Live Reviews : Animals As Leaders @ Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne 24/02/2015
Images: Jainish Prakash
Words: Mitch Booth
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Animals As Leaders are one of those bands that prove instrumental guitar-focused music can be something quite powerful live, and not just a bunch of “look at what I can do” wank. Of course that’s evident listening to their albums too, but that extra volume and the live experience amplifies their music so much more.
Obviously here to showcase their new-ish album, “Tooth and Claw” turned out to be the perfect opening to their set in front of a sold-out Ding Dong Lounge crowd, while people took tiny steps left and right trying to find the perfect through-crowd view of each instrument. “Tempting Time” and “Wave of Babies” were up next before powering through the first three tracks from The Joy of Motion. While, according to the internet at least, some fans weren’t too stoked on the more relaxed sound of said album, the material worked well in a live setting breaking up the bigger, riffier moments. And really, it’s that’s more fiddly mellow guitar-work that’s the most enthralling to watch.
They’re a nigh impossible band to fault, as long as you’re a fan of the music in the first place. The obviously nail every note, have a nice thick live sound, and played a decent spread of all three albums. I just feel sorry for the venue who no doubt had to a mop up a lot of guitarist’s drool off the crowd floor…
About Mitch Booth
Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.Latest News
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