Calyces – Fleshy Waves of Probability | Album Review

Four piece Athenian prog metal band Calyces release Fleshy Waves of Probabilty as a follow-up to their 2020 debut Impulse to Soar.

Continuing on from their last release, this album explores the obstacles that life puts in the way of freedom. It also tells the story of birth and how each moment leads to the next during life.

Opening with a peaceful yet purpose-driven pace, Fleshy Waves of Probability steadily builds momentum with each track. The album attempts a complex ride, but ends up sounding extremely platable. The first few tracks are thoughtful, melodic, and contemplative, giving the listener a glimpse of the band’s understanding of atmosphere. Their influences are obvious from the start of this album, which is by no means a negative. It feels familiar and comforting to recognise the sound and the pace.

It’s on track five, ‘Voices in the Grey” where things take a noticeable turn. Up until this point, the album paints a picture of moody, almost ethereal landscapes—lush, evocative, and brooding. Then, the groove hits. It’s a confident energy that invites the listener to have a little dance and move with the band to a more exciting landscape. The blend of light and dark as the album plays through reflects the story the band attempt to tell of the struggles of life and the pursuit of freedom.

The album wears its influences proudly, with noticeable Mastodon-esque heaviness throughout, and Baroness’s knack for blending melodic hooks with complex arrangements. But perhaps the most surprising influence here is the slight Better Lovers/The Dillinger Escape Plan tempo on some tracks. Bands you wouldn’t necessarily expect to crop up in a prog release, but once you hear it, it’s unmistakable. Calyces have clearly absorbed a lot from their sonic cousins, and it fits seamlessly into their overall sound.

The melodies are big, bold, and ear-worm worthy, but stops short of sounding fashionable or dated. Even with its relatively short runtime by prog standards (a mere eight tracks and less than an hour), the album avoids the self-indulgent bloat often associated with the genre. This lean, accessible work does not overstay its welcome and whilst may not cater to the taste of every fan of the genre, its appeal is undeniable. The melodies are memorable without ever being over-the-top, and they manage to balance straightforwardness with complexity in ways that are rare to find in modern prog.

There’s a gateway quality to Fleshy Waves of Probability, it’s approachable enough for newcomers to the genre, yet still deep and varied enough to find multiple listens easy. It’s not difficult to imagine this album winning over a wider audience, especially with the way it balances intricate instrumentation and accessible musicality. In a genre that can sometimes lean on its own complexity, this is a refreshingly direct approach that does not ostracise newcomers.

With deep story telling intertwined with majestic melodies, it’s an easy listen but doesn’t do anything new or break the mould.