Canvas Solaris

First residing in the Tribunal Records stable, Georgia’s Canvas Solaris now call Sensory home, as do like-minded technical metal bands Spiral Architect and Gordian Knot. Their third effort, Cortical Tectonics, finds the trio not only shedding their metallic skin but also embracing more conventional prog rock influences. Opening track "Berserker Hypothesis” is fluidly chaotic, mirroring "Sinusoid Mirage,” but not before the latter begins with languid syncopation, like Ginger Baker’s Middle Passage, then changes gears with synths straight out of ELP or Genesis. A career best composition, "Interface” is clearly Discipline-era King Crimson worship with layered guitars, keys and xylophone at the coda. "Rhizome” covers similarly hallowed ground, though with a heavier, Don Caballero-wielding hand and stellar guitar solos in the latter half. The 17-minute epic "Reticular Consciousness” is broken up into Yes-like suites and could easily spin a heroic tale if given to Rush or Dream Theater. By expanding their musical palette, Canvas Solaris will now appeal to fans of both prog and tech metal.