Weightless (Animals as Leaders album)
Weightless is the second studio album by the American instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. It was released on November 8, 2011, through Prosthetic Records.
The album marks a shift towards a cleaner and more melodic sound compared to their self-titled debut, while still maintaining the band's signature complex rhythms and virtuosic guitar work. Weightless features primarily eight-string guitar compositions alongside programmed drums, bass, and electronic elements.
The core duo of Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes were again at the forefront of the writing and recording process. While Navene Koperweis, who played drums on the band's debut, did not return, the drums on Weightless were meticulously programmed.
Critically, Weightless was well-received, praised for its technical proficiency, musicality, and the band's continued evolution. Many reviewers noted the album's accessibility compared to their previous work, while still acknowledging its complexity and challenging nature. Common themes explored in reviews include the album's atmosphere, its blend of technical metal with elements of jazz fusion and ambient music, and the impressive guitar playing of Abasi and Reyes.
Track listing:
- An Infinite Regression
- Odessa
- Weightless
- Earth Departure
- Isolated Incidents
- Do Not Go Gently
- Cylindrical Sea
- Espera
- To Lead You to Our Doors
- Point to Point
- Modern Meat
- Song of Aftermath