ANIMALS AS LEADERS // Better Than Human

Animals As Leaders with Nick Johnston + Plini, The Metro Sydney 26 February 2017

There isn’t much positivity coming out of Washington D.C. these days, but Animals As Leaders certainly make it more bearable. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to come tour Australia for a bit as the D.C. trio recently released their fourth studio album, The Madness of Many.

You’d never know it was a Sunday show as the space was limited and good luck getting to the bathroom. With support from Nick Johnston and Plini, the crowd anxiously awaited the start of the deafening set that Animals as Leaders would perform. As they emerged around 9:15, it was time for The Metro sound crew to dig in and push the sound. 

Progressive metal can be absolute disaster if not played with the right feel as it would sound like that time your brother tried to learn guitar but instead just played power chords on a busted amp he found at the corner. Fortunately for us, Animals as Leaders came out thrashing, bursting through their catalogue of hard hitting jams. There are few players in the metal community that can play with the precision of Tosin Abasi and the intense facial expressions of Javier Reyes. Let’s not also forget about the agile hands of Matt Garstka who gave the drums something to cry about, but the kind of crying after you finish your Halal Snack Pack and want more. The trio was more in sync than that 90s boy band you still deny listening to, and connected with the audience from start to finish with an array sound you can only hear in distorted amps on stage. 

If you came to the show expecting to have a decent time, you assumed incorrectly. From the head nodding to the ever so evident progressive metal shoulder dance, it was a ripping gig, not decent. I honestly cannot image missing a Sunday show like this, even if metal isn’t your thing, appreciate the intricate art that is Animals As Leaders. If you missed them in Sydney, hop on a train, bus, plane, car or even walk, but make sure you get to them before they head back to that frightening country run by a man covered in fake tanner and even worse policies. With dates still remaining in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, surely you can find something moderately close to your residence. While you’re at it, put your metal face on and listen to their newest release, The Madness of Many, It’s been out since November, get on it. 

Animals As Leaders Photo Gallery