LIVE REVIEW: Animals As Leaders, Allt, O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, 02/11/2023
Photo Credit – Jack Geddes (Garage, Glasgow, 03/11/2023)
How does a band tell thought provoking stories without the medium of lyrics? Have you met Instrumental virtuosos Animals As Leaders yet? Through their sheer proficiency in rich synths, eight plus strings and pummelling percussion, this band expands the horizons of making you feel something through just music combining styles such as djent, prog metal and jazz alike. Finally getting to tell the tale of their last LP Parrhesia, an album that explores soul, feeling and emotions, Animals As Leaders put on a timeless masterclass in the art of instrumental proficiency on their Parrhesia Tour down at O2 Forum Kentish Town.
Swedish dark metalcore screamers Allt begin proceedings with a punishing blast of brutality. Making their second appearance back on UK soil in as little as four months coming off the back of the band making a main stage appearance at prog rock mainstay festival Radar Festival in July, Allt have brought a flavour of something new to their run with Animals As Leaders, debuting their new track The Orphan Breed on the eve of its release. A killer combination of Allt’s audacious blend of screamed vocals, complex layers and scatty synths throughout their djent flavoured set of nine back to back ragers including Paralyzed, Emanate and Blindsight, even if the crowd lacked in the energy department unlike they did for their hero’s Animals As Leaders later that same evening. 8/10
Listed in the names of djent and prog gods Meshuggah and Periphery, Animals As Leaders’ performance comes with that title too. And with the long awaited energy from a crowd waiting to see these lords in action since January, there was a certain level of expectation for Animals As Leaders down at the o2 Forum in Kentish Town and the three piece smashed through every single one of them. Making some of the most technically complex riffs and drum patterns ever written look like a breeze is something Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes and Matt Garstka take in their stride as their onlookers watch on in absolute amazement and jaw dropping awe as the band step out to the sound of opener Tooth and Claw.
Despite capturing the crowd with their innate ability to make musical madness look completely easy, Animals As Leaders on their largest London show to date are able to go on the other side of the how to work a crowd spectrum too. When the likes of the unmistakable Red Miso, The Woven Web or set closer Cafo kick in, you haven’t seen Kentish Town bouncy and scram in applause as much as this Animals As Leaders show makes you believe, at one point Tosin Abasi asking “I wanna see London’s version of a mosh pit on this next song.”
Leading the djent charge, Animals As Leaders put on a timeless masterclass in the art of instrumental proficiency on their Parrhesia Tour down at O2 Forum Kentish Town. There is no disputing that. 10/10
Written By: Katie Conway-Flood
