“Waving at the Sky” is the second concept album of Norwegian Progressive Rock band AVKRVST, continuing the story of the bleak soul in the cabin. The album has seven songs, and “Preceding” is first, and the music borders on Metal due to the firm tones in the guitars. The bass notes are fantastic, and they drive a heavy groove forward. I am reminded of LEPROUS, but without some of the weight. Emerging from the shadows of the guitars however is a bright light of melody that casts warm tones over the listener. “The Trauma” has hastier tones that are also more foreboding. The angled guitar tones occasionally bleed with sweet melodies, like the surprise of cherry filling in chocolate cake. It’s a spell before the vocals enter, and they are smooth, and also a bit solemn. The ride is smooth until harsh vocals roar forward at the end.

“Families Are Forever” has gentler tones that seem sentimental. Families are complicated, so even the concept can bring up a lot of different emotions. In this case, they are tentative, like trying to trust someone that you just met. Once again, the roar of harsh vocals breaks in, perhaps signifying some feelings of anger. They keyboards at the end help to bring the song back down. “Conflating Memories” is like a ride in the twilight of the evening when the weather cools and your head is clear. The ride is sweet at times, while some grey skies pass overhead, and you don’t care of you catch a little rain. “The Malevolent” features vocals from Ross Jennings (HAKEN). It has a more energetic sound and the vocals are as smooth as butter. The chorus is very catchy, and easy to sing along with.

“Ghosts of Yesteryear” has a hardened bass line running through some dark guitar riffs, and the pace is breakneck at first. It slows to gentler feelings, and warm, inviting tones. The hardened tones return, but the melody outpaces them. It makes a soft segue to the final song, the title track. It enters with melancholy tones, almost like a steady week of grey skies and light rain. But the skies turn, and out comes the sun. Crossing the middle of the song, meaty bass notes carry it forward with smooth keyboards. You can feel the tides turning, leading to raging harsh vocals and a long crescendo that keeps building. The ending just puts a smile on your face and males all of the bad days seem to fade to a distant memory.

There’s a certain elegance in the way “Waving at the Sky” carries itself. It has a fluidity that defines its progressive rock foundation, with shifting time signatures, yet the journey never feels disjointed. Instead, the album flows like a steady river under ever-changing skies…sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, always purposeful. It’s an album that doesn’t look away from hardship, but also refuses to let despair have the final word. Technical yet tender, complex yet grounded. You don’t just listen to it; you move with it. By the end, you, too, are waving at the sky—not in surrender, but in belief.