Animals as Leaders

Animals as Leaders is an American progressive metal / djent band from Washington, D.C., formed in 2007. Its members are Tosin Abasi (guitar), Javier Reyes (guitar) and Matt Halpern (drums).

In 2008, Misha Mansoor (Periphery) helped Tosin Abasi write material for their self-titled debut. Abasi wrote all guitar and bass arrangements, while Mansoor took care of the drum programming and electronic effects. Soon after, rhythm guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis joined to form the first official lineup. During the summer of 2010, the band was involved in the North American Summer Slaughter Tour and gained a wider fanbase. Meanwhile, the group's sophomore album, Weightless was written and recorded, then released in November 2011 via Prosthetic Records. Electronic mixing was done by Reyes, and engineering by Koperweis.

As of 2024, the band has released 5 albums – their eponymous 2009 debut, Weightless (2011), The Joy of Motion (2014), The Madness of Many (2016) and Parrhesia (2022).