Chicago band Pelican has been putting out its own unique brand of down-tuned instrumental sludge since 2001. Even without a vocalist, they’ve managed to find a distinct voice characterized by massive, leaden guitar tones and sprawling compositions.  They’re part of a new breed of artists who emphasize sonic textures over more formal elements, weaving dense arrangements from relatively modest parts. Evading genre classifications, the band has something special to offer for fans of metal, post-rock, ambient, alternative, and more.
Released through Southern Lord Records on Oct. 15, 2013, Forever Becoming is the first full-length album we’ve seen from Pelican since What We All Come to Need back in 2009. It’s also their first release to feature new guitarist, Dallas Thomas, who officially replaced founding guitarist, Laurent Schroeder-Lebec, back in 2012. Thomas had been touring in Schroeder-Lebec’s stead since 2010, when the latter gave up touring to spend more time with his family.
Pelican recorded the new album at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago this past summer, sharing the space with fellow instrumental band, Russian Circles. Their new releases are similar in that both feature more intense and claustrophobic production than their previous efforts. In another departure from the usual Pelican sound, the drums are higher in the mix, relative to the guitars. These new elements converge to create a darker record, full of anger and anxiety. In recent interviews, founding guitarist Trevor de Brauw attributed this change to the nervousness and uncertainty of carrying on without Schroeder-Lebec.
Pelican’s songs take listeners on a journey, and their newest offerings are no exception. The real intensity starts just three and a half minutes into the record with “Deny The Absolute”, barely relenting until we find ourselves halfway through “Immutable Dusk”. The pace only slows through more brooding tracks like “Threnody”, “The Cliff”, and the album closer, “Perpetual Dawn”. On the other hand, “Vestiges” features the kind of triumphant anthem that only Pelican can create.
While it’s abundantly clear that their albums are intended to be experienced as a whole, a distinct lack of filler makes it difficult to choose one or two standout tracks. Where other instrumental bands tend to lose focus, Pelican maintains a strong sense of immediacy and direction. Forever Becoming may lead listeners to some unexpected places, but it’s a trip worth taking. Long-time fans will be pleased to hear that the band has carved out what appears to be a brighter future from a darker sound.
If Pelican sounds like your cup of doom, be sure to check them out at the Spanish Moon on Nov. 7 with Coliseum and Red Shield.