Liste des groupes Metal Progressif Pelican Pelican

Pelican are one of many instrumental metal bands I really enjoy. I find that post metal, such as these guys, Isis or Cult of Luna, very relaxing music. Due to the sparse lyrical contect of the majority of it (or all in instrumental Pelican's case), you can project your own thoughts or emotions onto it, and each song can become something rather personal for you.

Early Pelican was a lot heavier than the post rock/post hardcore band their latest release 'City of Echoes' display. They possessed a lot more doom and sludge influences, and their self titled, self released debut EP perfectly captures the essence of their early sound. It is nothing less than crushing at all times. The band understand that, to play this kind of repetitive, rumbling riff game, that every element of their sound must harmonise with each other to become that perfect whole, rather than becoming a dull trudge. The guitar tone is clear, but murky, thick and dark, matching perfectly with the rumble of the bass and solid, binding drums. No one part of the band is clearer than the others, to which i thank a good production because there is nothing worse than an instrumental album where one instrument is more prominent.

Opening track 'Pulse' sets the standard, a slow, rumbling thunder lurking behind dark clouds. A slow, repeating riff opens up with an underlying melodic lead, pushing onwards, upwards through the clouds, free of the low end, soaring away from the cymbal crashes that follow in its wake. Then the bass crashes in, draggin the song back down, towards the sludge but yet never damaging the melody. Pelican understand heaviness. They create it without compromising the power of melody. Isis understand this method as well, see their magnum opus 'In the Absence of Truth'.

And all at once it stops, over too quickly but straight into the devastating 'Mammoth', its deceptive clean intro leading into the heaviest moment on the EP. It is like being trampled by a herd, a relentless doom barrage from which you gradually are released into yet more prime riffage and that leaves in a wail of feedback. The band retain this power all through the EP; although nothing touches the depths of 'Mammoth', the subtle melodies that permeate the thick curtain of 'The Woods' and the faster paced 'Forecast for Today' change things up a bit. Once the slow burn epic 'The Woods' builds itself from its doomy, sinister opening to an explosive finish, teased out by quieter passages and the gradual build that post metal bands are trademarked by, you are left quite exhilarated and exhausted.

The lack of vocals is key to this work. Pelican's ability to amaze and enthrall you comes from their ability to give you a piece to project on. The soaring ' Pulse' gave me images of birds flying up and away from howling winds, thunder and rain, pushing towards the sky. 'Forecast for Today' could almost be a trek up a mountain, where you near the top during the rumbling bass drums during the last two minutes and finally achieve the peak with 47 seconds to go and stare out into nothingness. These songs are all about the image, the idea, and yet without vocals they are unique to every man, woman and child who hears them.

Pelican's other work is equally as stunning, but I recommend this to new fans as a shorter, prime example of their work. After this, try 'Australasia'. An evocative, windswept masterpiece.