Apoch's Metal Review - Pelican: What We All Come To Need CD Review

Discography	Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed.
Full-Length(s):	Australasia (2003) • The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (2005) • City of Echoes (2007) • What We All Come to Need (2009)
EP(s):	Pelican (2001) • March into the Sea (2005) • Pink Mammoth (2007) • Ephemeral (2009) • Ataraxia/Taraxis (2012)
Split(s):	The Champions of Sound 2003 (2003) • Pelican / Playing Enemy (2005) • Pelican / Mono (2005) • Pelican / These Arms Are Snakes (2008) Champions of Sound 2008 (2009) • Split Series Part 3 (2009)
Compilation(s):	The Wooden Box (Box Set) (2010)
DVD(s):	Live in Chicago 06/11/03 (2005) • After the Ceiling Cracked (2007)

Review

Pelican have definitely changed since their 2003 debut album, Australasia. As time progressed, the band distanced themselves from the Sludge fused Doom Metal sound, to a mix of Doom elements with a Post-Hardcore foundation. This is what the band presents us with on their latest offering, What We All Come to Need. But, the question about this release is actually how the music is presented this time around, since earlier Pelican concentrated on the musicianship, while more recent releases seemed to really focus on the mood of the songs.

To put it simply, What We All Come To Need doesn't really focus on either of those two elements. Fans are presented with a work that is a very well done relaxation-based release, but still caters to a very strong Post-Rock foundation. There are some tracks on here that are a little heavier, such as "Glimmer" and "Specks Of Light" due to the pace and flow of the song, which allows some of the Doom Metal influences to come into play, as well as "An Inch Above Sand" simply due to how heavy the guitars are. The atmosphere being presented here is a little darker compared to everything else on the release too. The real meat of this album, however, lies in the slower to mid-paced tracks, such as "Ephemeral", "Strung Up From The Sky", and the very hyponotic "Final Breath", that work well in creating a rather soothing environment for the listener.

But, the problem with all of this is, even though the album is highly enjoyable, some of the material on here just comes off a bit mediocre. Take "The Creeper" for example. which doesn't hold that much of an impact musically, as well as "Specks Of Light" which sometimes sounds like they took the track "Clouds Over California" by Devildriver and not only slowed the guitars down, but removed the technical aspects from them as well. There really aren't any tracks on here that will jump out at you either, except for two. "Glimmer" is just an all around great song that is put together well and performed flawlessly with guitars that give you the feeling after a while that you're in some sort of dream-like state, and then there's "Final Breath" which really stands out, not just because it's the only track on here to feature vocals of any kind, but due to how different the guitars are being played, which could easily cause you to drift off as if you are in some sort of trance.

All in all, What We All Come To Need may not stand out the most impressive in the Pelican discography, but it serves it's purpose well. This mellow sounding album, with the exception of "An Inch Above Sand", is a release that any fan of music can just pick up and enjoy. If you're a fan, you may not fully appreciate the album at first since this release doesn't show off the band's talent that well, but after your first time through it, you'll gain an appreciation for it and what they are trying to do despite its faults. So, if you're into Pelican, or just want something a little different from the screaming, face melting, or failed breakdown sounds that everyone nowadays is mass producing, give What We All Come to Need a shot. You won't regret it.

Submit to Social Networks	Donater/Ethic Info
	Digital review copy of this release provided by: Southern Lord Records via Earsplit PR.

Advertise
Toolbar