“I haven’t seen the bassist” Oh my sweet, summer child 😂

"Bassist probably has 12 strings" this is Animals as Leaders, even the drums have 12 strings

8:30 - "Nice, welcome break from the intensity" 8:35 - "Oh, for fuck's sake...!"

“All the strings.” 😂 Accurate.

The brain dance is one of their best songs, is technical, jazzy, djenty, groovy, tosiny, javiery, matty, proggy af

You haven’t seen a bassist, Chase, cause there isn’t one 😂 That’s the 8-strings doing the bass work. Love your reactions and glad you chose to reacting to Tosin and crew

"I've now heard a third guitar..." No, no. Second guitar.

I'm going to use an analogy that will sound weird. But way back when, young girls had to do very fancy embroidery samplers in "school". They would be taught the basics of simple reading, writing and 'rithmatic, but the main part of their limited education was learning those special "housewife" skills . And these girls, denied any other outlet , became absolute WIZARDS with needle and thread. VERY young girls were turning out incredibly elaborate pictures of houses, gardens, animals, bible quotes, in memoriam pictures of churches and tombstones, alphabets....these samplers were meant to show off their abilities to a future husband. Because mastery of the needle was considered an extremely useful requirement in an age without sewing machines. The girls had to learn how to make all the clothes, bedding, curtains...any cloth item needed in life. By hand. And do it WELL. These samplers, the ones that are found in good condition, are now worth a LOT of money. This piece feels like a technical wizardry sampler. They are "embroidering" with their instruments, demonstrating what they can do. They are trying to catch a husband, in a very competitive marriage market!

If you're looking to react to more Animals as Leaders, check out: -Physical Education -Mind Spun -Kascade -Woven Web -Arithmophobia Preferrably do their live performances!

"its gona be a long video" 😂

I know this stuff isn't for everyone, but who it is for, man are we lucky! 🤓 Oh yeah... Controlled Animal Feeding Operation.

I actually think that Animals As Leaders' older songs are much less compelling to listen to than their more recent work. No one's going to say they aren't technically three of the most gifted musicians of this generation, but songs like Physical Education, The Woven Web, Arithmophobia, and The Brain Dance (all from their two most recent albums) do an infinitely better job of showcasing their talent -- they're less blatantly technical for the sake of being technical, and decidedly more musical, in a broad sense. They've always had groove, they've always had chops. I think they've just refined their sense of both in recent years, much more so than what they produced in their Cafo days.

Seen them live. They're flawless.

This is a song that really only satisfies the reactors who really get it... You did a masterful and humble job with this review.

They use loop pedals! I went to go see this band about 9 years ago with an ex, and I ended up getting gifted an 8 string guitar as a result of my awe at their playing (my ex was super generous sometimes lol), and it's still the guitar I use most primarily, even if I can't play like Tosin. :P My next recommend for AAL is "Physical Education", it is a bop! Edit: Oh yeah! The drums on this particular album were programmed by Misha Mansoor of Periphery! And of course, have a damn good day everyone!

"It's actually really pretty" This is exactly what I thought when I first discovered Animals as Leaders, and after listening to their music for hundreds of hours I can say that it evokes some kind of trance almost. Also that "bassist" is just Tosin Abasi or Javier Reyes using their 8th and 7th string haha

"I think this is going to be quite technical" to animals as leaders lmaoooooooo

React to Ne Obliviscaris!! Their song "And plague flowers" would be a good introduction to the band!

This song sounds like it could be boss music in a video game.

That eyeroll at 8:36 tho 😆 Have a damn good day.

Best thing? CAFO means Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, and y\they fed us well with this song

I know this is a year old as I’m typing this, but your reactions to this video just put a stupid grin on my face. It makes me happy to see people enjoying my favorite artists like Tosin Abasi.

6:00 "I don't see the bassist." Oh, my sweet summer child...

Chase's mixed facial expressions at 5:22 - 5:35 from surprised to excited to confused to brain momentarily stopped working probably the highlight of this video 😆 Looking forward to you to get to The Woven Web. There's this gnarly thump riff that will probably make your head explode once you hear it 🎸

You should check out a live playthrough of the drummer. He is amazing. The way he plays with timing is crazy. It's like he swallowed the time stone or something.

I have been playing Guitar for Sometime now, and I'm proud to say I have the first 2 seconds of this Piece Pretty much nailed! ;0)

Petition to get them to change their name to "All the strings" Edit: "All the strings and the 12 string bassist"

I saw them live a while back. They are INCREDIBLE!

This entire song is nuts, but in all the years i've listened to this over and over, the open chords section before the tapping and drums come in is absolutely crushing. The tone is so good, and through good speakers, and i can imagine next to the amp turned up, it just shakes your chest. Incredible

Probably the best reaction video on all of KZfaq in any category.

"I'm super jealous. That's hard work for you." Very well said.

Every video I watch you blow my mind with your knowledge of music construction and musical arrangement! Thanks for this.

Best Reaction Ever! I discovered AAL many years ago and was absolutely blown away by the way they incorporated hardcore metal into jazz fusion. Pure Bliss to listen to Tosin, Matt, and Javier! I was just about to go to bed when my eye caught your thumbnail for "FIRST TIME REACTING to ANIMALS AS LEADERS (Cafo)" and then saw that it was your reaction video. I just knew that this would melt your mind! ...and that you'd LOVE IT!

It's so fun so see a genuine reaction. Keep being honest man. Loved it

Please react to “and plague flowers the kaleidoscope” by Ne obliviscaris. This song was included in a teaching curriculum at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the song being analysed for its composition

Tosin Abasi is the greatest guitarist alive. "Animals as Leaders "Kascade" At Guitar Center" is a studio live of another one of their popular tracks.

They can 100% play this live. They are incredible.

Lol dude your eyes popping out as the song started was priceless. I still feel like that after years. Tosin (the lead guitarist) has this awesome double thumping technique that sets his playing apart. Check him out on KZfaq,his channel is pretty new but still fun

Well, I started my lunch break and seen this reaction drop. It was a treat, both the song and the reaction. However, I kind of echo another commentor's feeling that it is so technical that it makes it a hard song to just relax and listen to. It makes me sit up and try to catch everything that is going on. I guess to some up my feelings, I enjoyed this music and it is a great song to listen to but not so good to relax to. I will have to listen to it again and your reaction again. Great reaction chase, as usual, you helped me appreciate the technical skill that it took to make this song and why it sounded good to me. (I need to listen to more of these guys though.)

the look of bewilderment we all know so well when listening to animals as leaders

Really enjoying watching these reaction videos of bands I love! I got a picture with Tosin Abasi ages ago after an AAL show in the UK, what a treat!

I remember when I first heard this song, when it came out. Before the Tosin Abasi/AAL-craze, which is perfectly in place and totally deserved. I was blown away. I play guitar myself, too long for the level I am at, but this.. I didn't think it was possible to ever create such high level compositions. It felt like a completely new style of playing or something, a new way to play the guitar. Still one of the best songs/bands out there, for me personally.

1st listen - wtf! Next song. 2nd listen - hmm this is kinda... Next song. 3rd listen - i like this i think... Plays entire song. 4th to 150th listen - wtf! Why am i crying?

5 seconds in... Face officially melted.

Whoa, never heard of those guys before, but that was brilliant. The thing I like best about this channel (other than your unmatched & humble analysis of what's going on in the songs you're listening to) is all the new music I'm discovering. Top 40's garbage had eroded my interest in discovering new music, but bands like Jinjer & these guys are slowly restoring my faith that there are still bands out there producing quality stuff. Can't wait for the next one.

I love the loong slow fade out, it sounds like they continue to shred forever hahah

Have you ever listened to any music by Rush? A Canadian classic rock band. Even if you have heard their work it would still be cool to hear your breakdown of their songs! Their song 2112 is long but awesome! Spirt of Radio, Tom Sawyer and YYZ are also great songs of theirs 🤘😁🤘

This band wouldn't work with anyone else. All 3 of these guys compliment each other so well.

Good old CAFO. I still remember the night I discovered them by this song at 2 a.m. - mind blown. Ceterum censeo: Please listen to Vitalism - Pagan Part II - no regrets, I promise :)

The picking method Tosin Abasi is using in the intro riff is swybrid picking. So it’s a combination of sweep picking mixed with hybrid picking (playing with a pick and fingerpicking at the same time)

Well I watched this entire video with wide eyes of amazement!

Welcome to discovering Tosin Abasi. You should check out how much crazy stuff this band does.

I've seen them perform this live at Heavy Montreal 2016. They end with a drum solo instead of a fade-out.

CAFO was my introduction to AAL as well a long time ago, and the face you made is absolutely relatable. They've evolved *a lot* over the past few years. Tosin is an absolute beast and has become reference for popularizing the traditional bass thumping technique among guitarists in prog/metal music. Another great guitar player that I love is Jason Richardson, and I think it'd be awesome if you could react to "Hos Down".

yeah i got floored listening to this the first time. took multiple listens to feel all of the beauty and "feel" to this song.

Tosin Abasi is such a beast. I found out about animals as leader from Rick Beatos channel and went binge listening for a week. Truly amazing stuff. Also Rick Beato Has done an interview with Tosin quite recently. You should definitely check that out.

at 5:24 the meter is 13/16. you can see that if you count your feet until it gives a full loop

The drums in the first album where recorded on a computer so the drummer is not playing it, but the live version is from another planet

Thank you, I love Animals As Leaders! They put on an incredible live show 🤘🤘

You know its good when 3:25 you start playing the air guitar 🤣

The first 10 seconds. His face says it all.

You will definitely enjoy Ne Obliviscaris - And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope. Live in Colorado is the best on KZfaq.

If you're already going down the Polyphia and AAL rabbit hole, your next stop should be Plini. Check out Kind, Electric Sunrise, Every Piece Matters (possibly my favorite song of his), Inhale, I'll Tell You Someday, and Selenium Forest. Also instrumental, but gorgeous songwriting and impeccable skill by all the musicians involved.

I can recommend you checking out "Physical Education" next :D

You should do Reptile by Periphery. A 15 min song of epic proportion! or just any Periphery really

That lead is looped. When they play live, he plays it, loops it and it continues on. There are a lot of great videos of just Tosin playing it and showing how he structures it.

After a lifetime of being a metal fan, I tend to geek out on technical guitar playing 😍😁

Also try Opeth, either Deliverance or Reviere/Harlequin Forest

This is probably your best reaction yet man! "This is gonna be a long video" 😂😂! This band doesn't have a bass player, those guys have their guitars tuned to a standard bass tuning. You have to check out their song "An Infinite Regression" that one really showcases the bass sound!

Few of my favs from AAL, "Behaving Badly," "Tooth & Claw," "The Brain Dance," & "Inner Assassins." All very different from one another.

Check out Plini- Electric Sunrise or CASCADE!!!

Try Brain Dance from Dunlop sessions. The sound and video quality is superb. And its nice to see them play. Its a more chill vibed song.

You still need to check out Ningen Isu. Rad metap band from Japan thats been around since the late 80's. You also should give Extinction Level Event a listen. One drummer, three bassists. Great band. You should also also check out Unlocking the Truth. They dissolved this year, but when they got signed to a label in 2014, they were so young that the contract had to be approved through the New York Supreme Court.

"I don't know what's going on in the background but it looks like how my heart feels." 😂 Yo, you made me spit out my coffee hahaha

Id love to see some more Polyphia. Maybe their song O.D.

I love coming back to this and seeing your facial expression as Tosin goes through his crazyness :D

🤣 just loved the intro...says enough! Kept on watching and there u go another good analyse! Thank u Chase! 🖐

Him trying to explain animals as leaders is omg

Amazing! Quick points: 1. They don't have a live bassist. 2. The sweeping is being looped by using the boomerang looper pedal 3. Back then the drums were programmed but as they wanted to keep the budget a little lower, and it was just simoler to program it. 4. They can play EVERYTHING live 5. Please check their new drummer (I mean he's with them for years now, but that's not the guy from the video -Navene Koperweis) Matt Garstka.. He's out of this planet!

see the insane thing here, is Tosin is only 24/25 when this was recorded. Goddamn nutty skill for someone that young.

Well, I'm just gonna continue requesting a Periphery reaction :D You should probably start with Stranger Things

Animals As Leaders = Just Woooo!! first band I found of this particular "genre/type", still love 'em. ps: discovered your channel looking for this music video as I usually do and saw your "reaction" and gave it a chance... genuinely enjoyed you break it down in your own opinion and still enjoyed the music video. well done mate

Devin and now this...Okay, you win I subscribed!

Tosin Abasi is awesome. 8-string guitar is not just for Djent. I do a lot of two hand tapping on my 6-string bass, and for a consistent sound level a good compressor is a must.

Also anything on their first album was just Tosin Abasi and Misha from Periphery doing production. After they wrote the first album, they looked for other musicians to join the band. Matt, the drummer of Periphery, almost ended up in Animals instead. Album number 2 was the first full band album. Album three introduced Matt Gartska on drums, one of the best drummers on the planet.

wow! that was intense! and mind bending. nice. 👌

I remember seeing them live and the opening bands (not the least musicians) on the side of the stage fanboying like crazy over the drummer. Constantly looking at each other in disbelief, was so funny to watch.

Wow, that was impressive! Stuff like that always makes me want to learn playing guitar 🙈

The ghost notes go brrrrr

It's funny hearing you say, "they wouldn't record anything they couldn't play live" or how they had to play off of each other's parts. This album was created entirely by Tosin (the guitarist doing all the crazy sweeps and tapping). He was so good that the record company wanted him to make a solo album and this is the result. Misha Mansoor of Periphery helped with engineering and programming. The rest of the members didn't enter the picture until later on.

This is a good entry point for this band, but this is one of their very early songs. They are a lot better now, and Tosin has come up with some very cool new tech and a new guitar design.

Awesome review Chase, thanks for checking out AAL. I don't play guitar myself, but I've been to a workshop of Tosin, which he did at a Montreal music shop a few years ago, I think to promote the Ibanez 8-string guitar he played back then (he's got a new signature guitar now). If I'm not mistaken, they use a lot of pedals, including loop pedals to get that layering. Back then, what surprised me most, seeing them play this song a few meters in front of me, was that the "rhythm guitarist" repeated a lot of those crazy riffs as well, while I always thought he kept things simpler. I was thoroughly impressed by the whole band. My husband got to try out the 8-string and felt intimidated by how big it was, so it's still the good old 7-string for him. Totally unrelated, but he has decided to not give up on learning to sweep pick (after a few failed attempts back then), so we agreed that once he can play that at proper speed, he can pick out a shiny new guitar (currently oogling at a Framus Stormbender).

I'd recommend either Physical Education or The Brain Dance next. Both definitely less technical but much more musical in my opinion

Haha, sooooooo much brain-melting frustration from beginning to end. In the best way, of course. And in the spirit of instrumental bands, I'd love to see a review of Earthside - "A Dream In Static feat. Daniel Tompkins". As far as I know, Earthside doesn't have an official vocalist, they enlist those from other bands to guest on certain songs. Daniel Tompkins is an AMAZINGLY talented vocalist (check out his work with Tesseract as well). Not really the same chaotic styling as Animals As Leaders, but still very good!

Saw these guys play Summer Slaughter a few years ago. Epic.

I'd love to see a reaction to Iced Earth - Dante's Inferno (Either the Alive in Athens concert with Matt Barlow singing, or 2013 concert with Stu Block singing). 17 minute song, heavy prog metal. So good.

Ah, so happy I clicked on this video. That was fantastic. But who am I kidding. I click on all your videos.

He uses a loop pedal for that first part 👍

o.o this is awesome, thanks for giving me yet another band to check out

I'm a fanboy of your channel and reactions!