US djent giants to perform in Johannesburg

11 May 2017 - 14:36

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

The organisers of Krank'd Up music festival have announced US metal band Animals as Leaders as the first confirmed international act of the 2017 edition. The one-day rock and metal celebration will be held at the Sundowners live venue in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 30 September.

Matt Garstka, Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes.

“Fans of intricate, mind-bending prog are in for an unforgettable treat courtesy of SA’s ever-flourishing KRANK’D UP music festival with the announcement of ANIMALS AS LEADERS as its first confirmed international act of 2017,” the organisers wrote on Facebook.

Made up of American-Nigerian Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes and Matt Garstka, Animals as Leaders is known around the world for developing the metal subgenre of ‘djent’, an onomatopoeia describing the staccato and syncopated approach to the music. Abasi and Reyes employ eight-string guitars thus effectively dissolving the need for a bass guitar in the band’s set-up.

The Johannesburg concert is part of Animals as Leaders’ world tour which will see the trio performing 33 gigs in the US, UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Brazil before they land in South Africa. This is not the first time Tosin Abasi will be in South Africa. In 2013, the virtuoso was in the country to conduct a series of clinics in Johannesburg and Cape Town that saw guitarists flocking to learn about his technique and sound set-up.

Founded by Abasi in 2007, Animals as Leaders boasts four critically acclaimed albums, the latest of which The Madness of Many was released in late 2016. Apart from ticking the djent box, the band’s music can also be described as a fusion of progressive rock, electronica and jazz, which is particularly appreciated by aspiring musicians who enjoy listening to the more technical side of heavy music.

Krank'd Up festival is the flagship event of Turning Tricks Entertainment, a Johannesburg-based event organiser that is responsible for bringing Karnivool (Australia), Periphery (US), 36 Crazyfists (US), TesseracT (UK), Unearth (US), Protest the Hero (Canada), Dead Letter Circus (Australia), Norma Jean (US), Monuments (UK) and Affiance (US) to South Africa. The company is also well known for promoting local rock and metal at its events.

Tickets for the Animals as Leaders show in Johannesburg can be bought at a reduced price via Computicket until 31 May. For more information and limited VIP tickets visit the Krank'd Up official website.

Here is Animals as Leaders performing at last year’s Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic: