Are you a musician? Want to feel jealous? Pomegranate Tiger's latest album Boundless can help.
This time around, multi-instrumentalist Martin Andres decided to keep Pomegranate Tiger a solo project -- literally. There's some guest bass work, and a string quartet, but everything else is Marting: drums, guitars, piano, the works. It's enough to make any metal-minded musician wish they could switch between instruments so easily. (Like our friend AJ from back in The Day could. We all hated that about AJ. It did make him a great jam partner though.)
Anyways, Boundless is a solid slice of groovy progressive instrumental metal any way you look at it, but throw in the solo nature of the project and it becomes downright impressive. Have a listen to "Stomp the Haunted Crown" and be impressed.
Showing posts with label Pomegranate Tiger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pomegranate Tiger. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Friday: Mammoth - Innate
Imagine an progressive instrumental band like Scale the Summit, only a three-piece. But now imagine they're a little more... bonkers... than your average Scale the Summit--like. Really all over the map, stylistically, but in the best possible ways. Now go to sleep thinking about that band.
The wacky dreams you'll have might well include your Friday band Mammoth, which comes to my attention via a Facebook recommendation from Martin of Pomegranate Tiger. Have a listen or two to "Innate" from Mammoth's recent (back in May) EP of the same name (Innate) and I bet you'll be right there with me thanking Martin for sharing his good taste with us. If you're into instrumental stuff, Mammoth has got it all; go find out for yourself.
The wacky dreams you'll have might well include your Friday band Mammoth, which comes to my attention via a Facebook recommendation from Martin of Pomegranate Tiger. Have a listen or two to "Innate" from Mammoth's recent (back in May) EP of the same name (Innate) and I bet you'll be right there with me thanking Martin for sharing his good taste with us. If you're into instrumental stuff, Mammoth has got it all; go find out for yourself.
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Tuesday: Pomegranate Tiger - Cyclic
You know I love it when new music falls into my lap, and I love it even more when that new music comes from a band that I've been looking forward to hearing new material from. But the best case scenario is when new music from a band I dig falls into my lap... and it's badass. Fortune smiles on us today, my friends.
The name Pomegranate Tiger should already be familiar to you, if not from the proggy and technically proficient brand of instrumental metal to be found on their debut LP Entities then at least for the e-mail Q&A Matt and Martin did for me back in July of 2014 (Thanks again, guys!). It looks like Martin's multitasking as the main musician in the group even more than last time out, but that hasn't slowed him down one bit!
If you want some proof that killer instrumental prog can be crafted by an individual (and you don't have time to wait for the next Chimp Spanner record... I kid, Paul, I kid!) check out the first single "Cyclic" from Pom Tiger's upcoming sophomore record Boundless -- you'll be back in the Pomegranate Tiger groove and clamouring for Boundless's December 11th release date in no time. Careful that visualization video doesn't melt your brain, though.
The name Pomegranate Tiger should already be familiar to you, if not from the proggy and technically proficient brand of instrumental metal to be found on their debut LP Entities then at least for the e-mail Q&A Matt and Martin did for me back in July of 2014 (Thanks again, guys!). It looks like Martin's multitasking as the main musician in the group even more than last time out, but that hasn't slowed him down one bit!
If you want some proof that killer instrumental prog can be crafted by an individual (and you don't have time to wait for the next Chimp Spanner record... I kid, Paul, I kid!) check out the first single "Cyclic" from Pom Tiger's upcoming sophomore record Boundless -- you'll be back in the Pomegranate Tiger groove and clamouring for Boundless's December 11th release date in no time. Careful that visualization video doesn't melt your brain, though.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Pit Report: Protest the Hero
I told you it was coming eventually, and now here it is, my pit report for last Sunday's Protest the Hero show here in Kingston. Now that I've had some time to ruminate on the experience, you're going to get the complete rundown. It'll be like you were there!
Let me start by saying I felt like a bit of a fanboy at this show. When I heard about this Protest mini-tour, with this line-up, I was beyond stoked. I've only known about/been into Mandroid Echostar and Pomegranate Tiger for a little bit (at least compared to being a Protest the Hero fan for the better part of a decade) but having already interviewed the one opener (Mandroid) and having wanted to do the other for a while (Pomegranate) at the time that I heard about the show, I couldn't miss this one.
I did, however, make a miscalculation on the actual evening of the show. As I think I've mentioned here before, when I was younger we usually skipped the opening acts at concerts unless we already had a pretty good idea who they were. This is a habit I'm slowly trying to get out of, since discovering new music is kinda what I do around here, but either way I certainly wasn't going to skip out on any of the opening festivities for this one. So I figured, doors at 7, do a little math, and we should be able to show up at 7:30 or 7:45 and just walk right in. It's a little club show, right?
Not so. Well, yes, it was a little club show, but no, my clever timing calculations didn't work out. The doors didn't open until 8 or after, and we didn't get in until a while after that. So despite my best efforts, the evening began with an unfortunate amount of standing around and being more than likely the oldest person lined up for the show.
But things started looking up as soon as we got inside. I've never really been the starstruck, autograph-seeking type, but within the first half-hour or so of the show (before things got started and then into Pomegranate Tiger's set) I'd scored the John Hancocks of both of Protest's guitarists Luke and Tim. On top of that, I had the chance to meet Mike from Mandroid and thank him for doing the Twenty Questions with me a while back.
Anyways, back to the whole point: the badass metal show. First up was Pomegranate Tiger, who had the crowd pretty into it despite being the first opener and an instrumental act. I don't know how many people (can I say kids without unfairly generalizing? probably) in the audience knew PT beforehand, but you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were indeed very familiar with Pomegranate's jams, such was their enthusiasm. If the crowd was already aware of Pomegranate Tiger, then I guess I'm impressed with the number of people in Kingston who seem to be that into them, and if they weren't cognizant of PT already, I'm similarly impressed with PT's ability to fucking bring it to an unsuspecting audience. Well done.
Next up was Mandroid Echostar, a band whose presence and general tightness really speaks to the fact that they've been playing some shows and honing their chops. The band's got three guitarists, two of whom spend a good amount of time shredding out some tasty leads, and all three are rock solid across the varied material that Mandroid plays. If they play it on the record, they can play it live. Likewise, the aforementioned Michael Ciccia has plenty of range, and sounds great on record, but also doesn't sacrifice any of that range or any of his power in a live setting.
And then, of course, there's Protest the Hero. What can I say about Protest's live show that I haven't said before? I've seen Protest three or four times now, and I would see them again any chance I get. As usual, the boys played a decent mix of old and new stuff, although also as usual, not a lot of love for debut LP Kezia (one track, or maybe two, if I recall correctly). But realistically, after the rest of the evening, a good set from Protest the Hero was almost icing in the cake.
All in all, despite the slow start, and the fact that I had to work at 4 AM the next morning, it was a pretty sweet night. I really hope that any and all of these bands make it back to Kingston sooner rather than later, because the convenience of being able to take in three great metal acts in your own backyard just can't be beat. I highly suggest you try it sometime.
Let me start by saying I felt like a bit of a fanboy at this show. When I heard about this Protest mini-tour, with this line-up, I was beyond stoked. I've only known about/been into Mandroid Echostar and Pomegranate Tiger for a little bit (at least compared to being a Protest the Hero fan for the better part of a decade) but having already interviewed the one opener (Mandroid) and having wanted to do the other for a while (Pomegranate) at the time that I heard about the show, I couldn't miss this one.
I did, however, make a miscalculation on the actual evening of the show. As I think I've mentioned here before, when I was younger we usually skipped the opening acts at concerts unless we already had a pretty good idea who they were. This is a habit I'm slowly trying to get out of, since discovering new music is kinda what I do around here, but either way I certainly wasn't going to skip out on any of the opening festivities for this one. So I figured, doors at 7, do a little math, and we should be able to show up at 7:30 or 7:45 and just walk right in. It's a little club show, right?
Not so. Well, yes, it was a little club show, but no, my clever timing calculations didn't work out. The doors didn't open until 8 or after, and we didn't get in until a while after that. So despite my best efforts, the evening began with an unfortunate amount of standing around and being more than likely the oldest person lined up for the show.
But things started looking up as soon as we got inside. I've never really been the starstruck, autograph-seeking type, but within the first half-hour or so of the show (before things got started and then into Pomegranate Tiger's set) I'd scored the John Hancocks of both of Protest's guitarists Luke and Tim. On top of that, I had the chance to meet Mike from Mandroid and thank him for doing the Twenty Questions with me a while back.
Anyways, back to the whole point: the badass metal show. First up was Pomegranate Tiger, who had the crowd pretty into it despite being the first opener and an instrumental act. I don't know how many people (can I say kids without unfairly generalizing? probably) in the audience knew PT beforehand, but you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were indeed very familiar with Pomegranate's jams, such was their enthusiasm. If the crowd was already aware of Pomegranate Tiger, then I guess I'm impressed with the number of people in Kingston who seem to be that into them, and if they weren't cognizant of PT already, I'm similarly impressed with PT's ability to fucking bring it to an unsuspecting audience. Well done.
Next up was Mandroid Echostar, a band whose presence and general tightness really speaks to the fact that they've been playing some shows and honing their chops. The band's got three guitarists, two of whom spend a good amount of time shredding out some tasty leads, and all three are rock solid across the varied material that Mandroid plays. If they play it on the record, they can play it live. Likewise, the aforementioned Michael Ciccia has plenty of range, and sounds great on record, but also doesn't sacrifice any of that range or any of his power in a live setting.
And then, of course, there's Protest the Hero. What can I say about Protest's live show that I haven't said before? I've seen Protest three or four times now, and I would see them again any chance I get. As usual, the boys played a decent mix of old and new stuff, although also as usual, not a lot of love for debut LP Kezia (one track, or maybe two, if I recall correctly). But realistically, after the rest of the evening, a good set from Protest the Hero was almost icing in the cake.
All in all, despite the slow start, and the fact that I had to work at 4 AM the next morning, it was a pretty sweet night. I really hope that any and all of these bands make it back to Kingston sooner rather than later, because the convenience of being able to take in three great metal acts in your own backyard just can't be beat. I highly suggest you try it sometime.
Monday, 11 August 2014
Monday: Pomegranate Tiger - Stars
I know it hasn't been all that long since the last time Pomegranate Tiger provided me with your Song of the Day (I picked "Not to See the Sun" to accompany the Pom Tiger Twenty Questions post that went up back in July). But last night's show was such a good time, and Pomegranate Tiger killed their opening slot, so I figure they've earned a little more Loud Noises love.
Tonight I'm going with "Stars", another track from the band's self-titled debut LP. "Stars" is a chunky riffathon, chock full of the shreddy arpeggiating (arpeggio-ing?) that's pretty much Pomegranate Tiger's stock in trade. "Stars" is also a good Pom Tiger song to check out if you don't know them, because it strikes a good balance between being proggy and being concise, between being heavy and being melodic, between being technical and being accessible. Check out "Stars" and then agree with me that these guys need to release album number two already.
Tonight I'm going with "Stars", another track from the band's self-titled debut LP. "Stars" is a chunky riffathon, chock full of the shreddy arpeggiating (arpeggio-ing?) that's pretty much Pomegranate Tiger's stock in trade. "Stars" is also a good Pom Tiger song to check out if you don't know them, because it strikes a good balance between being proggy and being concise, between being heavy and being melodic, between being technical and being accessible. Check out "Stars" and then agree with me that these guys need to release album number two already.
Sunday: Protest the Hero - Mist
Some of you might be wondering what happened to Sunday's Song of the Day. I'll lay some of the blame on my recovery from Saturday's Mini-Olympiad, but the more exciting excuse is that last night was the long-awaited Protest the Hero show here in town, with support from Pomegranate Tiger and Mandroid Echostar.
I know I've mentioned this show and its tour at least a couple of times here at Loud Noises (I asked the guys from Pomegranate Tiger in our Twenty Questions exchange, for example) but I've been busy at work, and I've had the mini-olympics on the brain for a bit, and somehow or other this show just kinda crept up on me. Not that I'm complaining.
I had of course intended to drop a quick Protest song on you before we left, but much of my afternoon yesterday was consumed by napping, in preparation for my 4 AM start at work this morning. (Yeah, yeah, I know, it's a real sob story.) So the order of business when it comes to catching up on yesterday is most definitely a Protest the Hero song, and the boys have helped me make a choice as to which one by releasing a new video recently.
Your song for yesterday is "Mist", from last year's Volition, an homage to the province of Newfoundland. The boys in Protest have apparently long had a soft spot for Newfoundland and the warm reception they continually receive whenever touring takes them there. And if the song is dedicated to the band's favourite province, the video is perhaps even more so. Crank "Mist" and be jealous of the time I had last night while you await my Pit Report later in the week.
I know I've mentioned this show and its tour at least a couple of times here at Loud Noises (I asked the guys from Pomegranate Tiger in our Twenty Questions exchange, for example) but I've been busy at work, and I've had the mini-olympics on the brain for a bit, and somehow or other this show just kinda crept up on me. Not that I'm complaining.
I had of course intended to drop a quick Protest song on you before we left, but much of my afternoon yesterday was consumed by napping, in preparation for my 4 AM start at work this morning. (Yeah, yeah, I know, it's a real sob story.) So the order of business when it comes to catching up on yesterday is most definitely a Protest the Hero song, and the boys have helped me make a choice as to which one by releasing a new video recently.
Your song for yesterday is "Mist", from last year's Volition, an homage to the province of Newfoundland. The boys in Protest have apparently long had a soft spot for Newfoundland and the warm reception they continually receive whenever touring takes them there. And if the song is dedicated to the band's favourite province, the video is perhaps even more so. Crank "Mist" and be jealous of the time I had last night while you await my Pit Report later in the week.
Monday, 7 July 2014
Pomegranate Tiger - Not to See the Sun
To coincide with the brand spankin' new Twenty Questions interview with Matt and Martin from Pomegranate Tiger I posted earlier, this evening I'm recommending you have a listen to a track from the band's debut LP Entities.
"Not to See the Sun" is a mid-album monster, showing off both PT's ability to turn a riff on a dime as well as Martin's ability to shred out great lead work like it's going out of style. It also serves as a bit of a transition between the more isolated, disjointed elements of the first half of Entities and the three-part "Ocean" suite that dominates the album's second half.
Like I said at the end of the Twenty Questions piece, if instrumental, progressive, and technically proficient metal is your cup of tea, you should order a whole pot of Pomegranate Tiger. Fans of bands like Animals as Leaders, Scale the Summit, and Between the Buried and Me will have little reason to be disappointed.
"Not to See the Sun" is a mid-album monster, showing off both PT's ability to turn a riff on a dime as well as Martin's ability to shred out great lead work like it's going out of style. It also serves as a bit of a transition between the more isolated, disjointed elements of the first half of Entities and the three-part "Ocean" suite that dominates the album's second half.
Like I said at the end of the Twenty Questions piece, if instrumental, progressive, and technically proficient metal is your cup of tea, you should order a whole pot of Pomegranate Tiger. Fans of bands like Animals as Leaders, Scale the Summit, and Between the Buried and Me will have little reason to be disappointed.
Twenty Questions - Matt and Martin from Pomegranate Tiger
Well howdy, stranger. Beginning to wonder if, after six months or so
of radio silence, I'd ever be back with another Twenty Questions
interview? Oh ye of little faith...
Yes, it's true, it has once again been far too long, but I am indeed back with another twenty of my inane questions for another one of heavy music's up and coming bands. Today we're going to learn a little more about some pretty complex, pretty progressive instrumental metal from Matt Shaheen and Martin Andres, guitarists from Pomegranate Tiger. Take a look.
Yes, it's true, it has once again been far too long, but I am indeed back with another twenty of my inane questions for another one of heavy music's up and coming bands. Today we're going to learn a little more about some pretty complex, pretty progressive instrumental metal from Matt Shaheen and Martin Andres, guitarists from Pomegranate Tiger. Take a look.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Song of the Day: Set and Setting - Spiraling Uncertainties
Cool instrumental stuff seems, thankfully, to be in ready supply these days. Among the instrumental stuff I'm digging durrently: Scale the Summit, Pomegranate Tiger, Russian Circles, Blotted Science, Animals as Leaders, Mestis, Trioscapes, Zaius, Intervals...
Monday, 29 April 2013
Song of the Day: Pomegranate Tiger - Maxims
Day 2 of Canadiana Week coming at you, and this evening we're going to head down the 401 a bit (that's a big highway north of America, for all of you non-Southern Ontarians out there) from Protest the Hero's lair in Toronto to the Windsor stomping grounds of up-and-coming instrumetallers Pomegranate Tiger.
I've sung the praises of this band before, but if your musical tastes are anything like mine (proggy jazz-fusion metal? Yes please!) you'll thank me for featuring them again. Their debut album Entities, released in January of this year, is in a word, "epic". If you've ever held the opinion that instrumental music is boring because of its lack of vocals, anything by Pomegranate Tiger should convince you otherwise. Think Between the Buried and Me-style riffage without Tommy Giles and you should begin to get a flavour for things.
To get a further flavour for things, have a listen to "Maxims" from the aforementioned Entities. Why "Maxims"? Two reason: obviously I think it's a cool track, but also important is its five minute running length, because although there are a couple of other tracks I also thought about choosing, they clock in at six minutes plus, and I'm nothing if not considerate of your valuable time. You're welcome.
I've sung the praises of this band before, but if your musical tastes are anything like mine (proggy jazz-fusion metal? Yes please!) you'll thank me for featuring them again. Their debut album Entities, released in January of this year, is in a word, "epic". If you've ever held the opinion that instrumental music is boring because of its lack of vocals, anything by Pomegranate Tiger should convince you otherwise. Think Between the Buried and Me-style riffage without Tommy Giles and you should begin to get a flavour for things.
To get a further flavour for things, have a listen to "Maxims" from the aforementioned Entities. Why "Maxims"? Two reason: obviously I think it's a cool track, but also important is its five minute running length, because although there are a couple of other tracks I also thought about choosing, they clock in at six minutes plus, and I'm nothing if not considerate of your valuable time. You're welcome.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Song of the Day: Animals as Leaders - Weightless
Sometimes, as I've said before, I feel the need to comment on a post to update it, usually because a band has released a video for a song since I featured it as a Song of the Day. But sometimes I get to get in on the ground floor and come across a video for a song I've yet to feature, meaning I get to kill two pigs with one bird. Today is one of those days.
Friday, 11 January 2013
2012 Round-up, Part 2: 2013 Top Prospects
Guten tag, kinders, it's time for part 2 of the Loud Noises 2012 Year End Round-Up. This time around we've got my 2013 Top Prospects list. Like a hockey scout watching the juniors for the next big star I'm on the lookout for the year's big records, not in the sense that I'm trying to get ahead of the curve a predict the next big thing (although you know how I like spreading metal love to the masses) but more in the sense of letting you know which gestating records that I'm looking forward to are likely to be birthed in 2013. How's that for an analogy, eh? Basically, I'm answering this question: of the bands I'm currently digging, who's got new material in the works that we're probably going to hear this year? Simple, right? Let's just see, shall we?
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