Despite the fact that the djent scene has exploded in recent years, few artists who play in the style (which refers to the onomatopoeic sound of a palm-muted, high-gain guitar chord) are widely regarded as bringing new, worthwhile creations to the metaphorical table. Animals as Leaders, who released a self-titled debut album in 2009, are one of these groups. Headed by virtuosic guitarist Tosin Abasi, the band takes djent in a jazz and science-fiction inspired direction.

The band's second album, Weightless, released on Nov. 8 through Prosthetic Records, comes a year after the release of digital single "Wave of Babies." For a band with two guitarists and a drummer, the sound on this album can be very densely layered. Opening track "An Infinite Regression" starts off with a frenzied bassline before giving way to distorted drums and the song's first solo.

Weightless features more jazz scales and structure than Animals as Leaders did. Songs like "Somnarium" and "Isolated Incidents" provide the prescribed amount of science-fiction themed music.

Animals as Leaders got the djent formula down. With Weightless, they've changed it by adding new song-writing styles and different approaches to structure. The djent fad may eventually be over, but Animals as Leaders are writing songs that may outlive the trend.

Vaughn Fortier-Shultz is a senior at Santa Fe High School. You can reach him at moosemanxl@gmail.com.