Penumbra Diffuse

Over a year ago I reviewed a band called Continuo Renacer, a trio who’d just delivered their self titled debut album filled with instrumental jazzy prog rock/metal. At that time I had never heard of another band quite like that. But then I received Canvas Solaris. Their album “Penumbra Diffuse“ is also fully instrumental.


From what I’d gathered on information, this band started out as a death/metalcore band. Nowadays their music is highly technical prog. Or should I say extremely technical prog? I’ve never played guitar, or any instrument for that matter, but the stuff on this album sounds so complex that it gave me a headache the first time I played it.


So many things are going on at the same time, it made my head spin. I had to take my time and listen to this album one track at the time. I really couldn’t get past all the highly impressive technical stuff. It’s like watching 3 different movies, reading a book and talking on the phone while making dinner, all at once. For me this band is just too much I guess.


If you think Dream Theater is complex and progressive, or Yngie Malsteen’s technical shredding is some of the best you ever heard, then don’t buy “Penumbra Diffuse“. But if you’re pretty bored by bands like that, meet Canvas Solaris and be amazed by what guitar, percussion and synths can do.