Band : Canvas Solaris
Album title : The Atomized Dream
Label : Sensory
Distributor : The Lazer's Edge
Release date : 10/06/2008
Release : (Digipak) CD

I was lucky enough to review this Statesboro (Georgia) based band's previous and third album Cortical Tectonics last year (posted 24/07/2007), which is also lucky for those people who are still to make their acquaintance with the instrumental band, as I included a to-the-point biography.

Following the release of that album, the line-up saw a radocal chnge when band founders Nathan Sapp (acoustic, lead & rhythm guitar, plus guitar synthesizer, Korg Poly-61 synthesizer, and programming) and Hunter Ginn (drums, percussion, and programming) replaced the departing Ben Simpkins with 3 new members: Chris Rushing (acoustic, lead & rhythm guitar, plus E-Bow), Donnie Smith (analog – MiniMoog Voyager & Nord – synthesizers), and Gael Pirlot (bass). This has enabled the original members to expand their music even more. Although the core sound remains (the band still contrasts hyper-technically Progressive Metal passages with spacey and quiet acoustic guitar based interludes), the music now often contains twin guitar interplay, and the keyboards are also somewhat more prominent that on previous albums. For those in need of namedropping to make up their mind about wanting to make an acquaintance with a new band: the label recommends Canvas Solaris to fans of such acts as Behold The Arctopus, Spastik Ink, Cynic, and Don Caballero, and I would say that quite hits the spot. For the more critacal among you: check out myspace.com/canvassolaris (where the band has posted new tracks "Reflections Carried To Mirror" and "Heat Distortion Manifest",which regretably gives you no occasion to compare the calmer side of the album with it's opening "The Binaural Beat" or the largely calmer "Photovoltaic", alongside two tracks off the 2007 album and one off each previous one) and make your own comparison.

The new formation was already able to showcase their new sound prior to the release of the album thanks to a US tour with Behold The Arctopus and Dysrhythmia, and they're looking forward to continue their momentum with additional shows during the rest of the year. No dates have been posted yet, but I'm sure will follow! Whatever, these Southern boys can't do anything wrong in my book...and that why their new album (just like the one of last year) effortlessly enters my year-lists!

98/100

Tony.