Animals As Leaders
Eight-string instrumental wizardry — Tosin Abasi rewrites what a guitar can do nightly, prog-metal precision that draws musicians the way other bands draw fans.
Animals As Leaders began in Washington, DC, in 2007 as a solo studio project for guitarist Tosin Abasi, after his metalcore band Reflux broke up. Prosthetic Records had noticed his playing and asked him to record on his own; Abasi initially declined, feeling it would be egotistical, and instead spent a year studying music before returning to record the band's debut.
The name comes from Daniel Quinn's novel "Ishmael," coined by Abasi as a reminder that people remain animals despite their pretensions. On the self-titled debut, released in 2009, Abasi played most of the guitar and bass parts himself, with some solos, drums and synthesized effects programmed by engineer Misha Mansoor of Periphery.
Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka, who replaced original drummer Navene Koperweis in 2012, rounded the group into its lasting lineup. Abasi plays extended-range seven- and eight-string guitars, using tapping, slap technique and unusual harmonic voicings, and the band's music combines progressive metal and djent rhythms with jazz harmony, electronic textures and shifting time signatures, carried entirely without vocals.
Following the debut, the band released "Weightless" in 2011, "The Joy of Motion" in 2014, "The Madness of Many" in 2016 and "Parrhesia" in 2022, touring steadily behind each. Animals As Leaders is widely cited within guitar circles as a reference point for modern extended-range playing, and its audience includes an unusually high proportion of other musicians.
Animals As Leaders at a glance
Where is Animals As Leaders from?
Animals As Leaders is from Washington, DC.
What kind of music does Animals As Leaders play?
Animals As Leaders is tagged instrumental prog.
What festivals has Animals As Leaders played before?
Animals As Leaders has played Louder Than Life 2026.
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