Animals as Leaders "Tooth and Claw" 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

[@joelcoool]

You know you're prog as fuck when this is a 'more straightforward' song

[@countrysamurai]

+ThunderHawk606 Lol....correcto sir!

[@gareginasatryan6761]

ThunderHawk606 i know. Straightforward my ass. All kinds of meter changes

[@themarktron]

PROG OF COURSE MY FRIEND

[@tward81]

ThunderHawk606 this comment is in point though goddamnit

[@maggotmusic757]

He was smiling like he knew what he was saying was kinda bullshit LoL

[@jkol323]

"This one's a little more straightforward" OKAY SURE WHATEVER YOU SAY

[@iangillies711]

Jones Kolbinsky he said that cause it’s the only one that actually stays in 4 for most of it 😂😂

[@bradleyarnup8340]

Listening to the bit at 0:55, this is definitely not straightforward for us mere mortals...

[@Rhekluse]

I've been a musician nearly all my life and I will never understand how people can get this good. These guys are legendary at what they play.

[@bear458ziif-s]

when you're watching tv, or hanging out with friends and family, they're practicing. sacrificing all of their free time to practice.

[@darkones12345]

Just got a student that want's to learn this... Call me scared.

[@jimmygee5]

run

[@keithreeder]

"Wants".

[@nathanfussell1482]

I suggest you run to the hills.

[@joshvarga3591]

+darkones12345 This post is fairly old so I am a little curious on how things played out.

[@johnsilver4990]

+Josh Varga same

[@zamkowicz]

It's terrifying how good this is

[@ryansadauskis]

Animals As Leaders is probably one of the most skilled bands out there. They cover so much ground with just three guys.

[@countrysamurai]

+Ryan Sadauskis Spot on gentlemen! Incredible......

[@MagicSwagget12]

I'm sure there are several technically complex drummers, but Matt is seriously underrated

[@briefs9379]

Matt is one of the best metal drummers of all time. Also one of the only ones who has graduated from Berklee for music!

[@AaronSmithDrums]

hell yeah. he's got a lot of chops and hip hop feel under his belt from there I feel like. used to watch him in one of the shed videos from Berklee

sincerly, for me he is one of the best drummers i've listened, if not the best

i mean, in his style, of course. we can't compare him with drummers of different styles because that would'nt make sense

[@sione_etc]

not making any comparisons/competition, but check out Billy Rymer

[@mikeanderson6000]

That feel when you can't even air guitar the song

[@exotitan516]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@arvind_226]

KO

[@glez90metallica]

Of course you can

[@XoXitsSaruhh]

I can whistle a lot of it.

[@toemasmeems]

fucking ME LOL

[@TheApostleofRock]

Matt Garstka decides that his original compositions are too simple and improvises over top of them. Because he is Matt Garstka

[@breckbradshaw4856]

That's Matt Gartska logic right there.

[@diegoaxexxx123]

Best comment ever

[@bowser8375]

+TheApostleofRock If you think this one is improved, you should see the recent one he did on Meinl's channel. Just when you think he couldn;t go any more balls out, he does it ....... Only 26 years old.... good grief

[@luckyluk3865]

Well by the time you've recorded a song and played it live for a while, think about all the damn times you've been playing that song over and over again in rehearsal. You're bound to change up some parts and improv here and there, if not just for the sake of entertainig yourself.

[@willstanbury9725]

Im in a jazz band, and in jazz there generally is a pretty simple song structure based around some number of riffs and all the members of the band just improvise over the riff and stuff. His approach to drumming is sort of a hybrid between metal's rigid and technical structure and jazz's looser and more interprative flow. I really like his style

[@petru4335]

That drummer is simply a beast!!

[@thejrfanclub628]

+rcacad i cant even take you serious, bud. Stop lmfao 😂😂

[@JakobyGermsheid]

matt garstka's cover of 'get your freak on' was better than both of their entire careers work combined imo. He could most likely do everything they do a bit better in a matter of minutes. :P

[@MikeyJBlakeJR]

Matt's drumming is absolutely insane. The stuff he's playing is extremely complex but he makes it look so effortless

[@imalitdrummerlovesvideogames]

Yup 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cordomum]

bruh i'm about to TRY and cover this song with my band (i'm the drummer). please pray for me because i'm about to look like a fucking idiot even attempting this

[@MikeyJBlakeJR]

@@cordomum Dude! Give me a link when it's finished. I started playing drums when I was 13, so I have a special place in my heart for drummers. I've also had my own share of flubbed drum covers, so I know how difficult it can be to pull off some songs, lol

[@cordomum]

@@MikeyJBlakeJR just because of this comment, i will record my cover. i'll send it (but since you've heard the song, it's gonna take a month or two at the MINIMUM--thank god i have a guitarist who can actually crush this thing)

[@MikeyJBlakeJR]

@@cordomum I'll be waiting impatiently, my man!

[@symanoy]

We all know Tosin is an absolute beast on the guitar, but I love watching Javier his fingers don't seem to move a millimetre more than necessary to nail every single note. I love watching players with such economy of motion! Is that weird?

[@rickgal9003]

I notice that to especially at a live show or playing the guitar it is just soothing

[@Markipelago]

That's one of the same reasons I love Frank Gambale.

[@molomix23]

best use of an 8 string I've ever seen.

[@Bl1zzzards]

I agree. Buying an 8-string just to use you're lowest string all the time with the tabs beeing "0-0-0--00-0-0-0--0" for "true djent" is pretty useless. These guys really know how to let those 2 extra strings shine.

[@wideopenwounds]

+Blizzards yep, exactly. The way an 8-string should be played is exactly like a 6 string would be played, in the sense that those two extra strings don't change the purpose of the guitar but rather opens up more options for the player. I see too many guitarists ignore everything below the 8th 7th and 6th string when playing, and that's just a poor approach to what's supposed to be 8 strings of guitar, not three.

[@Bunters196]

Actually only 7 in this tune!

[@from.rishab]

rob scallon too

[@Vulkanzed-117]

This song was written on a 7 string

[@MarmaladeMaki]

I love Tosin, but Javier sadly always gets a bit overshadowed...he is a damn insane guitarplayer too

[@FigNeutered]

sadly it is true that that happens. their guitar parts in most of their songs are about the same skill-wise. he may just be the creative face of the band responsible for writing all of their masterpieces.

[@santos688]

u gotta understand there are always the main players like tosin but bass really has to go javiar

[@Zachary_Sweis]

I hear what you're saying, and he's fucking incredible. Here's the thing, Tosin, with Misha as a producer, wrote most of the songs on the first 3 albums. It wasn't until _The Madness of Many_ that the 3 of them (Tosin, Javier, Matt) wrote an album from beginning to end together. Even on "The Woven Web", Matt says Misha wrote the thumping part that everyone cums over just to see if he could play it. Just a little insight.

[@MarmaladeMaki]

Cool insight, didn't know that. I knew Misha was involved with their productions but never really researched in what way.

[@ThemainpianistBlR]

the band is always greater than the individual. If he stops playing theres no slammin grooves :/

[@thegrimm54321]

I wish they'd do heavier stuff like this more often.

[@blueskythinking4745]

What and waste their musical talent? Yeah nah

[@ljp719]

Blueskythinking Suggesting that playing heavy music is automatically wasting musical talent is fucking asinine. I’ll name you dozens of extremely heavy bands with severely high levels of musicianship. Origin, Hate Eternal, Vitriol, Vital Remains, Nile, Hideous Divinity, Arkaik, Monstrosity, Behemoth, Meshuggah to name a few.

[@the1zeldafan609]

@@ljp719 yep. there is a lot of depth to be found in heavy songs.

[@RezaMatix]

@@blueskythinking4745 dumbest comment ive read in a long time. heavy music has been pushing techinical limits of instrumentation much more than pop or almost anything else for the last 50 years.

[@jutahbagels5805]

This is freaking magnificent, like getting lost in an abstract painting.

[@Oh_its_Mike]

Tosan's been lifting.

[@erkkijaakkopetteri]

dem nigga genetics doe

[@PeteCastellano]

erkkijaakkopetteri Actually he does Crossfit lol

[@drink.juice.]

*Tosin

[@Oh_its_Mike]

yahshua friend I've been watching too much WoW arena...damn, that's funny.

[@drink.juice.]

Umm explain what u just said...

[@user-ey4rn1zf2w]

God damn the main riff melts my face

[@jeffwilliamson7386]

this song touches on so many different things we all love about metal

[@Nothing-zw3yd]

Ok, I figured it out. It's like Meshuggah if Steve Vai were in the band.

[@SegahHQ]

+Nothing The're is nothing similar between Meshuggah and Animals as Leaders but well, that's a funny way to see those things :D

[@TheHeadown]

@@SegahHQ You´re wrong. The singer has stated in several interviews that they are an inspiration. Great band though.

[@SegahHQ]

@@TheHeadown Hey, it was 2 years ago haha. And yes I was def wrong ;)

[@TheHeadown]

@@SegahHQ I realized that after I´ve written it. (:

[@The_Nova_Glow]

Nope! Better. It's Animals as Leaders

[@evan191919]

I think drumming wise, Matt will become a legend in his later year if he keeps going like this

[@joshchristian8598]

I think the best of the new wave of drummers... I agree he will be a lifelong name in his field...

[@ZackAttack1798]

Personally I already feel like he's a legend. He's know for his complexity and insane fills. Later on I can't even imagine what he will be

[@younguitarist1]

He'll be a god.

[@HenryPerez_royal_hp]

+Evan Delisle He's already a legend dude. But I hear what you're saying

[@joselitoflores7122]

Power is good and controlled correctly.

[@guitarcenter]

#‎rewind‬: Matt Garstka & Animals As Leaders performed "Tooth And Claw" at Guitar Center Hollywood last year for our At: Guitar Center Podcast. Catch them this Saturday at ‪#‎DrumOff‬ Finals at Club NOKIA! guitarcenter.com/drumoff

[@hadeskiller1]

Totally love this song, but I really wish they'd done more with that 3:34 riff. Sounds absolutely godly, especially on the studio version.

[@nesneedsmemes]

2:52. love the switch. damn that was slick drumming. then they go from technical, to heavy as fk. incredible band.

[@Norgz94]

This song live sounds HELLA punchy. I saw (and met) these dudes at a concert and when this song came on, every hit of the bass drum and palm muted note was like a punch in your whole body! Was frickin awesome!!

[@KirkWilson86]

I want to experience that.

[@21380]

Everybody always brings out Tosin and Matt. Wich they deserve every single praise. But can we just appreciate how solid Javier is. Not an easy task to be backing those guys as tight as he does. What a beast /,,/

[@channelgfyhowaboutthat5191]

Graceful. Making the most complicated song you know look easy.

[@robertberry9425]

People giving this the thumbs down shouldn't be listening to music that's far too technical for them to comprehend the sheer brilliance.

[@goodsport168m]

These guys are so cool, it's always a treat watching them play.

[@ShredEx1120]

I really appreciate that people take the time and effort to find this video in the sea of information that our world beholds, and to observe and process this single 4 minutes and 50 seconds of beautiful musical construction, and then complain and moan about it like somebody is actually there to listen to their useless criticism. Rock on you guys!

[@NateBriggs1212]

Simply stunning!!

[@kawridr6]

This band is an absolute pleasure to watch live

[@Emmeye777]

awesome I love this song tooo...Great album , the best.

[@MattWeismiller1994]

Tosin smiles a lot when he's talking. He really loves what he's doing.

[@SnedzTheBricklayer]

tosin is the kind of guitarist that plays guitar world's entire betcha can't play this library before he wakes up

[@kuni50000]

10/10 to whoever recorded and mixed this. Great live mix and sound IMO, AAL is great as well obvi

[@Lui_Guitar]

OMG...this is incredible. Nice riffs and crazy solos! AAL Rules!

[@BlitzAceX]

I love these... keep em comin.

[@eoinrogan8478]

Mind blowing stuff.

[@HighDefBNG]

This had me chuckling all the way through. Eargasm.

[@BorisBARSTubeti]

DAT GROOVE! DAT FLOW!

[@Annabelsong108]

tosin's smile when he says "that I had" in the beginning his eyes literally sparkle! That man is so beautiful omg

[@AfterDeathMurder]

Awesome song awesome band awesome people

[@ntaylor418]

So sick

[@tromboneman4517]

This song brings back memories of when I first started listening to Animals as Leaders.

[@Burntshocker]

Inspiring and beautiful

[@sudharsanpaskaran]

So awsome, machine like!

[@feliperibeiro463]

These guys re-invented prog metal in every way possible. ALL is along with Periphery one of the best bands of this last decade.

[@bl00d5h0ck]

3:00... So fluid and clean. very groovy too. Especially MATT. Love you guys. great stufffxD

[@enzoddrums]

Amazing Band!

[@MyReturningNightmare]

3:34, my favorite part! - the Joy of Motion is amazing; all the songs are great.

[@bmobasco]

So god damn good. Very inspirational stuff guys. Thank you for bringing it into the world.

[@coleemmersonhallman5329]

I'm just hopping through all these Guitar Centre videos to hear the inspirations for the songs.

[@DjentSouls74]

It's 2020, and we're still here with the guys from Animals as Leaders!

[@KirkWilson86]

I cant stop watching this video.

[@TheExiledTexan]

I have never heard this band before. But I am happy I have now. What a song.

[@rcbcarm987]

Tight band! Biggest surprise is how good the drummer is, and how he makes it look easy. One of my favorite bands.

[@AntonDoesMusic]

All three of these guys are insanely talented.

[@jlyb96]

Has much of a BOO vibe. Love it.

[@jenniferdejong4226]

Jesus!!! So much awesome!

[@ulfingvar1]

Tosin is always smiling, as if he knows all the musical secrets of the world. And I think he does, too.. so, keep smiling!

[@depnox]

I love the comments about the drummer being bored. I saw them play this week & he was like animal behind the kit & the most fun to watch on stage.

[@lulala900126]

Saw them live tonight at The Mayan, LA. Absolutely amazing performance. I feel like Tosin overshadows others when I listen to their albums, but man, Matt(drummer) was A REAL BEAST live!

[@marcio1745]

I envy you so badly

[@Matt_Huffman]

Oh man this is great.

[@meclazine]

That was all class.

[@fixe6936]

MY god your so creative so good so unique, love ya!

[@Nathan-dd2uy]

Why does Tosin look seconds way from cracking up with laughter in all of these videos when talking to the host?

[@anarchynz]

It's because he knows he's better than everyone.

[@Nathan-dd2uy]

Lmao, yeah, monumentally talented player. I'd be that way too.

[@AlexTraitor]

Is the feeling you have when you enjoy doing what you love to do

[@ShinigamiUchihax2]

lmaoo

[@ronsilva9563]

Happiness

[@misfitxd]

Finally the drummer let to hear the electric groove... You are awesome Matt

[@TheHeadown]

Great song. That main-riff are awesome. As heavy as it gets.

[@sacredxgeometry]

That's not bass I'm hearing. That's literally Javier Reyes. Holy fuck.

[@boobsmakemehappy1]

+Lucas Jenkins Nolly did record bass on this track, so it might have been the backing track.

[@BlakeMullens]

+boobsmakemehappy1 I didn't know Nolly did that, that's really cool.

[@sacredxgeometry]

boobsmakemehappy1 your username makes me happier than the context of your username makes you happy.

[@yourrealdad9442]

+Lucas Jenkins Watchu mean?

[@DrumL3000]

+Lucas Jenkins for what do you need bass when you have 8 string guitars

[@StevenYi427]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the pinch harmonic at 1:32?

[@armfourteen]

SICK AAL! This made my day!

[@martingraham8418]

Probably my favorite AAL song. I know there are so many more complex songs by them, but I love this one. And my god... Matt's drumming....

[@w.reading8867]

Never heard of these guys.............but I like it!

[@DJGreatness1990]

I love it so sick bro

[@JasonMcFly]

Massive!

[@Nicktolias]

Unreal band! I'm glad they received the proper credibility by guitar center

[@earlgrey7081]

Great Tosin Abasi. Good music. I am absolut elated. Serendipity.

[@tooalienforearth5638]

All beast musicians.

[@danielsgrunge]

Even with the questionable mix this still sounds amazing

[@billy120745]

BANGER

[@rcjd7834]

I like the mechanical sound of the riff early on. Very cool!

[@ivanjanicek7717]

Držím palce. Skvelé.

[@Floegobaby]

That end solo hits ju right in the feelers, happy 4/20

[@fabiovera7956]

I want that guitar.. tosin rocks!!! AAL for life!!

[@deelaneenn6677]

goosebumps

[@organicchef2714]

Yes young metal heads !!!!!!!! Defenders of the faith !!!!!

[@plynth2112]

Wow!!!

[@ShawnKenneth]

I haven't come across many of those "No melody/mindless technical music" on this video but, This is beautiful. So much melody and it keeps you on your feet :-D

[@drum.joy.]

Yes! I'm not the only one with a mad drummer look!

[@adonisx-.-.790]

Boiii this shit go hard Dayumm That musicianship on another level

[@levimatte1698]

that was sick

[@JrMedieval]

okay I'm gonna say it, THIS IS MADNESS!!!!!!!!!

[@TheCrazyhumans]

I love how Matt gartska's playing style is so relaxed

[@davidmatthewjeffries]

Tosin's solo at 1:49 o_o so many notes!

[@guitarkid2184]

Tosin "So many notes" Abasi

[@blacksandsnz]

Woah! that was freakin awsome \m/

[@XxXkAkAsHiRuLzXxX]

Groooooovie.

[@chasemccracken5904]

For months and months the first thing in my head every morning was the lead at 2:31... sprowww nowwnunnannuuuhhh

[@dezzazzobleechazzo3133]

Matt's facial expression looks like he is perpetually shooting his wad throughout the whole song

[@oh_rhythm]

bravo! the surgical precision on this piece is inspiring. the drummer is great. takes me back years ago when I was a beginner and I used to admire the calmness on professional drummers. still have quite a way to go to get to this level though :)

[@bogdanrocaa]

1:02 you just gotta love how javier makes praparations for what's about to come!