Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

Melody and drone occupy complementary spaces on the first two tracks of Pelican'sself-titled EP before it all clicks on the profuse, punishing anthem "Forecastfor Today." In case you're wondering, that forecast calls for gloomyatmospherics, feedback and ear-bending distortion. This young Chicago quartetdoesn't churn out instrumental doom metal as well as labelmates Isis quiteyet—the arrangements on "Pulse" and "Mammoth" veerinto achingly-precise math-rock territory, as if the group is actively resistingthe urge to fully unpack all of the elements of its sound. Part of the problemis modulation, though this record (re-released on Isis frontman Aaron Turner'sHydra Head label) doesn't do justice to Pelican's epic live shows.Still, the massive low-end rumble of the closer "The Woods" soundsjust as great on record—it's 13 minutes of angular, throbbing noisethat's awesome in every sense of the word.