ANIMALS AS LEADERS - "WEIGHTLESS" ALBUM REVIEW

[njudndudi]

I agree that there isn't really a stand out track on this album but I always listen to it as a whole ...kinda piece and it all feels so fluent, like it's a single track. 8,5/10 from me :)

[duff5000]

lool little tip, less "you know". Other than that great review, I love this album

[vef444]

His new album sucks. I'd give it 3/10. The old one, back from 2009, was incredible, 9/10.

[capturethelife]

@vef444 AAL new album's is easier to appreciate if you're a fan of Allan Holdsworth

[vef444]

@capturethelife Thank you sir, for introducing me to Allan Holdsworth. Thank you.

[LedZepGuitarman]

@vef444 The new album is better compositionally, I thought it was pretty poor given the first listen, it really does take a lot of listens to appreciate properly. As the interviewer said it is more about the whole band. It is a completely different album to the first so as such takes time for you as the listener to get used to.

[vef444]

@LedZepGuitarman I don't like to lie to myself.

[Tx1911]

Awesome !

[JonEatsAirplane]

fabio listens to prog?!

[AbsentProductions]

@JonEatsAirplane Yes, it is me, Fabio... I am handsome, yeah? You want headshot? I get you headshot..

[AbsentProductions]

@trailbill93 Ha, that's pretty funny. What does Mitt have to do with Animals as Leaders? Hmm.. Conspiracy?

[AbsentProductions]

@trailbill93 Haha, what?!

[TheR34P3RM4N]

Frikin Awesome!

[AbsentProductions]

@TheR34P3RM4N Damn right!

[ObzenMonk]

Good review, watch how much you say and repeat "ya know?" though, a little constructive criticism. It's noticeable enough to distract from what you're saying. Rehearse more before recording it.

[AbsentProductions]

@ObzenMonk Yeah, haha. That's just kinda my "bridge" from one statement to the next, or whatever.. Everyone does it at points. I actually don't plan these at all, aside from a few notes I write down on a piece of paper I keep in front of me to keep my thoughts together. The camera gets turned on, and I go on a whim. I feel that's the best way to review, so you don't feel scripted.. I hate watching reviews where people planned out everything word for word! It doesn't seem natural. This is.

[lifeside091]

I noticed the same thing as @RedCl0ud22 about the snare hits. Way to quiet in this album. Other than that, it is pretty perfect. The first time I listened to it, it was a bit too much to handle. Since then it has grown on me tremendously. Especially the song "Do Not Go Gently". Amazing song, amazing album, though still a little bit much to handle at some parts. 9/10 as well.

[AbsentProductions]

@lifeside091 This album certainly has that potential to go right over your head.. A few times.. But, as you continue to listen to it I feel it will grow on you, and become easier to understand. You begin to process the individual parts working together like clockwork.. And then the entirety of the song makes sense.

[AStickyL0ad]

The quality of Weightless is a lot better, but the second half the album is as well written as the first EP in my opinion. I would give the first half a 9/10 and the second half a 8/10 I still believe AAL has the best execution of music as a whole, and I can't wait for new material to come out.

[AbsentProductions]

@AStickyL0ad Definitely. Their style of creating music is unmatched, as it stands. AAL are one of the, if not the most, innovative and potentially ground-breaking stylistic bands out there right. Tosin's playing is truly perfection.

[japda9]

i like anything they guys are on but i really think that misha made the first album what its is, saying that i feel as though if weightless was aal first release they wouldn't be anywhere near as popular as they are. THE DEBUT ALBUM IS A FUCKING CLASSIC!

[AbsentProductions]

@japda9 Without a doubt. But Weightless will go down as an incredible album as well.

[RedCl0ud22]

This album seems way heavier, and I'm not sure why they decided to take that direction. :( The long bass drum runs take away from the songs, in my opinion. Maybe I'm just not used to it in AAL songs. I don't feel that anything can beat CAFO, Song of Solomon, and/or Behaving Badly! Haha. But Weightless is still pretty sweet. David, Isolated Incidents, and Odessa are my favorites.

[RedCl0ud22]

@RedCl0ud22 I don't like the mixing either. The bass drum hits are way louder than in the other album, and the snare drum hits are not loud enough. I liked how the snare drum hits were very dominant in the first album.

[AbsentProductions]

@RedCl0ud22 The whole album is amazing! Haha, as if you didn't know my opinion on it already. You named 3 of my favorites off the first release, too.. Nothing is truly meant to top the first album, but to be a companion and a step forward from it!

[incredible916]

Mishas drumming is far better than Navines. The only improvement on the new album is the quality of the mix. However it is mixed way to bass heavy. The kick drum is pretty drowned out by the bass. The drumming as far as the snare goes is not great. The patterns that Bulb did totally complemented Tosins style. This is what made the first album epic. The arrangements had more direction, and were beautifully written. The only thing that needs to be done is get it remastered by a top engineer.

[AbsentProductions]

@incredible916 The first albums main flaw was the mixing.. It was harsh at points. Almost flat at times. I personally love the drumming Navine did on this album, and I also love the work Misha did on the first.. So I'm not complaining either way. Both have awesome production skills and can make one hell of an album. The thing is, the first album was ALL about Tosin. Now this is about the band as a whole! No more Tosin one-man-show. Time for Animals as fucking Leaders!

[merrillmc]

I completely agree about earth departure, I seriously laughed when I heard it for the first time, its just so insane.

[AbsentProductions]

@merrillmc The whole album is pretty intense.

[cclus]

Doesn't make any sense that you would give it 9/10 just because *other* plp think that the first album is better than this one. How could this be the only determining factor from giving it a perfect score?

Give me a break.

[AbsentProductions]

@cclus An album truly only deserves a 10/10 perfect score when I feel that nothing can possibly top it. A 10/10 shows that that is the epitome of the bands success. Just imagine if AAL made a concept album, or something.

You know they have more up their sleeves. Like wizards do.

And of course, Tosin is truly a wizard.

9/10 is as close as it can come for now. This album is perfection, but you know this band has enough talent to one up it even further.

[LedZepGuitarman]

@AbsentProductions just want to say thanks for the video, I thought you were spot on and I appreciate the dedication in terms of your listening to it in such detail as it really does take ages to get in to. You should do a review of the T.R.A.M album when it comes out as that is a project with Tosin and Javier and make some comparison of it to AAL. :)

[AbsentProductions]

@LedZepGuitarman Thanks! Don't you worry, I will be reviewing it. I just have to get it first.

[LedZepGuitarman]

@AbsentProductions awesome ! Nice one man :)

[AbsentProductions]

@brunthroath6912 I personally think it's better than their debut. They've got the whole band working together, creating an absolute masterpiece. The first album was based around portraying Abasi's amazing skill.. Now this was the band making their first real album :)

[brunthroath6912]

@AbsentProductions Yes you 're right about that it will grow on me eventually;)

[AbsentProductions]

@brunthroath6912 And rightfully so! Maybe it won't stick to you on the first listen like the first album did, but if you look at this thing as a whole.. You'll see the beauty in it, and you'll appreciate it for the masterpiece that it truly is.

Also, why'd you remove your previous comment??

[brunthroath6912]

@AbsentProductions Oh i felt as if my comment was worthless since i gave the album 2 full listenings.

[AbsentProductions]

@brunthroath6912 No, definitely wasn't worthless.

[Subdermael]

great review man, I completely agree with you on this. the band as a whole writing was so noticeable and was very enjoyable. and I hope you're going to buy the legitimate album!

[AbsentProductions]

@Subdermael I most certainly will, without a doubt! Just a matter of going out and buying it. This is one of those bands that I'd do absolutely ANYTHING to support.

[silhouettesuk]

Hey, I had a little chat with them back in August when my band were fortunate enough to play with them. They did say that the drums weren't recorded on an acoustic kit but still used superior 2.0 My hunch is he used that electric kit in their studio videos and in used the midi data and edited it.

[AbsentProductions]

@silhouettesuk Ah, I guess I misjudged. I thought they were using "real" drums, as in Navene actually playing rather than using just a program (Like Superior) to make the drums. I guess sampling through Superior gives the same effect..

I mean the drums sound pretty real to me, do you agree?

[silhouettesuk]

@AbsentProductions Yeah man, really good review by the way i thought you really hit the nail on the head with your comparisons with both albums. I must say there are no stand alone 'cafo' tracks on the new album but its just some of the best written music i have heard. I find my self listening to it the whole way through rather than picking out tracks apart from David, I could listen to that all day long !

[AbsentProductions]

@silhouettesuk Thanks! Means a lot to hear positive feedback. That is what keeps us going.

Apart from Cylindrical Sea and Isolated Incidents, I can agree that no standalone tracks compare to CAFO. It is a masterpiece meant to be listened through in it's entirety in a single sitting, IMO. That's how it feels. The first album feels more like a "you can pick and choose whatever song whenever" kind of ordeal.

David is such a strong finish to the album!

[shagfish]

Should receive this cd in the mail any day now! Thanks for the review:) Subbed

[AbsentProductions]

@shagfish Thanks!

[SpencerrWinterr]

Great review.

[AbsentProductions]

@SpencerrWinterr Thanks man, much appreciated.

[airbo0309]

This album is Progressive in every sense of the word, it's breaking boundaries and setting new ones. New Eden is my favorite, Do Not Go Gently is my second and Odessa third. What an album man awesomely insane cant get enough. Great review.

[911violentagro]

do you think i should download the album even though i already pre ordered it?

[AbsentProductions]

@911violentagro We always ask ourselves that question. It just comes down to how bad you really want it. It's all up to you in the end. :]

[9keepitchristian1]

where can i download it?!!!

[AbsentProductions]

@9keepitchristian1 You have to find that out for yourself. We do not promote piracy. And if you are to download, please buy it when it comes out.

And if they come around you, go to their shows and pick up some merch.

We seriously can't stress that enough, especially to the fucking trolls who think we promote piracy.

Go ahead and download it, listen to it, love it, and buy it in November <3

[CarsonsVideos]

I've been making messy in my undies all day to Weightless!!

[AbsentProductions]

@CarsonsVideos As have I! Did we just have.. Music sex?

[CarsonsVideos]

@AbsentProductions Great review. Holy Fuck!..This Album!.. Down to the last molecule, ingeniousness is achieved! I'm truly intrigued.

[eazyb33zy]

When you get the album, the first track you need to listen to is Do Not Go Gently. You'll cum buckets.

[AbsentProductions]

@eazyb33zy Absolutely every track is literally jizz worthy! Do Not Go Gently is up there as one of the best and most solid songs AAL have put out, in my honest opinion!

[MetalShin0bi]

Show some love from Javier, he's a great player too.

[AbsentProductions]

@MetalShin0bi I'm definitely not undermining him or his ability. From what I've seen, he's just as talented as Tosin, but I have yet to see him live (I am on the 30th) and I will not judge how he is until I see him myself.

[Uberpwnwoot]

if you only have one last thing to do in this life, please make it watching this with transcribed audio subtitles.

[AbsentProductions]

@Uberpwnwoot HOLY SHIT. That was hilarious.

[Fluffypopcicle]

@AbsentProductions

How can you review an album that hasn't been released yet?

[AbsentProductions]

@Fluffypopcicle It's out there. You can find it very easily if you wish to hear it.

[Fluffypopcicle]

@AbsentProductions

Well, it's not on youtube and that's for sure.

[AbsentProductions]

@Fluffypopcicle Well of course not. It'd probably be taken down due to copyright. There's OTHER ways of obtaining albums. >_>

<_<

I've said too much already!

[Fluffypopcicle]

@AbsentProductions

I would much rather wait until the album comes out instead of unrightfully steal a leaked album and not support an artist. The fact that reviews of an album that hasn't even been released are posted on youtube really makes me sick to my stomach.

[AbsentProductions]

@Fluffypopcicle Okay, first off, I've stated countless times now that I have this album pre-ordered and that I want everyone who has downloaded any current release to go out and buy it. I make damn sure I go out and buy any album I get online, within the first week of it's release.

I certainly don't see a problem with having reviews up like mine. Most are going to want to hear others opinions on the album before they buy it. And I gave mine, the reason for the review.

No need to be hostile.

[Fluffypopcicle]

@AbsentProductions

Sorry, that was a tad misleading. I should have separated that out properly. What I was trying to say is that there are cheap bastards that are just going to get the leaked stuff for free and not support the artist. Telling people that it's leaked is kind of like an invitation to go get the album for free.

[AbsentProductions]

@Fluffypopcicle Hey, no big deal..

I know there's people like that, and sadly I can do nothing about it except to try and persuade those who will listen to actually support the band.

We actually have a video entitled "WE SUPPORT CD'S" that touches on this very subject, if you're interested.

We fully support bands, we actually have tickets for an AAL show a week from Sunday. And we ALWAYS buy merch and albums!

I mean not to invite others to "steal" it, only simply to give it a listen.

[Pabbles123]

Not to call you out or anything, but why do you think the drums are real? I listened and thought they were just programmed really well. In their studio update it doesn't show a mic setup on the drums, even though Navene jams on them.

[AbsentProductions]

@Pabbles123 Over the past few months there's been several interviews and such where Tosin, as well as Navene, have stated the drums will be real this time around. Misha also said so (The guitarist of Periphery who also produced the first album) and since he wasn't producing this one, Navene took over the duty and decided to have real drum tracks. And I think it sounds fantastic. Sampled/Programmed drums have a certain sterility to them, ever so present on the first album and Periphery's.

[synawat]

@Pabbles123 what about an overhead mic...

[deathmetalCharles]

i just listened to isolated incidents. love the jazzy taps and sweeps then to aggresive metal riffs. FUCKING GREAT

[AbsentProductions]

@deathmetalCharles I know! I love every bit of it. I'm not quite sure where the hate on the track comes from.. I mean, that track can easily be called one that described AAL in a single song. Tosin's crazy tapping, jazz-y progressions, in-your-face djenting with the 8-string.. It has everything.

[NoaOno]

"more about song structure as a whole"

Most interesting thing in the whole interview.

When I had a CAFO period, (I listened to that song about 10 times a day), I showed it to a friend and musician who I look up to.(he is a fan of meshuggah by the way).After hearing it, he said, wow that's cool. But it's just like he puts that tapping thing after that heavy thing and then that fast thing, and there's nothing that characterizes the song as a whole.That, is the thing that makes weightless so good.

[AbsentProductions]

@NoaOno I feel that way about it as well. Most songs on the debut album were just several parts thrown together to form a single "Song". There wasn't much connecting those pieces together. It would go straight from glassy cleans to all out eight-string djenting. Not that it was bad, not by any means.. But it's not as structured like I said in my review. I feel Weightless trumps the debut in almost every way.. Structure and songwriting being the biggest things.

[NoaOno]

@AbsentProductions YES. That is true. But, perhaps his riff ideas was more epic on the debut. ? ;) At least a few of them are impossible to beat.

[AbsentProductions]

@NoaOno Oh I'm certainly not trying to compare them, riff-wise. Each song is unique and amazing in it's own right. I just feel Weightless OVERALL feels like a more complete record.

CAFO is certainly one riff off the debut that practically demolishes anything off Weightless.. I'll agree with you there :)

[GavHarrison2112]

Nice review sir! I respectfully disagree though. I've been obsessed with AAL's debut since fall 2009. Tosin = my #1 guitar idol. This being said, Weightless comes absolutely no where near the creativity, emotion, atmosphere, originality, and technical ability of the first. All tracks blend together, there's maybe two or three standouts, whereas the entire debut is ground-breaking. Weightless is miles ahead of most band's best work, but compared to AAL's debut, nowhere close (purely my opinion).

[AbsentProductions]

@GavHarrison2112 I definitely respect your opinion. Both albums have their pros and cons. I certainly feel there's less cons on Weightless than the debut, but each have their own personal flavor to it.

[AntsOfTheSky720]

I still personally prefer the first album because it felt like it had more emotion and diversity to it. I miss the slower clean aspects of the first one, like on impulse, modern meat, that lengthy solo in soraya. In my opinion the new album just has less emotional aspects

[AntsOfTheSky720]

Its definitely a more agressive album. I think they kick it up a notch as far as musical intricuicies

[AbsentProductions]

@AntsOfTheSky720 The band has definitely proven what they can do when they're given enough time together. :)

[SouLzZSkiLL]

New Eden is my fav on this album its just a crazy song but i think there first album and this one cant even be compared I mean you can still tell its animals as leaders from listening to it but there just a very different feel about it My only real complaint is that the songs are alot shorter

But all tho there's no songs like On Impulse or Behaving Badly, modern meat, Point to Point. Every song from the new album just seems Heavier witch is'nt bad but i still wanted more /new songs like those's

[AbsentProductions]

@SouLzZSkiLL New Eden is up there for me. I personally still see many similarities between the two albums, but yes there are a lot of points where they differentiate themselves. This album was the band as a whole putting all their efforts in as one, rather than Tosin making the entire thing. I'd actually the songs are longer, and there's less 1-2 minute "filler" tracks. Not actual filler, but just tracks with nowhere to go.. No time to actually progress. Thanks for the comment and your opinion.

[walshy0001]

The new album is ridiculous. I don't know the name of that technique tosin created (the one he does in thoroughly at home on the first record) but it is taken to the next level here and is used in a way that is simply indescribable. It's musical, beautiful, powerful, mindblowing, amazing stuff. I haven't listened to the entire album yet, but from the songs I've heard leaked so far it destroys the first album, which was my favorite album of all time. I didn't think it was possible.

[Junnage]

Already bought it! I just get to listen to it a little bit earlier ;)

[AbsentProductions]

@Junnage Can't get any better than that. :D

[clanbigger4]

I think even if everyone gets the leaked version, they should buy the songs to help support tosin.

[AbsentProductions]

@clanbigger4 Yes, that's how we do it. We've already bought Mastodon's new album as well as 5FDP's. We usually take advantage of the leaks as try-before-you-buy kind of deals. Since we support the bands, we continue to purchase albums and merch. Check out our "We Support CD's" rant for all that stuff..

[RingoFreakingStarr]

I too surcame to the pressure of downloading the album...pretty awesome stuff. Will be buying it when it comes out.

[AbsentProductions]

@RingoFreakingStarr It is pretty amazing. Thanks for the feedback on it. I'll definitely be buying it as well.

[Morain42]

@RingoFreakingStarr dude..same here haha, im downloading it right now

[roncubus]

same here...just cant wait...would have to agree with you, the new AAL record is simply incredible...let me try to explain...it is sometimes hard to tell people how you feel or think about a certain record...and that is how i feel about Weightless...but I think the easiest way to describe the entire thing is that it was not easy to digest at first...i listen to a lot of stuff...old and new...so i think i have a wide musical comprehension...but when i heard Weightless, it was complete mindfuck!!!

[AbsentProductions]

@roncubus I wholeheartedly agree. Quite an intense record. Yeah, we are occassionally hesistant to reveal our opnions/views on an album, especially ones that get insane amounts of hatred such as Five Finger Death Punch. Yes, I too thought it was hard to take in at first, because it's so much. It was like that with the first album as well. But after several listens, I got it. Mindfucked in a good way!

[igotmetalreviews]

Nice review man, I pre-ordered this and I can't wait two listen and review it. But I'm gonna wait until it actually comes out though haha.

[AbsentProductions]

@igotmetalreviews Thanks, man. It's incredible. I was going to wait until then, but I couldn't resist when I heard it leaked..

[igotmetalreviews]

@AbsentProductions True.