Animals as Leaders at Glasgow Cathouse
Animals as Leaders hail from Washington DC, and are a completely instrumental three piece, comprising of guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes, and the extraordinary Matt Garstka on drums.
Their music is simultaneously very heavy and intense, and also melodic and intricate. The 2014 album, ‘The Joy of Motion’, offers their most ambitious suite of music yet, with a very strong jazz based compositional flavour. It is still music that comfortably sits within the Metal genre, as the heavier technical musical passages easily testify too.
At a completely sold out gig at the Glasgow Cathouse on a Monday night in Glasgow, the band walk out on to the stage to the warmest of welcomes. The red strobes from the stage, enveloping the audience, set up exactly the right atmosphere. Opening number ‘Wave of Babies’ has that ‘felt through the floor’ really heavy riffing that sets the show alight from the very beginning. A flurry of solo jazz style notes hints at the vast musical landscape the band will explore from the stage tonight.
Nothing can prepare you for the overwhelming musical intensity that sweeps over you, as the band fire up their polyrhythmic hard-hitting guitar melodies. Animals as Leaders completely achieve the promise and ambition that the Djent movement in Metal promised, but seldom fully delivered. Tosin and Javier are such fluid and exciting players, and drummer Matt, easily one of the most talented drummers in Metal, plays literally a third lead instrument.
One of the highlights in this vein is a stunning live version of ‘Ka$cade’ from the ‘The Joy of Motion’ album. It’s a fast paced number with some almost impossibly agile and multilayered drumming from Matt. The heavy riff section creates some irresistible head banging in the audience, and the two guitarists hands seem to almost dance up and down their fret boards. A fabulous ringing guitar section shrouds the song in the most beautiful of melodies. This track played live, is just astonishing in its latent musicality and energy!
‘Another Year’, also from the ‘The Joy of Motion’ album, offers a joyous soul tinged melody, complemented by the warm purple lighting from the stage. The final soaring guitar section sounds almost as if the wonderful ‘Summer Breeze’ era Isley Brothers have joined the band on stage. Just perfect!
‘Physical Education’ takes the band into funk territory with its clipped rhythms, quirky guitar runs, and electronic type sounds. This is music to draw in both the mind and body.
Before the final number, Tosin announces touchingly from the stage… “Awesome… this show sold out with not a lead singer in sight, something purely instrumental”.
Without doubt, a strong candidate for gig of the year in Glasgow. Please check out the ‘The Joy of Motion’ album. You are seriously missing out on some special music if you don’t.
All gig photographs by Lewis Allen.
About the Author
Gareth Allen A committed metal head with a love of jazz, soul, and folk. Living in Central Scotland and attending gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with it's really amazing venues. My iconic moment... being invited on stage at the Glasgow Garage, by DevilDriver's Dez Fafara!
