Hailing from Greece, the Athenian Progressive Rock band Calyces has crafted a thoroughly eccentric sophomore record titled Fleshy Waves of Probability (Self-Released). They are, without a doubt, masters of their instruments.  

Calyces is a four-piece band and they blend elements of sludge and seventies Progressive Rock with modern prog, creating a sound for contemporary listeners who are fans of bands such as Mastodon, Intronaut, Baroness, and Gojira. Their songs are prodigious, incorporating polyrhythms and fluctuating time signatures. Whether or not you’re a fan of prog music, you can’t deny the flawlessness of this performance. As a four-piece band, they have meticulously shaped their sound, leaving zero fat or filler on the bone. It’s a tidal wave of progressive rock from beginning to end.  

Fleshy Waves of Probability is a listening journey that unfolds in an improvised fashion, yet its creativity remains balanced and focused. The guitars flow with intuitive insight, interwoven with lyrical-like compositions, expertly shared with the bass guitar, which solidifies every note and chord. In the mix, among the driving, artistic guitars, you’ll hear a powerful, haunting voice balancing on the edge of a harsh yell and a hypnotic hymn, leading the listener through the soundscape. Then come the drums—precise, pulsing perfectly with masterful precision and intention.  

A few tracks that stood out to me are:  

– “Swirling Towards the Light” is a powerful opening song that sets the stage and foreshadows the rest of the album. It showcases guitar mastery and technical, groove-driven drumming.  

– “Lost in Phrase” slows things down a bit, creating a more drawn-out, airy space with darker tones, before ending on a heavy note and building the momentum back up.  

– “Forked Tongue” is a calculated wall of sound that never eases up. This song stood out to me the most—it begs to be put on repeat.  

The album wraps up with its final track, “Lethargy,” which delivers eight minutes of pure progressive rock. It encapsulates every artistic aspect of the album, showcasing each emotion, every angle, and every skill set brought to the studio.  

Calyces is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the world of prog music. It doesn’t get much better than this. When listening to this record, you can hear it—it’s obvious that they love what they do and have treated their craft with the utmost respect.  

Buy the album here:
https://calyces.bandcamp.com 

8 / 10
RICHARD REYNOLDS
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