It’s fair to say that dedicated fans of instrumental prog trio Animals As Leaders have undergone an utterly arduous wait for new music from the band over the last six years. Previously, Animals As Leaders sustained steady and stable two-and-a-half year gaps between their four previous studio albums. Yet, the pandemic has compounded with the fact that Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes are pursuing additional careers in Abasi Guitars and Mestís respectively. It is to no surprise then, that the wide rift between 2016’s The Madness Of Many and new album, Parrhesia, has only fuelled anticipation.
Introductory track ‘Conflict Cartography’ certainly demonstrates that patience is a glorious virtue, and that the hype has been totally well-founded. An astonishingly complex and meandering composition, ‘Conflict Cartography’ is classic Animals As Leaders — Abasi’s hitchhiker thumb percussively drives the track alongside Matt Garstka’s impeccably tasteful drum-work, whilst Reyes adds depth and flair with additional mind-boggling technicality. All of this is wrapped in a bundle of bizarre time signature changes. This is truly an absolute wet dream for the modern metal guitarist.
‘Monomyth’ has been a part of Animals As Leaders’ catalogue for half a year now, having released as Parrhesia’s lead single in September 2021. The album’s second song respectably holds its own amongst beefy competition across the entire gamut of Parrhesia’s thirty-seven minute run time. At times, ‘Monomyth’ blurs between offerings by label-mate Lee McKinney; both have that ultra-technical Sumeriancore feel to them.
The fun doesn’t stop there though, oh no. Third track and personal favourite ‘Red Miso’ is truly remarkable, replete with hyper-futuristic vibes and some of Animals As Leaders’ greatest guitar-work to date. The way that Abasi, Reyes and Garstka’s faultless performances interweave into something so stupidly groovy whilst remaining accessible to prog newcomers is absolutely applaudable.
Parrhesia seamlessly transitions into its middle phase with fourth song ‘Gestaltzerfall’ and ensuing ambient interlude, ‘Asahi’ (honourable nod to a mid-tier beer). Both pieces, again, are just incredibly well done. ‘Gestaltzerfall’ entertainingly utilises staggering triplet grooves in its uplifting verses before diving into more brooding sections, whilst ‘Asahi’ masterfully connects ‘Gestaltzerfall’ to second single, ‘The Problem of Other Minds’.
Ebbing and flowing like the moonlit ocean, Parrhesia transitions gracefully into its final phase, with track seven, ‘Thoughts and Prayers’. Possessing downright gorgeous, diminished guitar passages reminiscent of Plini’s darker works, ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ oozes ominous, nocturnal vibes all the way through. Eighth track ‘Micro Aggressions’ is similarly murky, with a filthy guitar solo emerging through the smoky shadow of sweeping orchestral strings in its halfway point. Fans of Haunted Shores will be all over this blast-beat-laden bruiser.
Closer and third single ‘Gordian Naught’ evokes visions of a wizard conjuring a dune storm in an ancient desert. Ultra specific, I know, but this song is just exceptionally visual for me personally. It’s absurdly tech-y too, wrapped masterfully with all of the most beloved Animals As Leaders tropes that we’ve come to love over the last ten-plus years. This, coupled with the numerous comparisons I could make between this song and the likes of Between The Buried And Me, leaves us with a 100% certified BANGER.
In conclusion, Parrhesia is a major contender as one of the tightest and most consistent prog records I’ve heard in quite some time. Not one of the nine tracks strays too far from the herd, resulting in an album that is not only sonically pristine and beautifully mixed, but one that carries immense replay value too.
Greedily so, I would have liked a little more meat on the bones — thirty-seven minutes makes Parrhesia Animals As Leaders’s shortest record by a considerable margin. This truly is a double-edged sword, as Animals As Leaders present their most accessible album to date, yet also the one most in need of a loving deluxe treatment. This isn’t a massive issue per se, but I’d rather not step away from an album wishing for an expansion, particularly after waiting six years for it to drop in the first place.
9/10
Parrhesia by Animals As Leaders will be released on Friday March 25th 2022 via Sumerian Records. You still have time to pre-order here. For more on Animals As Leaders, the latest prog releases and music coverage in general, keep it locked on Boolin Tunes.