Animals as Leaders

Lore & Background

The band toured extensively in 2010, including the Summer Slaughter Tour, and later toured with Circa Survive, Dredg, and Underoath. In 2011, they released their second album, Weightless. Drummer Navene Koperweis left in March 2012, and Matt Garstka joined that month.

The band's third album, The Joy of Motion, was released via Sumerian Records on March 25, 2014. Subsequent albums include The Madness of Many (2016) and Parrhesia (2022). In a February 2025 interview, Abasi said the band plans to begin pre-production of a new album.

Reader's Guide

Animals as Leaders is significant for pioneering instrumental progressive metal within the djent scene, blending progressive rock, jazz fusion, funk, and electronica. Their use of two eight-string guitarists without a bass player created a distinctive, low-end-heavy sound. The band's technical proficiency and complex compositions have influenced modern metal and guitar playing.

Their debut album, released on Prosthetic Records, established them as a key act in the genre. Subsequent albums like The Joy of Motion and Parrhesia expanded their reach, with singles such as 'Monomyth' being sampled by JPEGMafia. The band's longevity and continued touring, including support slots for guitar legends Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, underscore their legacy as a leading instrumental metal act.

Did You Know?

• The band's name was inspired by Daniel Quinn's 1992 novel Ishmael, which addresses anthropocentrism.
• The track 'Monomyth' was sampled by rapper JPEGMafia for the song 'END CREDITS!' on his album LP!.