AUSTRALASIA

This record is absolutely great, but not as good as its follow up. On this album, we are exposed to a more raw, undeveloped side of Pelican. The sound is more riff-based, but the progressiveness is still undeniably present. Pelican posess a distinct talent for writing metal songs that flow without stopping, songs that wax and wane unpredictably, yet evenly. Pelican isn't about being loud or heavy (even though they are), but rather about finding a new kind of structure for a new kind of metal, and expressing complex emotions through expansive instrumental pieces. To witness Pelican live is to truly appreciate their music. You can tell that the each player feels the weight of every note he plays, and that they pour their souls into every performance.

The album is split in two by a pleasant acoustic piece, which accents the band's interest in substance over style. However, the real stand-out tracks on the record are the opening track "Nightendday", and the epic "Angel Tears". I would highly recommend this album to any prog metal or post-rock fan, though I would suggest checking out "The Fire in Our Throats..." first. Still, this is a very strong album on its own merits, and it is worthy of four stars.