Pelican - Ascending (EP Review)

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

Pelican - Flickering Resonance (Album Review)

Release Date: May 16th 2025. Record Label: Run For Cover Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Flickering Resonance  - Tracklisting

1.Gulch 02:47

2.Evergreen 06:26

3.Indelible 07:06

4.Specific Resonance 08:22

5.Cascading Crescent 04:24

6.Pining For Ever 07:00

7.Flickering Stillness 07:00

8.Wandering Mind 08:07

Members

Bryan Herwe

Larry Herwe

Laurent Schroeder-Lebec

Trevor Shelley de Brauw

Review

Pelican return with their new album Flickering Resonance which is the first full length album with the original lineup after Laurent Schroeder-Lebec quit back in 2012 and rejoined a decade later. The two albums that followed Laurent’s departure saw Pelican lose their original magic with the records that followed. 2013’s Forever Becoming and 2019’s Nightmare Stories both had majestic and magical sounds that only the band could deliver but the sense of optimism that was heard within their earlier records was sadly missing.

Flickering Resonance sees that uplifting balance restored with Pelican feeling more vital and assertive as ever with a never ending array of stunning Progressive Instrumental sounds that feels like the true successor to their classic 2009 record What We All Come To Need. This album still has moments of bleak Post-Doom and Post-Rock surroundings with the intricate Psychedelic elements allowing Pelican to inject an uplifting light of triumph, optimism and ultimately HOPE. The instrumental sounds are top-notch as usual with Pelican blending Post-Metal sounds and Atmospheric Sludge technical beats with sudden shifts to Ambient movements. 

The tracks can be quite long but that’s one of the albums main strengths with Pelican weaving long intricate progressive melodies and complex sound structures that change musical dynamics just for the sheer HELL of it. The music is quite fast-paced, muscular and wholly aggressive with this being one of the heaviest records from the band in quite some time. 

WIth the sombre Post-Rock exchanges between the stunning rhythm section of Larry Herwe on Drums and Bryan Herwe on Bass allowing both Laurent Schroeder-Lebec and Trevor Shelley de Brauw guitars being quite forthright and straight to the point in delivering multi-layered psychedelics sonic passages.

I haven’t even mentioned the standout tracks yet within this review for good reason as they’re all brilliant, engaging and thrilling as each other. The songs have their own unique soul and musical identity with Pelican rewriting the rules of Instrumental Rock/Metal and Post-Metal music in general. However, if I have to highlight my favourite tracks then these would be: Evergreen, Specific Resonance, Pining For Ever, Flickering Stillness and Wandering Mind. As these tracks shine a light to some classic sounding Pelican grooves that could easily have come from their landmark records.

The final two tracks of Flickering Stillness and Wandering Mind does allow Pelican to branch over into more destructive Post-Doom and Sludge Metal territory whilst leaving the record full of renewed optimism from the band which allows this record to be their most essential and important album in years. 

Flickering Resonance may end up becoming the Post-Metal album of the year for me personally and ranks as the standout instrumental rock/metal albums I’ve heard in a very long time.

  

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Asheville NC Iconic Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Festival Returns Halloween Weekend

Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Fest returns for Halloween weekend of 2024! Bolstering two days of heavy music and spooky vibes, Heavy Mountain makes its way to the Orange Peel and Burial Beer’s Eulogy. Featuring an array of iconic artists and genre spanning acts, exclusive pours from the area’s finest breweries, and hair-raising visual installations to set the mood for the Southeast’s heaviest Halloween Party!

First wave lineup announcement includes legendary atmospheric black metal from Washington’s Wolves in the Throne Room, dark medieval stylings of black metal heroine Hulder, and immersive fantasy/doom from NYC’s Castle Rat. In addition, the fest will feature highly anticipated album release sets from East Tennessee progressive sludge powerhouse Generation of Vipers and Asheville death metal outfit Harsh Realm.

The fest will also include a pre party with Chicago’s post metal pioneers Pelican & an after party of cover sets by local favorites both hosted at Burial Beer’s Eulogy. Heavy Mountain promises a blood curdling weekend of evil. Sure to please Halloween heads, metal maniacs and beer buffs alike with costumes, cover sets, and plenty of beverages.

Pre-Sales and Purchase Information Here!

Toneworthy presents - HEAVY MOUNTAIN MUSIC & BEER FEST

The Southeast’s Heaviest Halloween Party

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Show: 2pm | Doors: 1:30pm

$50 adv / $70 dos
$95 VIP

The Orange Peel

Wolves in the Throne Room
Hulder
Castle Rat
Generation of Vipers (album release)
Harsh Realm (album release)

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.