Post by thesoundmonitor on Feb 7, 2004 19:47:51 GMT -5
PELICAN
Australasia EP
(HydraHead) HH666 75
Where Pelican’s Untitled EP gathered interest in open minds of music listeners, Australiasia capitalizes, and then some, hoisting the Chicago based instrumental outfit out of obscurity and onto every self-respecting heavy music listener the world over.
Pelican’s Australasia is a journey. Leading the listener through psychedelic tunnels of distorted oppression, the crushing doom riffs, sometimes reminiscent of early-Trouble, wind and curve with occasional forays into secretive grooves and hidden hooks. Put simply this has to be heard to be believed.
Fitting ever-so snuggly into the new doom/noise scenery Pelican take the weighted theatrics of Neurosis and twist them into new shapes altogether. The undertstaed melodies rise in triumph before crashing down in defeat with bombastic intensity that defies description.
Opening with the spirit-crushing ‘NightEndDay’ the listener is saturated with cinematic riffs akin to Isis, combined with the forlorn emptiness of early Paradise Lost and the intermittent groove of Cathedral. All of this is wrapped in an instrumental delivery, allowing space and depth that vocals would just otherwise quell.
The epic length of the tracks accentuates the atmosphere amidst walls of repetition and sudden theme shifts. Beneath the defeating pressure of the each restrained, powerful riff is a beauty that glimmers like a faint, distant star on a cloudy night.
Slight variations in repetitive movements prevent the vocal-less compositions from becoming tiresome, while deviations, such as the acoustic/ambient approach of track five prove the band can shift gears without losing the overall feel.
Running at over 50 minutes and packaged in a beautiful LP style digipak, Australasia is an EP experience to behold.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.hydrahead.com/pelican
Label website: www.hydrahead.com
Buy this album: www.hydraheadshop.com
Australasia EP
(HydraHead) HH666 75
Where Pelican’s Untitled EP gathered interest in open minds of music listeners, Australiasia capitalizes, and then some, hoisting the Chicago based instrumental outfit out of obscurity and onto every self-respecting heavy music listener the world over.
Pelican’s Australasia is a journey. Leading the listener through psychedelic tunnels of distorted oppression, the crushing doom riffs, sometimes reminiscent of early-Trouble, wind and curve with occasional forays into secretive grooves and hidden hooks. Put simply this has to be heard to be believed.
Fitting ever-so snuggly into the new doom/noise scenery Pelican take the weighted theatrics of Neurosis and twist them into new shapes altogether. The undertstaed melodies rise in triumph before crashing down in defeat with bombastic intensity that defies description.
Opening with the spirit-crushing ‘NightEndDay’ the listener is saturated with cinematic riffs akin to Isis, combined with the forlorn emptiness of early Paradise Lost and the intermittent groove of Cathedral. All of this is wrapped in an instrumental delivery, allowing space and depth that vocals would just otherwise quell.
The epic length of the tracks accentuates the atmosphere amidst walls of repetition and sudden theme shifts. Beneath the defeating pressure of the each restrained, powerful riff is a beauty that glimmers like a faint, distant star on a cloudy night.
Slight variations in repetitive movements prevent the vocal-less compositions from becoming tiresome, while deviations, such as the acoustic/ambient approach of track five prove the band can shift gears without losing the overall feel.
Running at over 50 minutes and packaged in a beautiful LP style digipak, Australasia is an EP experience to behold.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.hydrahead.com/pelican
Label website: www.hydrahead.com
Buy this album: www.hydraheadshop.com
