Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Run For Cover Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Ascending EP - Tracklisting
1.Ascending 07:47
2.Cascading Crescent (ft. Geoff Rickly) 04:24
3.Adrift 05:47
4.Tending the Embers 04:26
Members
Bryan Herwe
Larry Herwe
Laurent Schroeder-Lebec
Trevor Shelley de Brauw
Review
Ascending is the latest EP from Post-Metal legends PELICAN who released one of the best instrumental albums of the decade with 2025’s Flickering Resonance. This has seen the band gain a whole new level of momentum like ever before and it’s so richly deserved for a band who has done some much for the Instrumental Metal and Post-Metal scenes. Now, the band offer Ascending which is a collection of tracks which the band describe as “repackaged an EP of 4 Flickering Resonance era tracks as a new 12” EP”.
Ascending is the only new track contained here with the other three tracks being released before the official release of Flickering Resonance. Ascending was left off that album and contains similar themes, melodies and progressive textures which easily taps into that record and perhaps their legendary debut album Australasia. Pelican allows the heavy Post-Metal themes to develop at an aggressive fast pace before transforming into a highly distinctive style of Post-Rock which is ultimately therapeutic at the same time. There‘s a deep CINEMATIC flow being added which ties all the other tracks together into a constant state of creative flux.
Second track Cascading Crescent actually featured on their last album but this time round they have the incredible talents of Geoff Rickly (THURSDAY) to provide vocals and it gives this track a completely different vibe of its own compared to the original. One of my favourite tracks from Pelican’s classic 2009 album “What We All Need To Come” was Final Breath with a stunning performance from Allen Epley (SHINER and This Life And Times). The song feels more complete here with a distinctive harsh vocal style giving this version a heavier and sinister edge. More violent but still one of the most essential tracks that PELICAN have written in a long time. The spoken word movements add an intense Political Edge which brings a harsh sense of reality into the mix. Mind-blowing. That’s the only way I can describe this.
The final two tracks of Adrift and Tending The Embers were originally released digitally in 2024 and it’s the same versions. However, they feel more complete here with the same distinctive message that Pelican ultimately conveys throughout the EP. Pulsating Post-Metal and Post-Rock soundscapes combine for uplifting visions of pure classic instrumental movements of the highest order.
Ascending is another essential release from PELICAN who are in my mind one of the finest and most important Instrumental Metal and Post-Metal artists we currently have right now. Their work over the last year only proves this point.
EPIC. End Of!!!
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
