Polyphia and Animals As Leaders - Rennaissance vs The Madness Of Many

Sweet! Records from my siblings in law. Good ones, too, from the Instrumental Prog-Metal section, Polyphia and Animals As Leaders. In all seriousnees, if you were going to make me choose between Tim Henson and Tosin Abasi, i'm probably going to pick Tosin and Animals As Leaders every time, only because Tim's guitar stylings tend to edge a little too close to Sandal Core for my personal liking, whereas Tosin just bashes you across the face with a shovel, but in reality all 4 people (Tosin, Tim, Javier, and Scott) are phenomenal guitarists with exceptional melodic sensibilities and an unwillingness to phone anything in.


I'm quite enjoying Polyphia's Rennaissance, but there is a thing i do not like upon first hearing. There's a fair bit of digital manipulation on the leads, not surprising within a Metalcore framework, but i can't think of any other way to express it, it sounds like the guitar is gargling; all the more disconcerting against the spanky and luscious middleground clean tones and harmonics. It's almost like the solos have smoker's cough. Not saying it's a deal breaker, but it will take a couple listens to get used to hearing it.

No, what actually throws me off is the interpretational clash of the fast, djenty, hyper-technical textural playing with the calm, New Agey, almost sentimental melharmonic ideas. They don't blend in my brain. 

Don't get me wrong, it's super-listenable, incredibly smooth, and borderline euphoric (not to mention downright funky at times), but i can't help feeling like it's supposed to be secretly hostile and deceptively violent, and i'm therefore hearing it wrong. That's my problem with Sandle Core, i find it hard to accept you're happily buzzed and napping through armageddon in a beach chair. I sure hope Animals As Leaders can clear that up.


Oh yeah, Arithmaphobia (fear of numbers) is straight up sinister. Scanning through the tracklist, we're in for plenty more Cognitive Contortions, a face that needs a fist, and we'll end up having a panic attack from fear of eternity. This i understand without any need for repeated wikitube interviews of a heavily tattooed guy who loves puffy mom sweaters. Not that any of that's bad, i just feel like i instinctively get Animals As Leaders while Polyphia is intentionally Superflat, and thus ungettable. The aesthetic matches the drapes, i guess, and i don't have to put forth any effort to thoroughly enjoy and understand where the brain melting shred and uber-complexity fit into the equation, they are the actual subject matter. The Madness Of Many is outstanding.

Thanks Andi and Jules, it might not sound like it, but i enjoy both albums immensely.

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