I agree, this music is not for the masses. This is basically music for musicians, it showcases the insane level of talent but most people will just hear noise.

@Youshallbeeatenbyme

3 жыл бұрын

My first thought was "I'm not a musician though", then I remembered that I'm a singer. Lol. You're right on with this comment.

@kraterkop

3 жыл бұрын

I'm a air drummer / air guitarist....does that count?

@emmanuelmiquet4508

3 жыл бұрын

Well, I technically am a very basic musician "noodling" on the guitar, but I have no idea how they perform at such high technicity, speed, quality..., yet I do enjoy it A LOT! ^^

@MrChrislur

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not a musician at all, but i freaking love this song.

@benjaminandrews1738

3 жыл бұрын

I'm no musician but most of my close friends are.

'Woven Web' by Animals as Leaders is an easy recommendation.

@Rhodiac

3 жыл бұрын

Ooooofffffff

@benflewelling8592

3 жыл бұрын

YES

@spaantz

3 жыл бұрын

I remember Woven Web was the first song of theirs I listened to. I didn't bother listening to anything else from them for a while because I didn't think there would be anything as good as Woven Web. I was wrong

@lukesorensen9432

3 жыл бұрын

definitely one of their most fully realized tunes

@XoXitsSaruhh

3 жыл бұрын

Also Tooth and claw and brain dance.

Tosin really is that guy that makes you want to buy an 8 string guitar, lock the door and spend the next 8 years practicing 24/7 and just open the window and throw all your gear out because you know you'll live the rest of your days frustrated there's no chance to get on his level at the same time.

@nickbarrett3163

3 жыл бұрын

I'd never heard AAL when I saw them with the Devin Townsend Project. Three songs in I turned to the guy next to me and said, "I'm done. I'm selling my gear and taking up golf."

@ericthorpe5670

2 жыл бұрын

@@nickbarrett3163 ...but what he didn't know was that Tosin plays in the masters every year.

@Rio_whelshula_games.

2 жыл бұрын

I think playing golf while listening to AAL is the way to do it

@Odd_Combo

Жыл бұрын

Never with that attitude.

@sjsphotog

11 ай бұрын

Amen

Hey Gang - The first upload got partially blocked on a copyright claim by WMG so I had to re-render with a static pic and not the original music vid. - watch gonna do. So hopefully this one won't get C-Blocked - Awwwwwwright!

@ShiivaWilding

3 жыл бұрын

Thumbnail only seems like the right way to go about this Geebz, I would stick to this as standard for these breakdowns, definitely don't want to see you get copyright striked off the platform!

@Mudified

3 жыл бұрын

Videos are a distraction anyway :-)

@IceKoldKilla

3 жыл бұрын

This sucks to hear. I do wonder how some channels manage to do it and continue. But hey, you do what you can and the important part is we hear you and get your perspective and knowledge. Anyone can watch the music video and listen to the song. It's about see what you have to say, at the end of the day.

@mikemaas9944

3 жыл бұрын

I’d love to be a student of yours. And I’d love to hear you jam some originals you wrote. I’ve heard some and it’s really good. You got a cool personality and maybe we could get a jam session vid? I’m freezing here with no power in Texas and this video made my night. Keep up the good work Geebz! Aloha

@willrichards4820

3 жыл бұрын

I'm just happy to see that so many of us enjoy such a wide variety of music collectively. A lot of the songs you've decomposed have a deep, unique and often very personal meaning to us on the individual level. Your reactions help us to find even more meaning, strengthening our bond to a song even more. Thank you for that. Still here, not leaving.

Abasi is probably the first guy since EVH to revolutionize guitar playing techniques to this level. The guy is just head and shoulders above all of his contemporaries. Selective picking/thumping/tapping who thinks of that and how???

@RohannvanRensburg

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah this isn't hyperbole. He does something completely different with the instrument.

@brandonmalone5758

3 жыл бұрын

You ever see him play? It’s like he can play this while talking about metaphysics. Effortless playing.

@RohannvanRensburg

3 жыл бұрын

@@brandonmalone5758 It's a great example of mastery

@hillbillyheadspace

3 жыл бұрын

@@brandonmalone5758 yeah him just noodling while talking with Rick Beato is madness

@AchillesStandsOn

3 жыл бұрын

Apart from his otherworldly talent and musical intelligence, he's a testament to effective and dedicated practice. You can tell the guy plays for hours upon hours, but to effective purpose, perfecting techniques and ideas and using those hours and hours to continue to improve.

Never clicked so fast in my life after the first post teaser

@gcvibe

3 жыл бұрын

Was about to say the same !

@lashedandscorned

3 жыл бұрын

same

Animals as Leaders is a 3-men band. No bass, no vocals. just 2 8strings guitar players and the drummer.

@Koivisto147

3 жыл бұрын

sometimes they record with a bass added tho, like with this song

@gus2n

3 жыл бұрын

@@Koivisto147 there is always recorded bass. the recorded bass track is used in the live backing track. On this album it was actually recorded with a guitar and pitched down though.

@Trisket

3 жыл бұрын

@@gus2n yeah, iirc the first album is just Tosin with Misha Mansoor of Periphery programming drums. Javier and Navene joined for touring.

@juankshalonga7190

3 жыл бұрын

These guys play chapman sticks?

@TV_Offroad

3 жыл бұрын

@@juankshalonga7190 no. Previous Tosin had a signature Ibanez, he now uses his own brand of guitars! Abasi Guitars! I’m not sure what Javier is playing these days.

9:24 10 years later still getting goosebumps from that transition

@ConnorHammond

Жыл бұрын

For me it's 13:24. That drop into the solo G's me up so much

@ptrickthepat

Жыл бұрын

@@ConnorHammond 10000% that transition after the solo to that fucking riff he plays…

fun fact, this track is from the first album, which was essentially a Tosin solo project produced by Misha Mansoor (the founder of Periphery). Drums were programmed. This fact makes Garstka's drumming on this song when they play it live now even more impressive considering he's replacing programmed drums. :)

@pascalschulz5894

2 жыл бұрын

AND Garstka doesn't look like he almost dying while playing those songs, which is even more impressive. :D

@sharinglungs3226

2 жыл бұрын

I do find the drum timing very odd, there’s some snare hits that seem off. A bit disconnected like three musicians playing their own song.

@JessieJames0317

2 жыл бұрын

Misha programs his drums to be playable by a real drummer. He doesn’t go crazy and write stuff that’s impossible to play because it’s not tasteful in the majority of cases. Misha understands that a person only has four limbs to play with.

@jamielatty5740

Жыл бұрын

I didn't realize that. Even more impressive

@DeathN0cturnal

Жыл бұрын

You have to give their OG drummer credit. Navene Koperweis is another underrated monster drummer that played this shit live, and also helped write drums for their 2nd album

I don’t know about this band’s intention but a CAFO (Kay-foe) in the ag industry is an acronym for “confined animal feedlot operation”.

@larryhaug71

3 жыл бұрын

Along with the band name, it makes sense to me. Orwells Animal Farm perhaps

@Ciscokehd

3 жыл бұрын

​@@larryhaug71 from wikipedia: "The name Animals as Leaders was inspired by Daniel Quinn's 1992 novel Ishmael, which addresses anthropocentrism. Abasi coined the name as a reminder "that we're all essentially animals". I would have thought Animal Farm as well.

Fun fact: the "bass" part and the lead tapping part you're talking about around the 4 minute mark is all the same guitarist at once. He's using an 8 string, using his left hand to tap the bass part, and playing the leading melody with his right. Edit: here's a timestamped video of him doing it if you're interested: kzread.info/dash/bejne/nGZk0reFfZSTqJc.html

@halsamuelson3820

3 жыл бұрын

7 string

@static_motion

3 жыл бұрын

@@halsamuelson3820 Tosin primarily plays 8 strings. Although the original iteration of Cafo was played on a 7 string, so I'll give you that.

@samuelbalanin331

2 жыл бұрын

That blowed my mind. Dude those guys are completey insane. I just discovered them now, i regret i didnt it before.

@static_motion

2 жыл бұрын

@@samuelbalanin331 Enjoy man, I wish I could forget all about them just so I could listen to them for the first time again. Their stuff has radically changed how I look at music in general.

I love the way he tries to tell us stuff silently with gestures while he listens because he doesn't want to interrupt the song.

@TCP_dizzy-kf6rx

2 жыл бұрын

Fr even he didn’t want to stop it’s so beautiful

Tosin Abasi is in a track of Tigran Hamasyan's new album! Check it out!

@redshift912

3 жыл бұрын

Totally . That whole album is amazing

@Easy_Skanking

3 жыл бұрын

The song is called "Vortex" and is really interesting just like the rest of Tigran's music.

@gcvibe

3 жыл бұрын

@@redshift912Like all of them! ahah I love "Ara Ressurect"

Don't forget to just listen to the drummer's right hand if you feel you're losing your place.

@abcrx32j

3 жыл бұрын

At least for the time when Matt wasn't in the band

@cgafken

3 жыл бұрын

Those are programmed drums on this album

@gielv97

3 жыл бұрын

@@cgafken I thought Navene Koperweis played drums on this album.

@nicholascrockettfilms

3 жыл бұрын

@@gielv97 Nah Navene didn't join until Weightless.

@metallon

3 жыл бұрын

@@cgafken yes, but it seems dumb to say "listen to SD's right button" or some shit. Figure of speech.

Of particular note: the self titled AAL album is Tosin Abasi on all instruments, the drums are samples and programmed. This is literally more of a self recorded composition than a band playing the song.

@dreamgames8551

3 жыл бұрын

Don’t forget Bulb’s involvement.

I have never enjoyed a reaction vid before. One day I was bored and decided to click on an Opeth reaction video. Well, I'm pretty sure I've seen every video since Harlequin Forest even if I didn't like a song or band you reacted to. Keep up the great work and thanks for all you do for the kids too!

@KeyOfGeebz

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you!

@SynysterPlague7

3 жыл бұрын

Reaction videos are good when the one reacting is giving professional input, or breaking it down I feel

pretty sure this was recorded in an apartment with a line 6 pod on a gaming PC. lol co-written with the main guitarist/songwriter of Periphery

@OvergrownWithTheMoss

3 жыл бұрын

Seriously? Source?

@Koivisto147

3 жыл бұрын

@@OvergrownWithTheMoss I remember hearing about the line 6 pod and gaming pc thing in an old interview with misha or tosin. AAL's Wikipedia says misha wrote some synth and overdubs and programmed some drum parts for the first album and produced it. Misha had a larger role in The Joy of Motion actually helped write a lot of the riffs and drum and synth parts, while Nolly helped write Tooth and Claw.

Just wanted to say you're probably my favorite react channel and the amount of depth you go into is amazing.

@waxtrax_

3 жыл бұрын

me too. i'm not a musician, but it's so interesting to hear these songs being broken down into their bare essentials in such a clear and concise way. it's really great stuff.

@rakjel5855

2 жыл бұрын

I love how he reacts and breakdown the musics he reacted on

Oh by the way, when they play this live they usually end it by having their human dynamo, Matt Garstka, creating a percussive meteor storm while they loop the rhythm riff in the background. Usually at the end of the show too. Front row viewers have been known to spontaneously combust.

@kfabick

3 жыл бұрын

Garstka is such a beast!

I was lucky enough to get to see these guys when they were still openers. My first thought was "Why do they need 8 strings?". I quickly found out when they started playing. Might have been 10 years ago, before 8 strings became kinda normal.

@RasheedKhan-bm8fm

2 жыл бұрын

"Why do they need 8 strings?" - Top 10 Anime Plot-Twists of All Time

Saw these guys open up for lamb of God and Killswitch.. I love all three but damn! Animals as leaders came to frigging destroy!! Everyone was frozen and mesmerized! My drummer and I saw it so many people even wearing lamb and Killswitch merch left early after hearing them before hand. They stole the entire show!!! Randy even said they were insane and next level and something that just blew there minds to see on tour! And uncomparible and gave them a huge shout out. Needles to say animals got the most cheers in the house. They were just next level wild. And they closed with this song. And that scale he fingertaps he def hit a boost pedal on it and that screamed!!!!

4:27 Sir, that clean sound is all Tosin. He's playing it all at once. Also, if you like this band, you should check out The Glass Bridge and Cylindrical Sea. They have some more of that incredible musicianship, and the latter has some more of those INSANE sweeps you mentioned in this video.

@JoshStobart

3 жыл бұрын

This. Tosin is a beast with a bugged thumb that nature didn't decide to patch because he uses it well.

@robadobflob3405

3 жыл бұрын

@@JoshStobart I have a near 90° hitchhiker's thumb and people comment on it, but that man could teach 5th grade math with that thumb... The only acute angle hitchhiker's thumb I've seen, and you're very right when you say he puts it to good use. Man's whole technique in the picking hand revolves around it, even his normal picking posture is unattainable to 99.999% of the population.

@static_motion

3 жыл бұрын

@@robadobflob3405 I have a 90º hitchhiker's thumb aswell. I had a brazilian guitar teacher for about a year that had an acute-angle thumb, kind of like Tosin's, but the guy had hitchhiker's... Everything. Every single finger of his bent back significantly with his hands outstretched. It was freaky, but the guy was an absolute beast at guitar.

@disastermidi1990

3 жыл бұрын

@@JoshStobart he literally invented a new technique it’s crazy shit

A great testament to this first AAL album is that you can hardly tell the drums are programmed

We gotta get a listen through of the brain dance by these guys. The mix on that is so damn good

On impulse- animals as leaders please. It’s my stairway to heaven!!

"The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing" by Animals as Leaders is a great song.

Learning this on drums currently, great song!

@derricktipps9867

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Got my kit set up in garage and i wanna put my headphones with this track on and try to keep up.

@tcpowered13

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck

@derricktipps9867

3 жыл бұрын

@@tcpowered13 emphasis on the word try

@tcpowered13

3 жыл бұрын

@@derricktipps9867 haha

@tcpowered13

3 жыл бұрын

I need myself an 8 string

You should watch a live version of this. In that part where the "bass" part is in sync with the kick drum, the second guitar player (Javier Reyes) stops playing and gets the crowd to clap in unison to that part!

Rick Beato has interviewed Tosin Abasi at least a couple times on his channel. I could listen to him just talk music almost as much as I could listen to his playing. 😂

Animals As Leaders @ Brutal Assault live playing the Woven Web and CAFO is one of the best videos of them on KZread. Matt playing CAFO on drums instantly improves this massively and they sound amazing live. Great react/review!!

This comment is designed to help out with the KZread algorithm.

@genericname9875

3 жыл бұрын

This reply is designed to help out with the comment algorithm

@joeyuzwa891

3 жыл бұрын

this reply is also designed to help out with the youtube algorithm

@JohnGarryDrums

3 жыл бұрын

This comment is designed to help out with the KZread algorithm.

@doozythedoctor

3 жыл бұрын

This comment is to express my gratitude for people designing comments to help out with the KZread algorithm.

@samsavage712

3 жыл бұрын

This comment is to express my gratitude for people designing comments to help out with the KZread algorithm.

Fun Fact: ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Those are programmed drums on this album, created by Misha of Periphery. Navene joined the band on drums after this album was finished. Also their second album, “Weightless”, which is the only album Navene plays drums on is so so so underrated. Finally please react to “The Brain Dance” by the band. Its insane

@Some.Donkus.

2 жыл бұрын

I love Weightless, it was my favorite album of theirs for quite some time

This is what I term "an accumulative track" In that its about the end riff , but that end riff is defined shaped and given context by how you get there (the rest of the track). This is not to say its the only good bit of the track, but its for sure the stand out part. This band and Tool do this, you know its building to something, you are never sure what, but you know until that point you are receiving the foundation, or even something designed to juxtapose what is coming. Opeth also do that kind of thing. All 3 bands do it in different ways, but they all have that concept of building to a specific theme or riff that marks the climax of the track and it always feels like the destination (almost like root note in a scale) They create that tension across the track and resolve it with the final main theme. The main theme is always gold, but its made exceptional with the push pull tension release of journey, and it make the resolution so satisfying (sometimes they hint at the main theme, sometimes its played earlier in the track, sometimes not) I wish they had not faded the end

@jordanJ_777

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome explanation bro

Tosin has literally changed the way some people play guitar. Hes inventive in ways that I'll never understand. Buuut, as a drummer, my love falls with Matt and his polyrythmic beastness!

Great song! Tosin Abasi is on another level when it comes to guitar playing and song writing. Definitely come back to Gojira eventually. Just put out a new song today!

@hoopsmccann639

3 жыл бұрын

yeah! i watched the new video. it's sweet!

I've seen them live a couple of times over the years. A truly amazing experience.

I love how for most of this he just looks strained, like his brain is going to implode. You can see the universe behind those confused eyes.

@DougMPA

3 жыл бұрын

LOL its true.

Believe it or not the lower notes that match the kick in the first section are from the lead guitar while also doing the tapping. Javier Reyes, the other guitar player, does a very subtle tremolo picking part during the second half of that section

This track is from the first album and it's actually just Tosin playing everything, with his friend Misha Mansoor (of Periphery) producing the album, tracking the drums, and helping with compositional arrangements. Javier Reyes (their other guitarist) joined in when they began touring, and their current drummer Matt Garstka came on during their 3rd album.

My favourite AAL performance is CAFO and The Woven Web at Brutal Assault 21 metal festival

saw them once and had my eyes glued to matt garstka the entire time.

I would love to see you breakdown more Animals. Check out Lippincott, The Brain Dance, and Tempting Time

@gaborkrausz5402

3 жыл бұрын

Cool picks!

@Nightwishmaster

3 жыл бұрын

Tempting Time was my first exposure to AAL, I saw the performance Tosin did at Sweetwater some years back and I think that's an awesome way to introduce people to the band. When I first saw Tosin I had to pause it because I was laughing so hard, his fingers looked like spider legs or something, it was so unnaturally fast and fluid the way he moved around the fretboard was so unexpected that I had to pause it and regain my composure. To this day I've never seen any other musician be able to move their fingers the way he does. Everyone I've ever showed it to said something along the lines of "Wait, what!?". It's one thing to hear it but when you see the way he moves his fingers it's just...wow.

Interestingly enough I believe that the drums for his album were actually programmed by Misha Mansoor, the guitar player from Periphery. They later found a drummer to join the band once they started touring.

Was waiting for that one! Suggestions: Unexpect - The Quantum Symphony Diablo Swing Orchestra - Vodoo Mon Amour Beyond Creation - Omnipresent Perception Borknagar - Up North Black Crown Initiate - Invitation Native Construct - Mute

@christophergolden1635

3 жыл бұрын

Kudos on Native Construct. Worst thing about that band is they only made 1 album

@nonZensically

3 жыл бұрын

Oh man it's been a while since I saw Unexpected mentioned, god what a gem

everything off this Animals as Leaders album is amazing! This band was my first introduction to this genre. Thank you a lot for the reaction.. We love you

Just so you get more amazed, during the tapping that matches the bass kick, is done by the lead guitarrist as well. Left hand plays those bass notes while the right plays the higher melody.

Seeing them play this live was truly something else. Tosin (lead guitarist) uses a looper pedal to record the intro sweep arpeggios and continues playing double duty while pulling everything off flawlessly.

been waiting on this one for a while!!! This is crazy.

AAL is one of my fave djent/ prog bands. They are insanely talented. Yes they have 2 guitarists playing two EIGHT STRING guitars. Tosin Abasi ( lead) is one of the ultimate talents in modern metal. Hands down top notch. It's amazing the HUGE sound they get with only 3 guys like Rush did back in the day. Keep it up Geebz. Check out Modem Day Babylon and Distant Dream and Widek for some other great bands

Love the analysis and excitement as usual!

So glad you did this one! Love your work man x

Dude, these videos have been such a pleasure. Please keep it up, i seriously get so excited whenever I see a new video is posted. Thank you for all the work you’re putting into these videos. Also, someone get this man some Scale the Summit, STAT

Might I recommend reacting to After the Burial? They're pretty good.

@cgafken

3 жыл бұрын

YES!!!

@jettgroves6424

3 жыл бұрын

I really wanna hear his opinion on Neo Seoul or Laurentian Ghosts

@Angel68iou1

2 жыл бұрын

And or older Born of Osiris

might have been said already, but Tosin typically plays 8 string guitars , doing both bass and rhythm/lead parts. he also loops and plays over himself. The drummer that came in afterwards is an animal studio drummer basically kids a machine.

Just wanted to thank you on not only these outstanding reviews but your breakdowns really help me make and improve my own pieces as I'm quite inexperienced with it atm, thank you so much man

Hey man, absolutely love your analysis of and appreciation for the finer details of music. You acknowledge that they're masters of their craft but you don't let yourself succumb to amazement. Pretty awesome man.

This is the song that got me into animals as leaders. Such amazing musicians, Tosin is a god!

Also, I just wanted to add...watching you try to figure out the first two minutes of this....the look on your face!!! It was like you were impressed, angry, confused, and amazed all at one time! keep it up Geebz! We love you man! Aloha!

I have been discovering so much new music thanks to your channel!

I love you so much man, honestly, you are probably up there as one of the most personable and knowledgeable reactors out there. Always humble, always attentive, always open minded. It’s good to see this attitude twords a channel 👏🏻

The Falling Veil by Elder! You'll love it, a lot to unpack.

One of my favorite tracks of the past 10 or so years. Thank you for reacting!

I am so utterly impressed at the various bands you have reviewed. I NEVER would have expected to see you dive into Animals As Leaders, Protest the Hero, etc. Seriously kickass. Keep doing a great job!

About bass in Animals As Leaders, on their first album (which CAFO is from) they used pitch-shifted single guitar notes. Their second album Weightless was exclusively synth bass. The Joy of Motion, their third, has mixed synth bass and sometimes bass guitar (f.e. Lippincott, Tooth and Claw & Para Mexer - were played by their producer, Nolly). And The Madness of Many, their most recent work, I believe has both bass guitar and synth bass again, though fully played by Tosin/Javier (the guitar players)

You just earned subscriber. Loved the fact that you actually gave in-depth opinions instead of just staring at the screen. Absolutely awesome!

Now you need to react to AAL with Matt Garstka on drums. He's unbelievable. And Tosin is, well, Tosin. And Javier really keeps it all nicely molded together.

Great reaction, thanks! These guys are amazing on stage.

Great pick! Loved the mastodon video as well

You are the best reaction channel on here my guy. Being able to listen to a reaction like yours, referring to musician's trickery in playing halftime and such, keep it up! Also, haven't watched it yet but saw you uploaded a video on Danny Elfman. Yes. Absolute yes.

4:38 If you're curious, Animals As Leaders alternates between using 7 and 8-string guitars (this song is a 7-string song). They have no dedicated bassist, however, they always have some kind of bass track going on in the background, sometime played by an actual bassist.

Was waiting for this one!

2 years late here but definitely enjoyed your reaction of this track. Animals As Leaders is one of my top favorite bands and I'm definitely in that small category of instrumental listeners. your knowledge of music helped me understand more about music just in this video alone, and just discovered you too! You've gained a new subscriber thank you for the video!

Yes! At it again! This will impressive you for sure! (Commenting before watching 😁)

I'm glad you came back to this one in particular.

Woven web and brain dance are awesome, has more of their jazz side along with insane metal groove too in parts.

About time!❤❤

Scale The Summit is an amazing instrumental band as well

Perfect time for me to say check out some Intronaut!!

Saw them live!!!! AMAZING!!!!

You give new life to old music that wasn't fully understood. I love what you do and I wish your channel the best.

Best live show I've ever seen. They're spot on.

I was introduced to these guys at a live show in Boulder, CO. About half way through the show I turned around and saw the crowd. Nothing but musicians, standing perfectly still just watching every movement. Well, except those two girlfriends that were dragged to the show. Those two looked quite confused.

The part you were talking about with the bass sound lining up with the kick. It was one guitar doing both the low and tapping the highs at the same time in a polymeter. The second guitar is doing ambient work along with the pads.

I'd suggest "Wave of Babies" as the next place to go with this band...incredible piece of music, showcasing ALL of Abasi's insane talent. I first saw him live back in 2005, playing guitar for the metalcore band Reflux (who were opening for Strapping Young Lad), and I knew even then that I was witnessing something extremely special - a man (boy really) who was _in the process_ of becoming a guitar god. Normally, you see the end result...that's what gets the airplay, that's what gets the clicks. But to see all of that potential, not QUITE realized, but still so damned impressive...it was really unusual, and absolutely amazing. I got to talk to him after the show, got his autograph on my newly-purchased Reflux album (their only album), and walked away wondering just where he'd go from there. And I wasn't the only one blown away by Tosin Abasi back then...the reason Animals as Leaders exists is because an A+R guy watched a show on this VERY tour, and convinced his bosses to offer Abasi a record deal (for a solo album). And he declined! ...but only because he thought the whole thing was rather self-indulgent, and he didn't think he had that much to say at the moment. But the offer was a standing one, and after a couple years (where he actually went back to school, proving that even masters of their craft can still benefit from education), he decided he was ready. And the rest is history.

This is one of those songs where all of us remember the first time we heard this. We also remember introducing all of our friends to this. This the THE intro song to the progressive metal genre. Tosin is a freaking genius.

Aloha! Thanks for explaining thoroughly and clearly the components that go into this kind of technical group. I had no prior awareness to them the first time I saw them play during a live show. They completely killed it and perform their songs to perfection. It surely was a mind warping experience that unfolded the following evening, with Animals as Leaders and Intronaut opening up for Meshuggah.

Just pulled this video up and I'm excited for how you interpreted it

2 8strings guitar players and drummer tosin is such a beast =) all the band is amazing

The band is Tosin Abasi Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Javier Reyes Rhythm Guitar, Matt Garstka on Drums.

Wow what a fun react channel. Love your stuff, happy to see you do Snarky Puppy and animals as leaders.

Opened the video, immediately hit like. The best reaction brah around

Let’s thumb this up!!! This instrumental series is a great idea!

YUSSSSS PLEEEEEASE LOVE THIS BAND SO MUCH

Hey, I'm fairly new to this channel and just scratching the surface of you breakdown vids, and I'm loving your style and enthusiasm so far. It's cool to see an older generation with both experience in the music industry, and an appreciation for the art of heavy metal. I think a band you might really enjoy is Mandroid Echostar. They're a newer group that only released their first full album a few years ago, but they are super talented and I can't wait to see more of them. A great song to start with from them is Ancient Arrows. Keep on rocking dude!

My man the utmost respect for you and the channel you´re running here... Haken is also a band you could check, i´d love to see that, gone through all your tools (die hard fan here) and now im checking the rest... Created a channel to give you this comment i love your honesty in the content. Covid free hug from islander to islander (Cuban here XD)

Tosin Abasi is a freak of nature on that surf board with strings of his

This is probably mentioned elsewhere in the comments but at the time of recording this track (and the whole first album) 'the band' was just Tosin composing guitar & bass and the producer (Misha of Periphery) programmed the drums and additional arrangements.

Yeah! These guys are so good, this song is nuts!

Thank you so much for listening to Animals As Leaders one of the most amazing Bands ever. You need to listen to more of them you won't be disappointed, the best Animals As Leaders songs to listen to is all of them they don't have any bad songs, but one I think you would really enjoy is Brain Dance from their album The Madness Of Many.

oh, i've been waiting for this :D