The title of Pomegranate Tiger's second album, Boundless, brilliantly conveys the music found thereon. Composed and written entirely by Canadian virtuoso Martin Andres, Boundless surpasses Entities, the band's first album, in spectacular fashion.
Polyrhythms and complex guitar solos dominate much of the record, but are frequently tamed by Martin's ear for melody, making Pomegranate Tiger stand out from their peers. The technical guitar and drum work demonstrated throughout the ten tracks are jaw-dropping, but paired with plenty of emotion to prevent the endless shredding from becoming disorienting or lacking in depth. The additional use of piano and various stringed instruments on tracks like "The Masked Ball," "Paper Hammers" and "Ovation" further distances Pomegranate Tiger from everything else currently being done in the prog-metal scene, establishing Martin Andres as a talented composer rather than just another guitarist with a fondness for shredding.
In a niche genre with bands like Animals as Leaders representing the pinnacle of instrumental talent, it can be hard for groups to emerge from the immense shadow that band casts. However, with the release of both Entities, and now Boundless, it's time to acknowledge Pomegranate Tiger, and mastermind Martin Andres, as a dynamic force pushing the evolution of the genre.
(Independent)Polyrhythms and complex guitar solos dominate much of the record, but are frequently tamed by Martin's ear for melody, making Pomegranate Tiger stand out from their peers. The technical guitar and drum work demonstrated throughout the ten tracks are jaw-dropping, but paired with plenty of emotion to prevent the endless shredding from becoming disorienting or lacking in depth. The additional use of piano and various stringed instruments on tracks like "The Masked Ball," "Paper Hammers" and "Ovation" further distances Pomegranate Tiger from everything else currently being done in the prog-metal scene, establishing Martin Andres as a talented composer rather than just another guitarist with a fondness for shredding.
In a niche genre with bands like Animals as Leaders representing the pinnacle of instrumental talent, it can be hard for groups to emerge from the immense shadow that band casts. However, with the release of both Entities, and now Boundless, it's time to acknowledge Pomegranate Tiger, and mastermind Martin Andres, as a dynamic force pushing the evolution of the genre.
