Canvas Solaris
are a Georgia-based instrumental prog/tech-metal group with a string of albums to their name (five since 2004), all of which combine
Dream Theater
/
Yngwie Malmsteen-ish
shredding with electronic touches, prog rock dynamics and compositional complexity, and jazz fusion rhythmic fluidity. Fans of
Atheist
and
Cynic
will find this as appealing as fans of
Return to Forever
or
Mahavishnu Orchestra
might. (Of course, there's probably already a fair amount of crossover between those two camps, so....) What's most impressive about
is that they're a trio. It feels like it should require more people to produce music of this complexity and power. Each member of the group brings astonishing talent to bear on these multifaceted, ever-shifting compositions, and while there are guitar solos aplenty, they aren't the central point -- this isn't a
Joe Satriani
album. The group's all about interaction, counter-melodies, and collective action. And while it does ultimately blend into a whole, without individual tracks leaping out,
Irradiance
is a very interesting example of a group heading down the road less traveled, at top speed, with amps blaring. ~ Phil Freeman