Animals As Leaders Record Release Tour 3/2/14
Sumerian Records recording artist Animals As Leaders have hit the road and taken along fellow roster brothers After The Burial with them for a month long tour. Along for the ride is Animals As Leaders ex-drummer Navene-K and progressive instrumental metallers Chon. This tour could NOT be more perfect, easily one of the better tour packages that had each band compliment each other. While simultaneously, rile up the audience for each act coming up after the one that was currently on stage. This has been my third Irving Plaza concert this year of 2014, the venue has not disappointed fans thus far.
Chon opened up the show at 7:30pm to a very warm welcome. Never having heard of this band, I was floored when I got to hear their music. The music was quite a start to the show. I knew I was getting myself into an instrumental act easily thanks to the superb vibes of Animals as Leaders. However, THIS beginning was damn good. These guys were spot on and tighter than any opening act I have since Warner Bros. artists Gemini Syndrome. Although their genres are different, there is no denying how powerful this act is. Their lighting was the complete opposite. Sub par overall, with high concentrations of purple and blue but the moments of highly saturated fluorescent lights was the saving grace for my experience. No set-list was posted but go see them any chance you get. CHON!!!!!!!!!!
Navene-K was up next. The Animals As Leaders ex-drummer has built quite a reputation for himself. Besides working with them on the album “Weightless” back in 2011, he has worked on 3 albums with the band Animosity and also The Faceless. Getting back into the photo pit for this set, I asked fellow colleagues Kenny Batista and Mark Valentino who were at the front row, where the rest of the band was. Me being forgetful about who this man was, it dawned on me who I was FINALLY getting to see when Mark told me “HE is the band”. I could not have been more excited to see this man play his music and boy was it worth it. A 35 minute set which encompassed influences of many current drummers in the metal industry like Shannon Lucas, Joey Jordinson, Matt Halpern and Kevin Talley to name a few. The influences are all there in his technique, his ability to compose drums and mix electronica into his patterns. To top this off, I felt his lighting was the BEST of the night. The atmosphere was impeccable and complimented the music of Navene-K flawlessly. I managed to take photos from atop the balcony and saw the audience reaction to his work. Navene-K was humbled and happy. Expressing his gratitude to play his music for the crowd and even snapping photos with fans and myself after the set. You can check his music out on sound cloud and go back to the Animals As Leaders discography for his 2011 album “Weightless”
Sumerian Records double feature was up next and reeling from Navene-K & Chon’s set, I couldn’t be more excited. That was, until I saw the lights for After The Burial. This was a reunion of sorts for me personally. Being a huge fan of this band and NOT seeing them since my very first show back in 2010 with Veil of Maya on the “Crush Em All II” tour was enough time duration for this return. The band took the stage to a roaring ovation. Then, the look of anguish and despair filled my face. An amazing band such as this EASILY HAD THE WORST LIGHTING OF THE NIGHT. Severe concentrations of purples/reds and blues filled the stage with the dreaded camera nemesis of strobe lighting systems. Some shots were salvaged during this catastrophe but many of my photos were taking on the balcony or side-stage during their set. Anthony Notarmaso and company gave an incredible, commanding performance and have evolved into an act that demands crowd participation and havoc. From circle pits to even a deadly wall of death towards the end of the show, these guys put on something that this tour doesn’t have much of… VOCAL TYRANNY. Guitarists Justin Lowe and Trent Hafdahl, or dubbed the “Ibanez brothers” in my perspective due to their neon colored Ibanez guitars, are, and always have been, a force to be reckon with. With their new album “Wolves Within” released not too long ago, the band played new hits such as A wolf amongst raven’s, Pennyweight and Anti-Pattern while combining classics like Aspiration, the ever deadly Berzerker and Your troubles will cease and fortune will smile upon you. The seamless transition from high powered instrumentals to this was amazing. It flowed with such precise that paved a clear road for the finale.
Animals as Leaders is by far one of the BEST technically sound progressive metal bands with 2 of the best ex-drummers that are, or have been on the Sumerian roster. Those drummers are Matt Halpern, who is now in Periphery, and Navene-K who is pursuing his own independent endeavors in electronica and a self-debut album. Another “small world” moment is knowing that Misha Monsoor, guitarist for Periphery and fellow bandmate to Matt Halpern, was writing riffs with Tosin Abasi for the current album “The Joy of Motion” which see’s a March 25th release and recorded the band. 5 days before this tour is expected to end. Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes and Matt Garstka are a tour de force together. High energetic and technical music mixed with bright house lights and backgrounds that can only resemble a trance through time, you get a show unlike no other currently out there. Their set-list was monstrous with all the songs listed here: Tooth and claw, Do not go gently, Tempting time, Wave of babies, Ka$cade (New Song), Lippincott, Point to point, Price of badly, Espera, Physical education (New Song) and Weightless. Stay tuned for the new album drop and give these instrumental masters a listen if you haven’t. I assure you, the first time seeing them with Meshuggah and Intronaut at Roseland Ballroom was insane. This time, was 10 times better. Check out all the photos below and the flickr link with more features.
Catch you rockers on the flip side!
–Derek Soto–
Animals As Leaders Record Release Flickr Photos: Click here!
CHON Gallery
Navene-K Gallery
After The Burial Gallery
Animals As Leaders Gallery
