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Live Reviews : Periphery and Animals As Leaders @ 170 Russell, Melbourne 02/02/2014

By on February 3, 2014

Images: Callam Broom
Words: Greg Luke

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Periphery

On the last night of their Australian Tour, the anticipation for Animals As Leaders and Periphery was palpable well before the first note was played. Playing to a close to full venue, Animals As Leaders  were clearly enjoying themselves on stage after a whirlwind tour of Oz. The efficient three-piece comprising Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes and Matt Garstka have made a name for themselves with their blend of progressive / technical math metal and last night was no exception. Technicality was always going to be a winner at this show and their use of 8 string guitars overlain with jazz fusion sensibilities really pushes the boundaries of the conventional metal assumptions. It was a tech head’s dream. Continuous polyrhythmic tones, patterns and beats resolving in often unusual time signatures and overlain or broken up by virtuosic lead guitar, chaotic sweeping, slapping, tapping and workmanlike drumming.

The live sound for Animals As Leaders was pulled off flawlessly supported by selected bass / synth backing tracks and a sound system that has proven to be high quality over many shows and genres at 170 Russell (aka Billboard the Venue). The latter half of their set including tracks An Infinite Regression, Weightless and CAFO were particularly well received although the entire set was very good. The set also included a new track (as yet unnamed) which aptly maintains their extraordinarily technical style. Whilst this reviewer is only a relatively new fan of Animals As Leaders, the quality of execution live was amazing to behold. The guttural low notes followed by soaring melodic and disharmonic solos is a great combination to witness in a live setting. Garstka’s drumming should also get a plug here because he is a truly great example of cross-pollination between genres in drumming. His blasting and tom rolls can match it with the best tech metal drummers but he also has a sublime ability for off time and jazz influenced beats.

Animals As Leaders

The triple guitar assault of Periphery comprising Misha Mansoor, Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb is truly something to behold. Combine this with vocal range of Spencer Sotelo, the emphatic bass playing of Adam Getgood and meticulous drumming of Matt Halpern and you have a seriously energetic and compelling live show. The ability of Periphery to replicate studio based recordings of highly complex nature in a live setting was quite remarkable and the on stage chemistry they have developed was clear for all to see with a high-five (or what looked like a high-five?) given between selected band members between some tracks. The lapses between songs were characterised by the usual synth and guitar loops and broken by the often complex and audibly stunning start of each track. Stand out tracks included Muramasa, Ragnarok, Have a blast, Jetpacks was Yes!, Luck is a Constant, Facepalm Mute and the encore of Icarus Lives!.

The live guitar sound was impeccable given the potential for drowning out of clean notes by the deep bass support but the PA at Billboard handled it beautifully. This was particularly evident in the guitar solos executed in Jetpacks was Yes! and Luck is a constant when the lead guitar work of Mansoor and Bowen really shone through. Sotelo willed the crowd to turn things up a notch with the thrash styled start of The Gods Must Be Crazy! and the crowd didn’t disappoint. The set seemed to elapse very quickly and it was up to the crowd to chant “one more song” in time with Halpern’s drumming to will the band back for an encore. The encore rendition of Icarus Lives! took things to another level with the pit going berserk and members of Animals as Leaders (Abasi and Reyes) diving into the crowd. A great show all round and definitely looking forward to seeing both bands again.

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