Classical Composer Reaction & Analysis of CAFO (Animals As Leaders) | The Daily Doug (Episode 524)

#animalsasleaders #cafo
In this #metalmonday episode of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to music by Animals As Leaders. This time, we're listening to CAFO, which comes from the band's self-titled debut album, released in 2009. As usual, I was astounded by the band's dexterity, virtuosity, and brilliant display of musicianship. I think I was able to keep up...tune in and see for yourself!
Reference Video: • Animals As Leaders "CA...
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[@camerondrew2766]

Doug explaining how two 8 string guitars eliminate the need for a bass is the most metal thing to date

[@Beli4l]

their last 2 or 3 cords are basically bass cords, you can see them slapping them with their thumb. thats why either javier or tosin is playing the "bass" while the other one plays on the higher cords.

[@Dominico97]

BaSs is ThE FunDeMenTal oF the BaND!

[@spimbles]

once you go 8 string guitar prog metal you cant go back lol everything without them sounds so flat once you really get into it 😭 genuinely cant listen to 70s or 80s metal like Metallica or Black Sabbath anymore because of how like, juvenile it sounds compared to bands like Meshuggah, AAL, Periphery, Tesseract etc etc

[@gus2n]

neither of them are playing the bass, its programmed

[@PeterdeKeijzer-zo1jm]

You dont need an 8-string to play this song. You need a 7-string with the low E string tuned down to D.

[@vikingord5030]

One of the things I love about AAL is that the music is crazy intricate and complex but still has an emotional feel to it.

[@canman87]

Tosin is one of the more innovative players to hit the scene in the last 20 years or so. He's got a lot of cool concepts that you don't really see much in heavier music; for example, double thumb picking to get really intricate rhythmic patterns. He's always pushing the envelope and trying to figure out new approaches to playing the guitar, while also maintaining virtuosity over the fundamental techniques and theory. I was lucky enough to "talk shop" with him over lunch during JPGU 2.0 in 2018, which was one of the highlights of the week for me.

[@derpderpin1568]

He's such an incredibly intelligent guy. One of the virtuosos of this generation for sure.

[@KhordLizardMage]

I've seen Animals as Leaders a few times live. They are amazing live. I saw them open for Between the Buried and Me. What a show of musical prowess.

[@Giomalmsteen]

Seen them with conquering dystopia. The main part I didn't like about animals as leaders live sound was the bass drum was miced up and took over the overall sound since they don't have a bass player.

[@scoopydooder]

AAL live was one of my most memorable concerts. They were touring on Joy of Motion, and Garstka was there. I love prog, and can usually follow along well enough to bob my head and know where the strong bears are, but they did Lipincott I think it was and Matt stopped accenting the strong beats and I got lost. It was an awesome experience. Like I started free falling until he started hitting the strong beats again

[@RealDrumPyles]

I've seen them multiple times but unfortunately they didn't come close this last time :/ anyway standing near Javier gets the best experience sound wise

[@jakel7213]

Same here. I saw AAL open for BTBAM right after their first album dropped. And holy hell they absolutely STOLE the show from them. Straight up changed my relationship with music that night.

[@Marta1Buck]

I wish I could witness them live, phone-recorded videos on youtube kinda suck.

[@rexlupis]

As someone else mentioned in the comments, the drummer in this video is Navene Koperweis, who is the drummer on their second album, Weightless. He actually wrote the drum parts on that album, but he left the band shortly after, as he was feeling artistically constrained. He shortly had an electronic project called Navene K where he programmed all the instruments and performed the drum parts to it live, and then started a progressive death metal band called ENTHEOS with vocalist Chaney Crabb. I've seen Animals as Leaders live a bunch of times throughout their career, even back when this first album had been freshly released. Tosin's live playing has improved a LOT since then; while seeing them live back then was still impressive, there were a handful of noticeable errors in Tosin's playing back then in a couple of the sets I saw live from that era. Nowadays he can perform all these songs flawlessly; I guess there's something to be said for a decade of playing the songs constantly. I even saw Navene K back up for Animals as Leaders right when Matt first joined the band! That show was great, too! Already by then Tosin's live playing had improved immensely. I think Animals As Leaders was on G3 tour later that year with Seve Vai if I recall correctly. I would also highly recommend checking out ENTHEOS. They're about to release a new album in a couple weeks through Metal Blade. Navene does all the songwriting and plays both drums and guitars on the upcoming album. He also wrote the bass parts, but they always get Evan Brewer, a former member and longtime friend of their's, currently occupied playing bass in Fallujah, to play bass on the album. While Evan doesn't tour with them, they consider him an "unofficial" member and like to have him on their recordings as he brings a unique dynamic and style to their songs. If you want to hear a song off their upcoming album, I'd recommend "I Am the Void" or "Absolute Zero", which they have released as music video singles leading up to the release of the album. Their older stuff is great too!

[@Andymosity]

Dude amazing comment. Thanks for all the info. I had zero idea about Navene and his solo project and ENTHEOS. Gonna check them out instantly. Also, Evan Brewer is a got damn legend. I'm super close friends with Fallujah's new vocalist, Kyle Schaefer. He also has a solo project called Archaeologist, and he's going to release an album soon, which will have some cool featured artists you may recognize (including myself on one of the tracks hehe).

[@rexlupis]

@@Andymosity Evan IS a total legend. I also loved his work in The Faceless; he's a great bassist. Navene and Evan were in Animosity together back in the early 2000's. Animosity was the death metal band Navene started with his friends in high school and he became friends with Tosin when Animosity played shows with Tosin's old band, Reflux. Animosity broke up slightly before Navene joined Animals as Leaders. Another project you might be interested in is another one of Navene's death metal projects, Fleshwrought, where he played guitar, bass and drums with Jonny from Job for A Cowboy on vocals. I'll check out Archaeologist, thanks for the recommendation!

[@charredolive]

I didn't know he was in Entheos until after they had opened for a Whitechapel concert I went to

[@allenk7296]

@@rexlupisalso, Evan was in Reflux. Bonus trivia for people reading the comments - the vocalist for Reflux was Ash Avildsen, who founded Sumerian Records after Reflux disbanded.

[@thejonathandoan]

Dude, your air drumming skills are ON POINT!! I saw Animals as Leaders in concert in Austin, TX last year, and they were incredible live, as you might expect. They ended the night with this tune, and the crowd went NUTS! So amazing to see them work their magic. The opening act was a group from Toronto, Canada called Intervals, and they were outstanding as well! What a great concert. The best part was, the price for the concert was under $50 bucks. A tip for anyone who wants to see them live: bring ear protection. :)

[@christianwilliamson9752]

Yeah intervals rocked. Saw the same last year NYC

[@karwashblark7499]

Yeah Ive seen them live 3x and each time they've ended with CAFO. I assume that particular song must be so straining on the fingers that they leave it for last, to avoid being worn out. Plus its a great crowd pleaser I always wanted to hear Cylindrical Sea live as that's my fav AAL song, but they almost never perform it :(

[@flowroll777]

One of my favorite songs by any instrumental band ever. Definitely top metal song for me. Blows me away every time.

[@moluscass]

This is the 1° track of the album... it's SLAP on face! In this year, Misha produces The Discovery (Born of Osiris), and Periphery I (by Periphery). Classic 10's albums for "modern metal".

[@flyingsteaks]

it is not the first track on their debut, that would be Tempting Time

[@moluscass]

Yes. Sorry for mistake.

[@benjaminflasher]

Glad you got around to the first album. I love it. As a heads up though, that isn't Matt Halpern. It is the original AAL drummer, Navene Koperweis.

[@KhordLizardMage]

Navene is a beast, but so are both Matt's, Halpern and Garska.

[@anomalyLG]

It's a drum machine technically. Navene learned the stuff afterwards. First album was just Tosin and Misha.

[@freas8520]

(At 4:48) I was also forced to clap in 13/8 during their live show in my hometown of Gävle, Sweden back in 2019! Excellent show, together with TesseracT, Freak Kitchen and Jinjer.

[@monty6491]

I usually don't like fade-out, compared to a proper ending to a song. But with AAL songs like CAFO, Ectogenesis, Nephele, the music is so intense (and they make it look so effortless) that the fade-out makes me feel like they'll just keep playing forever, like a force of nature, and we just happen to be listening in at the time.

[@JDWindtPlaysGuitar]

Had the chance of hearing CAFO live last December. Fucking massive, left me speechless, the whole set... AAL is something else

[@Goose21]

Just saw them hear a week ago. This, The Woven Web and Thoughts and Prayers were like spiritual experiences hope i get to see them live again because they're flawless live

[@ruesingh8985]

Saw them perform this live in Portland last November, and their playing has only gotten better (somehow!) with time - truly an amazing show. Such wonderful artists!

[@NicklasJazzström]

Hey Doug ! Nice video and pick as well ! Crazy part at 4:45 is a large 13/4 with a 13/16 clave (2+5+2+2+2) that cycles over it. At 5:16 the snare drum is actually hitting the backbeat but it's a 13 riff so yeah feels odd enough 😹😹

[@professionnel111]

At last!!! It is my dream come true 👍👍👍 Thank you in advance, Doug ✨ I would listen to whole AaL's album. With pleasure 😁

[@chadmarx7718]

Doug! You really should do Reptile by Periphery. It's a 16 minute prog metal epic. You'll have lot's of fun with it no doubt

[@carloss.sounds]

please

[@SutMacG]

That would be amazing!

[@BratzlerNathan]

Yes

[@alihijazi4451]

I HIGHLY recommend Red Miso from Parrhesia! An absolute masterpiece of a song, with a mind-bending breakdown

[@HotQahwe]

Amazing intro, I usually explain these points (the A.I.M.M. background , the name references to the book by Quinn, which is a great and very short read, and the Misha Mansoor collab ) and you covered it all well. As always thanks for giving us a tour into what they are doing, I love learning more with your channel

[@Edw1nSayz]

Thank you Doug for taking the time to examine their complex but relatable dexterity. Cheers.

[@parkpatt]

I never hesitate to click on a video about this band. Thanks for helping me remember how awesome this track is!

[@flame-sky7148]

I'm a huge Shawn Lane fan, and one thing about his fast playing was that he was very fast, but it was very musical at the same time. This group and this song by Animals As Leaders are very musical. The music as a whole is fast and complex but it's also musical. Gp check out the live CAFO performance from the Brutal Assault 21 show in 2016. It has over five million views. It's even more amazing.

[@derpderpin1568]

This song lit the progressive metal scene on fire way back when it came out.

[@chrisf8097]

This is my first time seeing one of your reactions. Fantastic and a wealth of knowledge. How the heck do they play songs like this live?

[@Kinshinobi]

Just the fact that you reacted to this gives you a sub earned, good stuff. Another Animals as Leaders song I'd love to see you do is "Mindspun". Keep up the good work bud

[@midwestexpat80]

How did you not mention Navene Koperweis!? That dude is an amazing drummer and all around musician.

[@jacques-andresaint-laurent1300]

Saw them live a decade ago. CAFO was my highlight of that show and the crowd reaction was explosive. Weightless, the song from same name album, is probably my next favorite song, a personal suggestion.

[@billydiesel8520]

Thats how I felt after hearing CAFO for the first time as well. The rhythm-section riff has been stuck in my head for 2 years.

[@securityscorpion8687]

Absolutely LOVE this band. Shredders with SOUL. 🎶 🎵 ⏹️ 🎼 🎸 🎸 🥁

[@MobyDick1956]

Sorry for being a little bit off topic here, but I don't know where else to post a proposal ... I stumbled into your channel via "Peaches en Regalia", one of Zappa's instrumental masterpieces i heard during my younger years nearly 1000 times (and all other Zappa stuff - we were a huge group of young Zappaistas) ... and after our "classical earring" (sic) was blown out of our heads, we travelled further into "free jazz": What's about Carla Bley's "Escalator over the Hill"? This music became very harmonic in my ears ... after listening to it 20 times. But oh my god, the first 19 times were - hmmm: Crazy like Stockhausen! My proposal: Carla Bley - Escalator over the Hill. Thanks for your elaborated, interesting and funny explanations. Overwhelmed by feelings and laughing i head lots of tears in my eyes during the last hours which i had not since years. You made my January & February, I'll stay tuned. Very good job!!!

[@geofflupton1254]

Intense! I've seen Tosin on Rick's channel, I think this is maybe only the second full song I've seen, thanks for the great commentary!

[@aiferapple1246]

I saw these guys 2 days ago in London. As a musician/drummer myself, I KNOW I'll never see and hear anything so jaw-dropping and technical in my lifetime ever again. These guys are insane!! Everyone should go and see these guys live!!!

[@thelatentobserver121]

Just saw these guys in Cincinnati the other day. Amazing live.

[@Vaipetrucci]

Just saw them live for the first time on the Dreamsonic tour. They did not disappoint. I really hope they make this tour a regular or semi-regular thing. If anyone has a chance to catch it, it is worth it.

[@geo-fry6372]

I would recommend the entirety of Parhessia. Definitely one of my favorite albums from last year, every track on it is brilliant. If I have to choose a favorite, it would probably be Monomyth, the breakdown at the end is killer.

[@jospehbloseph7172]

Just discovered this reaction channel, this is a real nerd’s nerd spot, glad I found it.

[@seenbelow]

Their debut album is great through and through. I haven't enjoyed any of their records so much since. It's very technical but still not losing groove or melody to technique.

[@PaRRaPWNaGe]

This is my favorite song of all time. When I first heard it, I literally listened to NOTHING else.. for about 7 months...

[@The_Kiosk]

The original drummer for touring the first album was Navene K.

[@notdynomonkey]

Thanks for mentioning Navene Koperweis who is also an amazing drummer on weightless and the joy of motion.

[@ethanstover9859]

He opened for AAL whent hey released the joy of motion and boy is navene slept on

[@leetshi927]

Tosin Abasi, one of the rare new guitar heroes whose dexterity is not what I envy, but rather the brain which commands so much talent, whether it is this virtuoso playing or even this mastery of his musical alphabet!

[@Yanzar98]

I was stoned when I saw this video and was delighted to listen to this masterpiece in your company

[@GreenhornPhototaker]

Just recently found your channel Doug, loving it. I hope one day you get to Benmont Tench on the keybaord with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I love that guy. "refugee" would be perfect here.

[@brucebowling6032]

Tosin and the band are completely amazing. I am at a loss for how they play their parts, let alone remember them. I have seen him twice, once with AAL and then with Vai, Yngwie, Zakk, and Nuno. Any AAL song will be incredible, so how many is enough?

[@rosmakloma]

Doug - your air drumming 🥁 hurts my head

[@TheDrummerGeorge]

One of the best song by them probably. Ty so much!!! PD: Thanks for teach me how there is another way to understand this kind of music, I really mean it. :)

[@TheDrummerGeorge]

4rth time watching/listening it, its worst every time, was te fuck was that¿? Im joking, I just cant handle it

[@oneirataxia3638]

This guys are just incredible, I always listen to their stuff! Doug, you should also check out The Resonance Project, they're also an up and coming instrumental Prog Metal band, they are incredibly virtuosic and extremely underrated, plus they are only a duo of a drummer and a guitarist who is also the bassist!

[@sizzleby1]

Hahaha Doug air-drumming is not a visual I thought I needed on a Sunday but it's perfect.

[@toasttghost]

This one of my favorite songs

[@germantoenglish898]

*Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations* (CAFOs) are agricultural meat, dairy, or egg facilities where animals are kept and raised in confined situations.

[@arthurwatts1680]

Wow - over 300 subs - I'm beginning to see why there are so many 'Doug addicts' on YT. Animals fall into a similar category as Dream Theater for mine - I appreciate the technical mastery but a large part of their catalog doesn't move me. Thanks for your impressions.

[@MrMartinishere]

I have seen the live twice. The last time they opened for Dream Theater. Amazing show!

[@jimmyshand]

Saw them two nights in a row at the New Music Festival in Winnipeg; one night just them, following night with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. It was amazing.

[@damiangomez8540]

actually the person who's playing drums in the video is navene koperweis, he left in 2010 and matt halpern took his place from 2010-2012.

[@number9434]

Monomyth and The Problem with other Minds would be a great double reaction if you visit the new album. They're two short pieces and the videos are awesome.

[@BartholomewHunt87]

The first time I saw them live they blew my effing wig back! The energy they produce live is something else man. Absolutely brilliant band. I don't know many people who listen to and appreciate this type of heavier music so its nice to see reaction channels post their music.

[@ben5499]

if you like this kind of metal you should definetly check out the Mestís. It's a solo project from Javier Reyes and includes many guest musicians such as Matt Garstka and others. Very cool music. In my opinion extremely underrated. The song "Media Noche" is one of my favorites!

[@andybussell]

Good pick today! I love their music but I don’t remember hearing this song. I love the breakdowns for such complex and interesting music. Thanks!

[@corbettcondray]

Thank you. You very much remind me of my middle school music teacher.

[@crypton7951]

YES! Their latest album is BOMB!

[@DudleyDawg]

I don't think there has been a band that won me over as quickly as Animals as Leaders when I first saw the CAFO video years ago.

[@anthonyheffron5500]

This one and Song of Solomon are my two favorites off that album

[@marc825]

The drummer in the video is Navene Koperweis if I'm not mistaken.

[@TeslaNick2]

The sections that sound like they are in seven are actually 14/8. It makes sense if you count it as three groups of four and a group of two. Due to the half time feel, it feels like 7/8.

[@frzamonkey]

that whole record is astounding

[@dhaudio8897]

For your next Animals as Leaders reaction, you should listen to Micro-Aggressions off of their latest album.

[@jessidhia3349]

Just saw their concert in Japan, and their live playing was flawless. They played CAFO as their very last song of the setlist too, after over 1 hour of endurance, and I think I actually prefer their live version of this too, there were some changes to the layering in the bridge.

[@mnowakpoland]

I got the chance to see Animals as Leaders this summer on the Dreamsonic tour. I've been listening to them for years and know how good they are, but I was still blown away. If you haven't already, go listen to Gordian Naught off their album Parrhesia. That was one of the songs they played in their set, and HO-LY SHIT, Matt Garstka is a beast behind the kit.

[@ulfingvar1]

One of the 10 best bands in the past 10-15 years.

[@roberttee9790]

Prog bands were always criticized for self indulgence. I don't doubt this group's musical knowledge, ability, but it seems like 'look what I can do." Thanks for showing it to us, I wish I liked it.

[@thethinkman]

I prefer to think of it like "look what's possible"

[@andreideaconu7232]

Give their 2014 release a try, “The joy of motion”. Harmonically rich, groovy and also technical, of course. CAFO was also the first one i listened from them and it also didn’t click. The production is also much much better imo

[@dandan4092]

I echo what Andrei said. Even then it took me seeing them live for it to properly click. I can’t get enough nowadays.

[@raphaelleclair2688]

AAL changed and shaped the way I perceive, think and play music. Tosin also got me into Tigran Hamasyan (jazz pianist and composer). Peoples often talk about their musical prowess, but they have some amazing melodic songs (Soraya, Para Mexer, Another year, The Brain Dance, On impulse, etc...) : scenic vistas that are challenging and rewarding ; freerunning landscape at times danceable (another year), at other times clinical and glitchy (the Weightless album). Also T.R.A.M and Mestis - sides projects - would probably be worth a listen one day 🤘🏾

[@H4LFB34N]

non pause champ, love this style of letting the video play. youre "dad corny" in the best way, keep it up

[@stoppropaganda2573]

Could you imagine being a singer/lyricist to this virtuosity, my brain hurts? Thanks Doug!

[@voxstelarum]

Watch them live past december, one hell of a ride

[@pandaskinx]

I went to their show a few years back, it was off the chain. Hard AF and by far one of the best shows I have been to. 🤘

[@derekhurteau1602]

Saw these guys here in NH last April. Really cool show. But, I would say that Red Miso is the song to check out off their latest album.

[@christianwilliamson9752]

Definitely check.out the new video for miso

[@metalhead4827]

Hey Doug! Would love if you reacted to Para Mexer (Fishman Fluence guitar playthrough) by them, a great more melodic classical piece that I think that you’ll enjoy

[@parkerohio6424]

The air “drumming “ is hilarious

[@ILikeTuwtles]

I may be mistaken but I heard somewhere that the section from 4:46 - 5:58 is 13/4 or 13/8 or some ridiculous time signature like that.

[@shortbusbully]

Close. It's 13/16

[@leddygee1896]

Can you Imagine what Hendrix would have thought of this... I think he would have dug it!

[@jordanfletcher-berna6549]

Definitely check out their new album. Monomyth and Red Miso would be my suggestions

[@m.ericwatson968]

Video for Red Miso is great

[@carlosmachucabustamante2965]

Doug.... You should have to react to THE grandfather of technical metal... Mr. Ron Jarzombek... Solo projects and others like Spastic Ink or Blotted Science.... almost same category to AAL, older, but to my ears more enjoyable.... I don't forget Spiral Architect, a one album norwegian band, but impressive complex...

[@dampersand]

You should check out Tosin's friend Josh Martin in Little Tybee to hear the same sort of virtuosic guitar applied to folk rock.

[@CASNY4METAL]

saw them 3 times already, just astonishing

[@Rezistt]

How come Doug still have not analysed Vektor - Tetrastructural Minds ? He will love it!

[@joshuatorresnarvaez8765]

isnt the drummer in this video Navene Coperweis from entheos?

[@c0hink176]

The drummer you see in the video is not actually Matt Halpern but Navene Koperweis

[@yrunaked4]

that snare is ear splitting and those chords in the rhythm are thicker than Jiff. Javiers head banging is the real star performance here 😁

[@RedRose4711]

Tosin is a monster!!

[@realhighendglassforsale5226]

love the air drums....

[@yuggothfungi]

My personal favourite from them is Behaving Badly.

[@Kebabayeb]

🤯 never knew it was Matt from Periphery on the drums!

[@lw1zfog]

Dear Daily Doug, check out ‘A Reshuffling of Atoms’ by Mattias Eklundh

[@t3hgir]

Amazing album, should note that the drums on the first AAL are programmed and done pretty much entirely by Misha Mansoor of Periphery. Makes it even more impressive that Navene Koperweis and later Matt Garstka would learn this material that wasn't even played by a human drummer.

[@t3hgir]

and of course Doug researched this and mentioned it right after I typed the comment LOL

[@phil2024x]

Nice reaction!

[@GdzieJestNemo]

you can look up somehow similar band that manouvers between metal and jazz - Cynic; songs like "King of those who know", "evolutionary sleeper" or "Adam's Murmur"

[@jko4949]

The new album is sick, take a listen!

[@lawrencehodge7085]

that riff form the 4:47 I believe it´s 7/8 but it´s going by so fast that it lends to 3/4! ;) I could be wrong! .

[@CYBERFROG2077]

"They musta warmed up their fingers" Nah thats just Tosin at work, good ol Tosin

[@ckokomo808]

I’d be curious for you to check out some of their newer stuff. I’d say it’s a just as intricate but a bit more digestible. Maybe Red Miso or Arithmophobia.

[@boogabuga7657]

Actually the drummer in this video is Navene Koperweis, not Matt Halpern.

[@migerrancan554]

doug is so autistic i love it, man always starts stimming out like me, what a legend