CANVAS SOLARIS – Chromosphere

4/10

CANVAS SOLARIS - Chromosphere - 4/10

4/10

Summary

Divebomb Records
Release date: May 14, 2021

[spoiler title=’Metal Express Radio – Ratings Scale’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]

10.0: Cannot be improved! Perfect, instant classic! Essential in any record collection.
9.5 – 9.9: Fantastic, spectacular and outstanding!
9.0 – 9.4: Amazing release! It just lacks that little extra spice to make it perfect.
8.5 – 8.9: Exceptional release! Will likely rank among top ten albums of the year.
8.0 – 8.4: Great release! It has many different qualities.
7.5 – 7.9: Above average! It is an enjoyable release.
7.0 – 7.4: It is not brilliant, but has many strong points.
6.0 – 6.9: It has its moments, but is not that strong.
5.0 – 5.9: Slightly above average, does not stand out. Good outweighs bad by just a little.
4.0 – 4.9: Just below average, bad outweighs good by just a little.
3.0 – 3.9: Mediocre. There might be a song or a performance that is enjoyable, but that is it.
2.0 – 2.9: Very weak! There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, too many flaws.
1.0 – 1.9: This release gives the word “terrible” new meaning.
0.1 – 0.9: Awful! Avoid at all cost. There is nothing good to say about this release.

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User Review

8.5/10 (3 votes)

The Backstory

In 2010, following the release of their 5th album Irradiance, American Progressive Metal act Canvas Solaris quietly disbanded. The foundation for their latest album Chromosphere was laid down back in 2014 when they initially regrouped. Roadblocks, obligations, logistics, and many other fifty-cent words continued to stall the album’s completion. Canvas Solaris have sorted through the mess and after more than a decade, properly return with their 6th album Chromosphere.

The Album

Either accidentally or on on purpose, Canvas Solaris have delivered a 50 minute composition that could easily be one song. Throughout this 6 track album, the music stays fairly consistent. Each track is loaded with driving guitar riffs, thumping bass, and pounding drums. There are no words. Tempos change from time to time, but always remain pretty intense.

It’s tough to determine one song from the other, thus the earlier statement that it could all be one song. If it weren’t for the ‘interference’ noise that Caravan Solaris put at the end of each song, you probably wouldn’t have noticed that the track changed to the next one.

The Verdict

If Chromosphere is one song broken into chapters, the omission of words makes it difficult to determine one chapter from the next. Sure there are all instrumental albums by other Metal acts and guitar virtuosos, but they tend to go out of their way to mix things up on the music end from track to track. While Canvas Solaris are good at what they do, it’s tough to envision one of these songs being played and someone recognizing it as “Hidden Sector” or hey that’s “False Vacuum.” The tracks are just not that diverse from each other.

Tracklist

1. Extrasolar Biosignature
2. Hidden Sector
3. Zero Point Field
4. Black Drop Effect
5. Renormalization
6. False Vacuum

About George Dionne 288 Articles

George was a contributor here at Metal Express Radio, reviewing albums and conducting interviews, out of Massachusetts, USA. George has contributed to numerous music related websites and blogs, and even managed his own from 2004-2009. George's first assignment was covering a live show by the mighty GWAR. By contrast his later assignments featured Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. George was also the front man for the South Eastern Massachusetts cover band Sound Tower from 2009-2015. Sound Tower played 300+ shows across MA and had two original songs on the Cape Cod radio station PIXY 103. George enjoys a good whiskey, scotch, and/or bourbon and fights crime in his spare time.