pilgrimage with Animals As Leaders*

[@chazz3726]

+Some Damn Author woven web - my fav song by them, wave of babies, cafo, lippincot. they have so much good music

[@danielshippey7608]

+Some Damn Author They are super good live too. check out the song on impulse by them

[@SonOfAntalis]

+Some Damn Author i just stumbled across them myself. this stuff is awesome.

[@chazz3726]

SonOfAntalis check out wave of babies. and woven web by these guys xD

[@tentativeentertainment3363]

+Some Damn Author Dude i am for seriously, you have indeed been wasting your time musically haha these guys are so amazing it makes good music look pointless haha

[@Trenz0]

AAL just needs an Asian female singer and they'd be the most diverse metal band in history

[@ryansadauskis]

Or bassist.

[@charliesilveria1998]

+Lorenzo Thomsen Nooooooooooooooo, AAL should definitely stay instrumental

[@Trenz0]

+Ryan Sadauskis what is this "bass" you speak of? I have a hard time grasping the concept of instruments with less than 7 strings

[@charliesilveria1998]

The only thing that would make AAL better imo is a bass player with a bass tuned to Drop E an octave below Bass E.

[@a3uu]

+Lorenzo Thomsen they make 7+ stringed basses ;)

[@jonathansefcik473]

It sounds like math

[@ianoloughnan9345]

Jonathan Sefcik lol

[@kylemcdonnell86]

*meth

[@justinmason100]

Love your videos

[@TheCarcasscarver]

please don't start calling this "math rock"

[@d3Str0Y3r961]

Carl Brutananadilewski there's actually a genre called "mathcore" xD

[@brayant152h]

I swear these guys came from another planet just to show off their skills

[@yourrealdad9442]

I just love how Matt has that whole "this is so easy" face on the entire time... makes me want to crawl in a hole and die, knowing that I'll never reach that level of drumming...

[@MrLioncash]

+Pikaboss with that attitude you're speaking a lot of truth ;)

[@SuperMefisto6666]

+Pikaboss I believe that would be his "drum face". Pure concentration.

[@blakeshepherd3853]

+Pikaboss I saw them live and his drumming just looked effortless. It was amazing.

[@yrussq]

+Pikaboss with no arrogance - matt's parts in this song are easier than you think - pure talent to write them so interesting, groovy and musically smart. The playing itself is very intuitive mostly - you just need to understand the logic/concept.

[@MrBrynstar]

+Pikaboss U can do it bro... That is if you're willing to become a cave-dwelling introvert for a year or two ;)

[@patrickmcadams7996]

the amount of talent in this video is unreal.

[@TheAceOfOnes]

Hey pat!

[@d3tach3d]

Fire the guy who mixed/mastered this.

[@samhinds2827]

please

[@ChristtRedsky13]

Sam Hinds please please

[@Svagtpositiv]

nerds

[@cclmagic]

It's good to know I wasn't the only one hurting.

[@adriaama2]

yes the mix is not quite extraordinary

[@scottenosh4548]

Sounds like John Petrucci and Meshuggah had a wild night 18 years ago.

[@manashbarman8585]

nah.. not really.. doesn't sound anything like them

[@smellyreally2562]

The influences are there

[@sharinglungs3226]

Definitely hear some Meshuggah influence in some parts.

[@TheGuitarifier]

@@manashbarman8585 are you kidding? Lol

[@manashbarman8585]

@@TheGuitarifier nope.. dream theater's progressive music and AAL' progressive music sounds really different.. the styles are totally different.. but you can hear some similarities with meshuggah's style i some riffs only.. meshuggah's solos are build most of atonal ideas which AAL doesn't use..

[@KevinKoolx]

Perfect example of: music for musicians

[@gabelube7597]

Couldn't agree more..most of the people who don't like animals as leaders are usually not musicians who can appreciate the complexity

[@tommylee85]

that's soooooo boring!

[@AsYLuM141]

musicians can appreciate the complexity...but theres no soul or emotion in songs like this...if you don't understand that then you my friend are not a musician

[@AsYLuM141]

this is simply riffs built on riffs put together because the appease the ear...not the soul...learn what a musician really is before you make such drastic statements...have yourself a good one.

[@AsYLuM141]

they* in case you wanted to insult my intelligence after the fact.

[@benjamins2916]

here's how I view ultra technical music: you know those 3D printed images that just look like a bunch of ink barf on paper, until you kinda blur your vision a tiny a bit and look just off to the side and then the 3D bit pops out? Sometimes with with really technical music you just have to "step back" and hear everything on an impressionistic level. This song is wonderfully melodic, but with a captivating harmony as well, a very driving rhythm (metal), albeit a more complicated one. An absolute joy to listen to.

[@Werowarnar]

I think you get it exactly right. It sounds intimidating at first, but when you just let it "through" you, you can "get" it and understand the real expression behind it. I dunno what everyone else is saying, I get lots and lots of emotions bye listening to this (the album version, this versions mix is fucked up for some reason)

[@PanasonicTooth]

Aaron Stogner And sometimes it can take a while before you find the sail boat.

[@lorendorky]

Very well said Friend. I especially like Javier's rhythmic sense.

[@edwardforeman9806]

4 glum Glyn 3 go v.n4 fob lj

[@TheRockinHeads]

tis one of the best descriptions about this kind of music i ever heard. a very clear metaphor/analogy that explains how amazing this music is :)

[@StudioKaleidoscope1]

lol at the mixing done by guitar center

[@rockevian]

+Joe Kim if it could only be guitar center...

[@HighDefBNG]

That drummer is on another level. I love this group.

[@chirola666]

*this band got the hardest songs to play i ever heard man... seriously i play since like 8 years ago and cant play 5 sec of this guys... theyre on other level far beyond*

[@jpdrummer86]

If you understand what rudiments they're playing it's not hard it all, just go over and over the same pattern they're hitting and give it a day or two and you'll have it down, besides that there's not much beyond that

[@peterchoe]

+chirola666 Lol not really. It features basic patterns repeated over and over at moderate speed. What makes it sound difficult is the layering of guitar parts. There are 2 guitarists playing simultaneously. Even considering that it is rudimentary, typical and uninspiring next to that of a guy like Malmsteen or Hendrix.

[@vrnsmth]

Ew, you didn't bring up Yngwie in 2017, the guy is trash compared to modern day shredders. Malmsteen is my favorite example of "ooh look guys, look how fast I can play" with zero emotion. Hendrix on the other hand, helped revolutionize the electric guitar in his day. Malmsteen is just a name people like to say "because he can sweep."

[@jellyguy96]

I'm going to be that guy and say..."Lets see how good you play then."

[@vernonsmith5937]

jellyguy96 who? Me? lol I won't be doing that thanks, you are allowed to have an opinion of music without being able to play it note for note. That said, with like a week I could easily learn some Malmsteen stuff. It's all just fundamentals applied past a certain level of skill. Maybe you'll understand one day, maybe not. I don't really care.

[@headknocker2020]

God that snare is beautiful

[@MixonBro]

Yeah I sure didn't feel like listening to Javier's parts anyways. Thanks for the mix.

[@illitero]

You could hear him when no one else was playing. I don't see the problem... Something definitely odd with the mix. Kind of sucks, I even put in some headphones for better clarity, haha.

[@EclipseAtDusk]

illitero The problem is that a lot of sound engineers seem to think that the rhythm guitar should be much quieter than the lead guitar, when really the two should be the same volume when they're both playing rhythm, and the volume of the lead guitar gets boosted when soloing.

[@DaMoTree]

i agree, the whole mix is pretty wierd rly

[@MixonBro]

illitero At 2:40 you can barely hear the heavy bendy riff until Tosin comes in and saves the day. Like you said, definitely odd. Feels like his lows are really silent but higher notes are okay. I'm using studio grade headphones myself.

[@aaronwalker5253]

Lotus Eater Machine Or you could just adjust the leading tone so that it cuts through the rhythm.

[@ryinnthegoat5812]

First time I've ever heard of this band. Checked comments. Extremely confused as to how someone can say this has no soul to it. This is beautiful.

[@Sanctifiers]

i know, they're idiots. it has the most soul of just about any band. listen to the first album, probably the best.

[@baconmaster334]

@@Sanctifiers They're not necessarily idiots, it's just that different music produces different kinds of emotional responses for different people, which then depends on their own individual psychology.

[@baconmaster334]

It's because they perceive this music differently to the way you do. Not everyone's brain works the same, I think we should be open minded about this.

[@joanm.1991]

This is my favorite Black Metal band

[@jayoren7235]

Joan Marc R. underrated comment

[@scowlsmcjowls2626]

Joan Marc R. Isnt this prog rock?

[@Paolo10692]

You win KZbin

[@kirehj_sm]

scowls Mcjowls you don't understand bro, you don't understand

[@kaimeier82]

scowls Mcjowls you're that one Dude that is totally oblivious towards what's going on lmao

[@guitarcenter]

Guitar World has an EXCLUSIVE look at "Kascade" from our recent podcast with Animals As Leaders. Take a look. www.guitarworld.com/animals-leaders-perform-kascade-guitar-center-nic-harcourt-exclusive-video

[@ryankearney5612]

Ok, Tosin Abasi. That's enough. We get it. said no one

[@jamesweber5821]

dear whoever mixed this, where the hell is the kick drum? it's going to sound really harsh, but this is precisely why you work at guitar center

[@747t]

I never get enough kick in metal. Part of why I went elsewhere...

[@Sicktoid]

Why don't you try getting some better monitors? The kick is there, though maybe not as "in-your-face" as it should be.

[@sharinglungs3226]

That snare drum sounds very thin.

[@davidenglish583]

@@Sicktoid not true at all. The mixing is absolutely trash.

[@lucasvillaquiroz]

Only audible around 3:20 lmao

[@Avalenor]

Matt Garstka looks bored as fuck! I love this dude :D

[@JamesSmith-kv8js]

It's because the drum parts are so fucking easy peasy.

[@BTBAM819]

+James Smith for him... not for everyone...

[@dclarkmusic]

That lead on the slow part gets me every time! So flipping tasteful!

[@chippsdubbo89]

To those who say that this is just music for musicians (or mathematicians or whatever), I say you're wrong. I am completely useless at playing any instrument, however I find much of AAL's music to be engaging and highly listenable. The guitar solo in this song gives me chills every time and gives me energy. People are too used to hearing music instead of actively listening to it. Music should challenge you. I like AAL because it requires multiple listens to fully grasp the beauty in their songs. Even today, years and years after first listening to their self-titled debut album, I still find new nuances to it. Try harder.

[@ghostramen3768]

it is imposible not to air-guitaring along with this

[@somzer]

Relevancia Moderna Yeah! Now only if I could untangle my fingers, I could try it again...

[@drewmetal3]

From <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="240">4:00</a> onwards, the power level of these musicians is so ungodly. Chills. Simply unreal.

[@shichibukaitetsuo5938]

All their songs are a million notes cascading....

[@jamesotmar7741]

haha yeah

[@Saxoprane]

lol I thought the same thing, why call this one cascade, they are all made of cascade notes. haha

[@surveil3548]

Yeah but to me the main riff sounds like that Matrix wallpaper with the ka$cading letters and stuff lol

[@Harrypjotter7]

Really a under rated band. Live they are amazing!

[@eroticblack]

This is the perfect 1st track for "joy of motion"! I don't know for some reason this album gave me the first album feels, even stronger in some cases! One of their top albums!!

[@andrewfolts250]

It's so crazy how effortlessly they such intricate parts in time with each other through all those different time signatures. Human metronomes-every damn one of them.

[@jeromekrammes2031]

I remember that I used to dislike this song. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

[@negativecreep8282]

This is not a song. A song is sung poetry. This is a piece of instrumental music :)

[@apokemonrunescape729]

I know right what a beautiful song

[@Cyzow]

I find this band is hard to get into. But the more you listen, the better it gets, with no limits.

[@coreyfitch830]

a Tune (or chune if your scottish). A song is sung, a tune is played

[@LuxPostNoctem]

But Itunes has songs :(

[@KingConan]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="252">4:12</a> is some of the most innovative phrasing I've heard with arpeggios!

[@jon11baller]

I just got into these guys. This song kicks ass!

[@Happyal-qt3xs]

The influence of King Crimson on The Joy Of Motion is incredible to hear

[@alecdavis2401]

Turn Javier up for goodness sakes!

[@nesneedsmemes]

+Alec Davis Javier's guitar is very audible. Pay close attention to the rhythm section. The reason you don't "hear" him is because Javier is dead on-beat. But he's killing.

[@alessandrox22]

no, it's not audible. the mix sucks. xavier dead on beat?.. gotta listen to Mestis tho..

[@JakeMcGuiremusic]

That's total nonsense. Whoever mixed this did a terrible job. Javier is almost inaudible. Whoever mixed/mastered the sound should've been fired immediately! Not trying to sound like a douche, but really. I'm sure Guitar Center and the guys from AAL were expecting a professional sounding mix, and instead they got garbage.

[@galogarzonbenavides1021]

Javier is a beast!.

[@twitch.101]

Easiest sounded song by AAL and it still sounds impossible

[@stareatthedot]

actually physical education is prob the easiest across all the albums

[@michaelfriedman29]

Calvin Cox Point to Point for sureSomnarium is easier than physical education in my opinion too

[@dannyboy000]

Ryan Lawrence I'm not sure about guitar but I think "Another Year" is by far the easiest track on the album on drums (and even then it's still kindof tough). I covered it on my youtube channel.

[@zachthegreat88]

Ryan Lawrence Maybe guitar wise. This shit it ABSURD drum wise.

[@lyconxero457]

Forseti Justika I was turned off by Cafo initially because the version on the album just isn't mixed very well. I absolutely love the live versions, though.

[@LoftOfTheUniverse]

They should have called this song helicopter propeller

[@zealot027]

Note to self: Stop reading KZbin comments.

[@CaptnBadassary]

Sometimes it just can't be helped, my friend

[@jamesmanney2510]

The solo starting at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="217">3:37</a> is just so masterfully structured. The dynamics are perfect.

[@andys3035]

love this band. Tasteful, heavy, rhythmic, technical. Good stuff

[@alessandrox22]

The kick-drum is almost lost. ENORMOUS FAIL to whoever mixed this.

[@FartSmucker]

yep, cymbols and sanre is all i hear and it drives me fucking crazy.

[@TheTyler4487]

you know he's killing it

[@madhalodog21]

alessandrox22 also can't hear the other guy besides tosin

[@jdozer96]

yeah it's so muddy sounding

[@SirClerihew]

What kick-drum?

[@nascarsteve]

I was just introduced to these guys last week. I am completely blown away. These guys are nothing short of amazing.

[@drumz47]

I love it..Love the how they subdivide the meter and turn the rhythms around. Beautiful fun.

[@Rich13canada]

For all those complaining their music has no emotion. It's not emotion that's lacking, it's the Katy Perry/ Justin Bieber pop hook you've all become accustom to.

[@stevencross6189]

btw... just cause someone doesnt like some overly complicated difficult to listen music doesnt mean they like justin bieber... there is the middle ground....AKA all other music!!!

[@drummerdude100]

This kind of music is interesting and technically insane. But it's impressive for about 5 mins then just stops making sense.

[@El.Sasquatcho69]

steven cross how could you not like it : the shit is groovy as fuck Idk bout emotion everyone uses that as an excuse for if the music is technical I just say look at how determined they are should show the emotion who do you know that could like any of these guys : DAMN I MEAN LISTEN TO THAT SOLO SO FUCKING GROOVY : IDK how this is remotely hard to listen to its better than the usual wash up shit metals becoming only bands like this keep it real

[@joel20596]

i just find it boring its not fun to listen to at all/ go liquid tension experiment for technical and sounds good

[@TomAinsworth94]

drummerdude I'm not suggesting that you don't understand it.. but personally I had to listen to their songs a few times over before I understood what was happening rhythmically and all that jazz, and now that I understand how it fits together it makes it so much more musical for me and i love listening to it now! it never gets boring haha

[@virtualtrixter]

I want to know who mixed this. Now.

[@sadoshi]

right? what a bad mix. But it doesn't even matter, they're too good!

[@PorkchopSandviches]

KInda does matter...it's an insult to their level of musicianship

[@caninemuncher]

Watching these guys is absolutely incredible. So talented, so humble. Awesome bunch of dudes. Will always be my number one inspiration in music.

[@WormxHarvester]

Javier actually getting to play notes instead of only rhythmic chugs makes me much more happy.

[@alexanderschulz5088]

When the Guitartuning is so deep that there is no need for a Bass anymore. Nicely done!

[@TonyAllain]

Tosin is such a beast.

[@FESTIVUSIVDRUMMER]

These guys never cease to completely blow my mind with how they make everything look so easy.

[@jejakteknisi87]

OMG ..the drum, absolutely polyrhythmic !!!!!!

[@JoshRudi]

Animals as Leaders is like Canada in a few ways... They're low in population, multicultural, and fucking awesome!

[@ryansadauskis]

Haha

[@petruccichile]

Multicultural? You embrace multiculturalism as long as English is their mother language.

[@1dudecrush]

Jorge Olivares Well I mean...I think Tosin's parents aren't originally from the US. His name is Tosin Abasi for Christ's sake. And his brother's name is Abdul I think. He's a rad clothing designer. And the Javier, clearly Latino or something along those lines. And then Matt, who is predominantly Irish. So yeah. Maybe they're all second generation at best, but it's still a diverse group, definitely not what you normally see in the heavy music scene.

[@petruccichile]

Mitch ZImmerman im talking about English Canada, not AAL

[@ElMoShApPiNeSs]

Josh Rudiger Describes Australia too.

[@mattstrash]

strangely calming

[@KirkWilson86]

They are three of the most skilled musicians to ever live. Metal geniuses

[@P.dripps92]

One of the coolest songs ever. So well rounded.

[@4lemer]

Something's not right with the mixing...

[@sebastiancoe4708]

Myriadman yeah they aren't in a studio

[@bauduinalban2176]

This is LIVE music... it's like a girl with no makeup. It's natural... For me it's another kind of flavour. Makeup is cool, but without is cool as well, don't you think ?

[@childpleaz85]

Its Guitar Center....what do you expect? lol

[@Gabrol]

@Bauduin Alban mixing has nothing to do with make up tho

[@bauduinalban2176]

Just an analogy. Not be be understood word by word. See what I mean ? ^^ huhu

[@SnedzTheBricklayer]

tosin is 5 generations ahead of all music lol

[@nemesisinvidia5935]

They're so powerful and so cool in the same time...I give an UP and practice again, and again... THE JOY OF EMOTION ! Thanks Matt !

[@michelvispress-lay2510]

One of their best. Love it.

[@ColoRADbro420]

i don't think javier gets as much credit as he should. Tosin is such a bad ass that the other guys get a little neglected, javier is like scottie pippen to michael jordan, still a bad ass but next to the king just ok

[@ryansadauskis]

Tosin is just, mind blowing.

[@a3uu]

+anarchitect420 check out MESTIS. It's his side project, and it's insanely good.

[@ColoRADbro420]

+Clifford Wu (abuudabuu) i actually have just been listening to the new mestis and it is really awesome, cheers man

[@theW01F]

+anarchitect420 came here for Matt, like 50% of the AAL lovers^^

[@jkw360]

I'm a guitarist but I can watch Matt play drums for hours. I saw them live before I got into them and I'm sure they're not even human.

[@miscellanyman263]

Wells of emotion, as you're sitting in the Spaceship, about to take flight and blast off into The Unknown... can't you feel it?

[@smam2104]

These guys are all absolutely incredible musicians.I can't even imagine being able to play this

[@JeffreyMulac8]

Tosin and Guthrie Govan are taking guitar into other stratospheres, musically. Amazing.

[@DjentSouls74]

Anyone still jamming this in 2019?

[@BRNardy]

Always, brother. Always!

[@rcjd7834]

Me!

[@jackfriday31]

Listening/watching at work in 2020 🤘

[@chrisdriscoll1702]

I'm 40. I'll still be jamming this in 2060 if I make it that long. Absolutely brilliant.

[@HDA-im1nc]

En Agosto 2020 👁️

[@yucksuan]

lol. people who say "this music has no emotion" are just uber-pretentious people try to justify and compensate for their inability to be able to the comprehend the music's technical intricacies.

[@bryannaranjo3713]

lol sorry man but you're the one who sounds uber pretentious right now. Are you serious "to justify and compensate for their inability to be able to the comprehend the music's technical intricacies" fuck me in the ass if that is not the definition of pretentiousness. anyway, im an ASL fan. Their music is dope. Stop making yourself look like a fool

[@yucksuan]

ok yea maybe i used the wrong phrase. What i was trying to say is that on first impression to most this kind of music sounds like its just noise because of its unorthodox melodies and weird time signatures. But if you tell any AAL fan that this music lacks emotion, they would argue otherwise, because they are familiar with the song structure and the intricate details to be able to appreciate the music. Instead of bring snobbish, I just feel that these people dismissing aal for having no emotion should give them a few more listens so that they can make a fairer judgment. Cuz right now it sounds as if they're just too lazy and can't be bothered to put in any effort to appreciate the music.

[@Singlerity]

they sound like robots to me (no emotion)

[@CamelOnDirtBike]

Singlerity agree completely. You can't argue on their skill though..

[@TheBushwooky]

Mikael Vilhelmsson Agreed, there were a few spots in this song I felt there was some good emotion coming from the guitar but the song as a whole just didn't convey any feeling to me.

[@tomwinckelman7071]

I can't believe how full-sounding this is for just 3 instruments. That's what amazes me. Most trios would do a slow blues jam, but these guys are able to build an entire sonic atmosphere, with just 3 INSTRUMENTS. Blows my mind.

[@mattoviedo7903]

Mind blowing... so simple so complex... it's just awesome!!

[@Acid4Blood]

Where is Javiers guitar sound?

[@karinadunaeva5981]

You can't hear im because he's got shitty muddy sounding a80 active pickups from he's new endorser carvin.

[@acyborgtrickstergrope]

listen more carefully and look at what they're both playing, pretty easy to distinguish both parts from each other even though they overlap and intertwine a lot. bad recording though I agree.

[@richardreddrop7073]

It's not his pickups...this is just mixed very poorly

[@Vanzeplica]

Richard Reddrop Lol I had those pickups for over a year. They are that bad XD

[@istillsuckatguitar]

He sounded incredible at the show I saw.

[@jwcorcoran9838]

Horrible mixing, but great performance

[@pheromonefevers669]

So impressed by this band!

[@dwrguitar48]

Wow! I . Have. No.Words. Mind is blown!

[@migueltremblay9440]

I think the forgot the bass drum mic or something

[@blueskythinking4745]

Lol with the technology these days you could literally program the kick in with superior drummer if they didn't have a kick drum mic

[@Pauly421]

I especially enjoyed the playing of their invisible keyboardist.

[@greggerman6169]

Saw the vid, went to the show, bought the tee, jammed out! Love Animals as Leaders

[@ThisCommentDoesNotExist]

Saw these guys live in Southampton supporting TesseracT, they were all kinds of awesome!

[@TheRara1963]

WOW! Guess I'll never hear them being played on the radio cuz they're talented

[@ethanbender5757]

Angel Bautista from Dexter on rhythm guitar

[@klausklycuzzuolwolff9328]

Seriously, the atmosphere of this music it's AWESOME, when Javier come alone right before the first notes of Tosin's solo, WOW.

[@denom]

so perfect that it's hard to believe it's a live performance.

[@Calibur43]

It's flat out insane to realize that Javier is probably the same level of player as Tosin.

[@ULTRAWIDE.]

+Calibur43 Yet the latter person gets more of the credit... I like watching Javier play, it seems he really "feels" the music while he's playing. Like mouthing the guitar parts as he plays them (as you see at the end of tooth and claw)

[@lolttyl143]

How'd ya like to see sheet music of this?

[@DjentSouls74]

TIMELESS!!

[@leonidasnikolaosdiamantopo2041]

This solo makes me wanna cry with nostalgia and happiness at the same time..

[@instintusprimatus939]

Most Riffs Please!

[@panayiotis131]

One might say that Tosin is way too much about speed and show-off phrases, but... his delicate vibrato on parts of that solo of his (starting around @<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="216">3:36</a>) proves his well-rounded, full artistic quality - to me, a major part of his success... taste along with technique.

[@lodisish]

Beyond comprehension, just a surgical way to reach the unknown. Beautiful !

[@colinserbu2006]

I just love the sound they all get out of their instruments...

[@AJConrady]

65% of the time everything sounds like mud. I'm not hating I love this album but god damn wth is up with this mix?

[@snarfi17]

yeah indeed wtf, there's way too much bass

[@Hangar18productions]

yeah i completely agree. I love the new album but something does seem off about the mix. certain parts it is really hard to hear the notes on some of the lower register riffs. Although a lot of the mix problems don't seem to be as prevalent when I listened to this album on headphones.

[@TyronTention]

Hangar18productions I think he may have meant the mix of the live performance. The album itself sounds fine. To me at least.

[@Hangar18productions]

oh i misread then. my mistake. although when i mention the album mix I am talking about little sections of songs though however a good amount of the album does sound fine. i dunno I might be wrong lol.

[@TyronTention]

Hangar18productions perfectly understandable :)

[@RollingMusic247]

I'm more into old school metal, hard rock, classic rock and mostly blues. To be honest, I don't necessarily like this music at all, but I can't say these guys are not good. Great even. I'm not a big fan of extended range guitars, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the strange beat, but this is 100% innovation. This music is not for me, but it's still music. That said, I don't think I wanna keep listening haha!!

[@FakeMessiah94]

RollingMusic Now these are the responses we need to see more of on KZbin. Nice to see people can still actually appreciate talent even if it isn't their cup of tea.

[@core2zero]

RollingMusic a nice opinion about a band someone dislike the style/technique, that's not very common to find, nice to see it

[@somzer]

RollingMusic You don't need to like them, not at all. Appreciating their work is plenty, and that you do it seems. Respectable.

[@RollingMusic247]

Björn Mätal Well I just believe anyone who is a good enough musician deserves respect for their music, no matter who it is. Hell, I'm not as good as that guy so I can't criticize anyways.

[@a3uu]

+RollingMusic Noice, I appreciate your view towards music. More people should have an open mind like you do. As for the strange beat, I think it's 6/8 over 4/4 for the main phrase which makes it feel "off". A lot of their music is "industrial" more than "musical" - although I'd still argue that they're very musical; they simply play a different style of music than what we are used to hearing. Think Messhugah - grinding, head-bobbing grooves, plenty of angst, driving, pulsing, etc.

[@FilamentUK]

Wonderful songwriting and playing. A real joy to behold. I hope they continue experimenting long into the future!

[@matounet45]

Love it !