Animals As Leaders "CAFO" First Ever Reaction by OldSkuleNerd 

I just wanna clear this up because it tends to come up: the fast sweep arpeggio pattern at the beginning and end of the song is played live by doing it several times and then tapping that into a loop pedal and then Tosin goes back to other parts. People seem to think hes cheating without realizing loop pedals are a thing

Well.. this is awkward. I have always avoided this band for some reason thinking of ''nah, this is not for me'' without actually listening to them basically at all. Guess how dumb I feel now?

OH SHIT!!....Bout to get a million views...also tonnes of hate comments. Can't wait to watch 😁

Just saw them live the other day in Cincinnati. Still together :)

The brain dance live! You'll cry😭

Was hoping Animals as Leaders' Brutal Assault live performance was going to be the one. Amazing performance with surprises from the drummer. Please check it out even if not recording.

Even though I discovered this song roughly a month after it was released, I get goosebumps every single time I hear it. Flawless. Also, I'm jealous you could experience it for the first time.

The drums on this track and the whole album were actually programmed by periphery guitarist misha mansoor. Check that band if you haven’t. They got their permanent drummer on the next album and honestly, he’s better than this by quite a bit. Also, meshuggah are the true grandfathers of djent. You need to hear them if you haven’t.

Animals as leaders started djent? You make a big number out of this being an 11 years old track? Bro, Meshuggah is the godfather of djent and they created this style back in the 80s.

I saw somewhere that Mike from Spiritbox borrowed one of Tosin's guitars for Circle with Me and has switched to the same guitar line if you haven't heard that yet.

Hell yes! I've been into this band for years...was introduced with this exact song.

All three of them are unbelievably talented!... In my opinion, technically, creatively, there is none better.. none... I'm a musician, and when a buddy of mine introduced me to AAL in 2009 it was really hard to continue to write music.. like what's the fuckin point?!... 😅

I hope you keep reacting to this band, you gonna enjoy it

The outro is so nice, lovely community

Yes! I've been waiting for this one. 2010 was a year of grand experimentation and new breakthroughs in metal. Devin Townsend had released Addicted. Meshuggah had released Alive. Jinjer had just formed. Animals As Leaders broke onto the scene.

My first concert was their 10 year tour

I just took. My seatbelt off in my car as you said that oldskulnerd 🤣🤣🤣 had to comment that when it happened

Rush nut here. I'm missed the boat on these guys also. They have quickly become inside my top ten favorite bands. If you want to experience their folksy sound and style, you got to watch Brain Dance live. It's their La Villa Strangiato but mostly acoustic. It's Amazing!!!

This has the structure of a symphony, with several movements and some underlying themes that connect them. All in 6 minutes. It's mind blowing. By the way, Tosin is self-taught.

I watched this entire reaction without my eyes ever leaving that awesome dog in the military officer's jacket...oh, and awesome react to an awesome song check out Matt Gatrska? Drum playthroughs if you haven't already ❤

This is awesome, it's like this song was meant for you. Check out The Brain Dance live, you'll love it

Now that you mention it- Tosin Abasi is like the future cyborg version of Vernon Reid from living Color- experimental and unique. But Vernon is a master improviser while Tosin is a master composer(not saying Vernon couldn't compose).

And as time passed with these guys, each member's influence on the others starts to be heard in the songs (this first AaL album was basically a solo project from Tosin Abasi, the 'lead' guitarist) So I want to suggest Javier Reyes' (the other guitarist) solo project, Mestis. It sounds reaaaal good. Also yes, they're still together, though the drummer in this video, Navene Kopperweis, isn't in the band anymore and has been replaced by Matt Garstka, who is, in my opinion, one of the best drummers around.

If you really want to hear them do a acoustic sound I'd recommend their song the brain dance. It's a fantastic song

Yep Javier rocks too

Guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka. As far as I know they are still together. They played one of the songs on the newest Bill &Ted movie also. Their live videos are amazing.

they are perfect live, you need to check out some live videos and yes they are still together. touring with dance gavin dance this fall.

You need to find the show where Guitar Center showcases this band. A very good watch.

The new drummer, matt garstka is absolutely insane. Check out one of his drum play throughs! Ectogenesis is a good one

Been listening to these guys for many years, seen them live as well, of course they can deliver. Drummer in this video is Navene Koperweis, which is one of my favorite artists, but which has been replaced by Matt Garska. He has produced awesome metal so far, besides AAL (Animosity, Fleshwrought, Entheos) and he's pretty good at guitar as well and electronic music (check Navene-K). Regarding the guitars, Tosin Abasi is well known for his unique style using bass techniques among other stuff, but Javier has a ton of influence over the sound of AAL. Just give a listen to his project, Mestis, really worth it. Still, I'd say that Planet X kind of blows this out of the water. Their "Moonbabies" album was released in 2002, so almost 20 years ago.

They still active , last time I saw them they were playing with Meshuggah Tosin Abasi is 38 if Im not mistaken but I agree one of the best Metal bands right now for sure.

"Are They Still Together": They are working on a new album. Also check on youtube the channels of each members.

I love Animals As Leaders. I was introduced to them back in 2010 by an old roommate. Truth be told, I believe Javy Reyes is the one playing the bass line in their music. If you like them here, check out Javy's band Mestis. Try Mt. Pleasant from Mestis. Youl have a chance to hear hin in his own fronting role.

You have to check out more. And live.

I would love to bring you back even further to a band that, if was debuting in the present, would be a top contender in the metal scene amongst Periphery, Protest the Hero, Spiritbox, etc. Check out The Human Abstract - Vela, together we await the storm

It's time for a reaction

You need to check out Protest the Hero - The Fireside from their latest album Palimpsest... One of the best Prog/Rock/Metal songs I've heard... The whole album Palimpsest is fantastic also

Treating the fretboard like a piano.

They have tons of banging songs, but you owe it to yourself to check out Wave of Babies.

lol living color 😂 true tho lol that’s what I thought my first time seeing this band

Uneven structure - outlaw Pls!!

You like prog you say? Check this thing: Tigran Hamasyan - Drip (Berklee Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble Studio Recording) (hey, they have two drummers, 6-string bass and a 7-string guitar, I think it qualifies as metal of sorts. And it's heavy af) This is what happens if you have classical pianist who grows up with Meshuggah, and a bunch of people who likes technicality in music in one place : ) Also, he did at least one track with Tosin from AaL, so that too.

Dont miss Periphery, Haken, Between the Buried and Me just to name a few.

Ehhhhh AAL is fantastic, I got to meet Tosin at a guitar clinic a few years back, he's so cool

Live performance you say? It needs to be Brain Dance!

these dudes rule

CAFO isn't a random word, it stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.

while you are in prog instrumental land, check out polyphia, chon, scale the summit, vitalism, the helix nebula, covet, night verses.

Times for more Liliac. Last in Line dropped on the 10th.

You get theres no bass. Well done. Ahead of many here

man if you like progressive rock you gotta check out "arriving somewhere but not here" by Porcupine Tree (the video is live and it's amazing) it's like RUSH and Pink Floyd wrote METAL

Man listen to their track Wave Of Babies. It's insane.

Ok, OSN, you get a pass. I've been suggesting this since I first found your channel, and you never heard of them? That's ok, I know you're busy. Bottom line, these guys are on another level.

brutal assault 21 live is awesome

From back when toisin was thin hahaha

not becouse is black.. well they got it right in the blood and thats a fact! aal its just awesome

There a cool russian gal, 2Sich on youtube. She's brilliant and funny.

Between the buried and me are the modern prog kings

Z

these dudes rule