Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Pelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw - 2005 - Hydra Head Records

Track Listing1. Last Day Of Winter 2. Autumn Into Summer 3. March To The Sea 4. Untitled 5. Red Rain Amber 6. Aurora Borealis 7. Sirius

Haven’t you noticed that many bands turn lately to post-rock/post-metal. Isis with their third album, Panopticon offered an alternative sound to all metalheads. Also Neurosis with their last album, The Eye of Every Storm revealed a different face. They proved that they could keep their unique sound and atmosphere without being raw and brutal. So another band was able to change and present something completely new in addition to its past. This band was Pelican. Pelican with their first EP (it was self-titled) started as a band clearly sludge and drone. Their second effort Australasia was in my opinion their best album influenced by many genres and bands (from Bathory to My Dying Bride). Their third full-length, The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw was far beyond any imagination.

Influenced by the third release of Isis and Neurosis last album (The Eye of
Every Storm) they turned away from sludge and turned to a post-rock
direction. The sound has softened, the whole album sounds less “heavy” than
their previous releases, and the melodies are amazing and all over the
album. Also the drums have a much more important role and are the ones
leading the music (just hear “The Last Day of Winter” and you will
understand what I am talking about). Although many of you will be terrified
by all these, I assure you that the result is amazing.

When a friend told me about them, I said that it would be impossible for me
to hear something without vocals. I was wrong, from the moment this album
got in my CD-player and now in my pick-up, the vocals never crossed my mind.
The music of this album is so beautiful that I never needed vocals to hear
it. At first you might think that they don’t have vocals just to be special,
but the truth is that they don’t have vocals because THEY DON’T NEED VOCALS.

The production of the album is great--the guitars, the drums everything
sounds wonderful. The production was made by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio
studios in Chicago (hometown). The guitar riffs sound so melancholic but
are also fast, the drums have a unique way of playing which is not complex
but are leading the album.

To sum up: A great album. Not Pelican's best work, but an amazing release.
Don’t worry about them playing only instrumental, it’s still awesome.

Production: 9/10
Songwriting: 9/10
Band’s Performance: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Reviewer Opinion: 9/10

Rating: 8.8/10

If you like this album check also: Neurosis-The Eye Of Every Storm, Isis-
Panopticon

--Baphomet 01.13.07