Exploring the Musical Contrasts Between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders: A Comparison of Two Innovative Genres

BySolidarity Project Blog

Polyphia and Animals as Leaders are two progressive metal bands that have similar styles but different sounds.

Polyphia Vs Animals As Leaders

Polyphia and Animals As Leaders are two renowned names in the world of Progressive Metal music. Both bands have garnered a reputation for melding intense technical skill with creative composition, often evoking emotions and zestful energy during their performances.

Polyphia consists of Scott LePage on guitar, Tim Henson on guitar, Clay Gober on bass guitar and Clay Aeschlimann on drums. Their sound is characterized by intricate compositions that range from laid-back jazz chords to dizzying shredding solos. One signature of their style is their reliance on dissonance and unpredictable time signatures to guide the listener through their soundscapes.

Animals As Leaders is a trio, consisting of Tosin Abasi on guitar, Javier Reyes on guitar and Matt Garstka on drums. They have a more signature sound, blending heavy riffs with complex melodic shifts for maximum impact. This is highlighted through Tosin’s use of polyrhythmic patterns as well as his utilization of extended range guitars giving way to some unique sonic textures. Their fusion often mixes elements from various genres such as Jazz fusion, Fusion metal and Djent metal.

Overall, both bands offer this intense combination of technicality with musicality taking the listener into an expansive journey full of mesmerizing landscapes formed by ethereal melodies yet powerful drumming sections shaped with intricate details and emotional appeal. While each band prefers different approaches to explore Progressive metal it’s undeniable that both have set high standards for any upcoming artist in this genre by continuously pushing its boundaries into another level within all aspects such as composition, performance and production quality.

Polyphia and Animals As Leaders

Polyphia and Animals As Leaders are both progressive instrumental metal bands that have been gaining traction in the music scene. Both bands have achieved success by pushing boundaries and innovating their sound, making them two of the most influential acts in the genre.

Polyphia is an instrumental rock/metal band from Dallas, Texas, formed in 2011 by guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage. Their musical style combines elements of jazz, progressive metal, funk and hip-hop to create a unique sound. They released their debut album, Muse, in 2014 and have since released two more full-length albums: Renaissance (2017) and New Levels New Devils (2018).

Animals As Leaders is an instrumental progressive metal band formed in 2007 by guitarist Tosin Abasi. The band’s music incorporates elements of metalcore, post-rock, jazz fusion and electronic music. They have released four studio albums: Animals As Leaders (2009), Weightless (2011), The Joy of Motion (2014) and The Madness of Many (2016).

Reception to Both

The reception for both Polyphia and Animals As Leaders has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans have praised the bands for their unique soundscapes and innovative approach to composition. Critics have similarly praised them both for pushing boundaries within the genre while still maintaining a melodic core that appeals to a wide audience.

Both bands have also gained recognition from within the metal community as well as beyond it; they have received nods from publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and NPR Music for their groundbreaking musical styles. Since their inception, they have become two of the most influential acts in modern instrumental metal.

Musical Elements of Polyphia and Animals As Leaders

Polyphias music is characterized by its strong rhythmic elements combined with melodic guitar lines that often feature odd time signatures or polyrhythms. They also make use of extended techniques such as tapping or harmonics to create interesting textures within their songs. Their compositions are often intricate but remain accessible due to catchy hooks or choruses.

Animals As Leaders employ a similar approach but also incorporate elements of post-rock into their sound; they often utilize delay or reverb effects to give their music an atmospheric quality that sets them apart from other acts in the genre. Additionally, they make use of complex rhythms that incorporate syncopation or metric modulation to add an extra layer of complexity to their songs while still maintaining a catchy melody line throughout each track.

Comparison of Bands Instrumentation

Both Polyphia and Animals As Leaders feature two guitar players in each lineup – Tim Henson & Scott LePage for Polyphia; Tosin Abasi & Javier Reyes for Animals As Leaders – who both play seven string guitars tuned down low giving each band a thick distorted tone when playing live or on record. Additionally, each band utilizes drummers who provide intricate rhythms while driving the song forward with a powerful backbeat; Richard Gonzales for Polyphia & Matt Garstka for Animals As Leaders respectively are credited with providing this vital element on each respective act’s records & performances worldwide since 2011 & 2007 respectively .

Their Impact on the Music Scene

The influence both Polyphia & Animals As Leaders has had on the music scene cant be understated; not only did they help revolutionize modern instrumental metal but theyve also opened up new avenues for other artists within the genre by challenging each others styles of performance & songwriting via social media platforms such as YouTube & Instagram where aspiring musicians can learn new techniques from these iconic groups who continue to push boundaries today . Furthermore , with streaming services like Spotify now dominating many networks of distribution , it has allowed smaller independent labels such as Sumerian Records , which houses both acts , greater reach than ever before giving even more exposure to these cutting edge artists .

Contrasting Sounds

Polyphia and Animals As Leaders are two of the most prominent bands in the progressive metal scene. While both bands have their own distinct sound, there are certain similarities between them. Both Polyphia and Animals As Leaders utilize complex arrangements, intricate melodies, and soaring guitar solos to create their unique musical styles.

When it comes to tonal characteristics of each band, Polyphias music is characterized by bright tones and technicality while Animals As Leaders sound is darker and relies more on atmosphere and ambiance. Despite these differences in sound, both bands share some common ground when it comes to note selection. While Polyphias intricate riffs often features fast-paced licks that emphasize speed and technicality, Animals As Leaders are more prone to using slower-paced notes that focus on creating a sense of tension or dissonance. Both bands also make use of unconventional intervals such as tritones or quartal harmonies which give their music an interesting harmonic complexity.

Live Performances by Both Bands

When it comes to live performances from both bands, there are some notable similarities in the styles they use. Both Polyphia and Animals As Leaders employ extended improvisation sections as part of their setlists which allow them to explore different directions with their music in a live setting. Additionally, both bands make use of extended crescendos and dynamic shifts in order to create dramatic tension within their performances.

The two groups also have some unique elements that set them apart from one another when it comes to live shows. For example, while Polyphias live shows feature plenty of technical drumming from drummer Clay Gober as well as intricate guitar licks from guitarist Tim Henson, Animals As Leaders take a more subdued approach with their live shows focusing on creating atmospheric soundscapes through the use of looping pedals and effects processors. Additionally, while Polyphia often plays shorter sets due to the technical demands of their songs, Animals As Leaders tend to play longer sets that feature extended improvisations sections which allow them to take the audience on a sonic journey through different musical landscapes.

Mashup Possibilities Between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders

Considering the differences between the two bands sounds as well as their respective approaches towards performing live shows, there could be potential for interesting mashups between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders if they were ever given the opportunity to collaborate musically with one another. Theoretically speaking, combining the intricate riffs from Polyphia with the atmospheric soundscapes created by Animals As Leaders could lead to some truly unique sounds that could potentially expand upon what either band has done in the past musically speaking.

Additionally, there have already been observable crossovers between aspects of both groups music over time such as when each band covered a song by an artist they mutually admire or when they shared similar rhythmic ideas in some of their individual tracks respectively. This could potentially lead to even further crossovers if they were ever given an opportunity for collaboration between them musically speaking in an official capacity.

Cultivation Amongst Fans of the Genres

Finally, allowing for developments across different genres can provide numerous advantages for fans who are looking for something new within progressive metal as well as other genres related thereto such as jazz or fusion music respectively speaking. By allowing for cross-genre pollination between various artists who span these different genres such as Polyphia and Animals As Leaders respectively speaking can lead to new forms of creativity within progressive metal which has led many fans across varying genres into branching out beyond what they know into discovering new forms of music that may not have been available before due to genre restrictions or lack thereof depending on how open-minded any given artist may be towards exploring new sonic territories musically speaking .

At the same time however having multiple artists spanning multiple genres within progressive metal can also have its disadvantages for fans due to how drastically different certain artists may be sonically from one another which may cause confusion amongst some listeners who may not be aware of how far any given artist might be willing go with regards experimentation musically speaking . Nevertheless despite this potential issue , allowing for developments across different genres can still help bring together many fans who otherwise would never have had an opportunity experience various types progressive metal due genre limitations .

FAQ & Answers

Q: What is Polyphia and Animals As Leaders?
A: Polyphia is a progressive metal/instrumental rock band from Texas. They are known for their technical prowess and intricate songwriting. Animals as Leaders is an instrumental progressive metal band from Washington DC, formed in 2007 by guitarist Tosin Abasi. They are widely considered one of the most influential bands in the genre, and have had a profound impact on the progressive metal community.

Q: What has been the audience response to both bands?
A: The response to both bands has been overwhelmingly positive. Both have earned a dedicated fanbase, with many praising them for their technical skill and creativity. Furthermore, they have been lauded for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in their respective genres.

Q: What musical elements does each band incorporate into their music?
A: Polyphia incorporates complex guitar riffs, intricate rhythms, and unconventional song structures into their music. Animals As Leaders also utilizes complex guitar riffs and unconventional song structures but also incorporates synthesizers, drum machines, and other effects into their sound to create a unique soundscape.

Q: How has each band impacted the music scene?
A: Both Polyphia and Animals As Leaders have had a huge impact on the music scene. They have changed networks of distribution platforms that allows fans to access more music than ever before as well as challenging each others styles of performance that has pushed both bands further creatively.

Q: Is there potential for mashup possibilities between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders?
A: Yes! There is potential for mashup possibilities between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders due to the overlapping musical elements they both utilize such as complex guitar riffs, intricate rhythms, unconventional song structures etc.. This could allow for interesting combinations between songs from both bands as well as allowing fans to discover new sounds from either artist that they may not have heard before.

The comparison between Polyphia and Animals As Leaders is an interesting one. Both bands bring an entirely unique and creative approach to instrumental music that will appeal to different audiences. While Animals As Leaders has a more complex, progressive sound, Polyphia brings an aggressive, modern feel. Ultimately, both bands have found success and have gained respect within the instrumental music community.

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