Australasia

Pelican | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 4, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hydrahead Records
• ASIN: B0000CFY9H
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,739 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Post-Metal. [4.5 stars], October 6, 2004

By 

IcemanJ (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Australasia (Audio CD)

Pelican is a very talented new band from Chicago. The more I listen to this the more it sounds like a metal version of Explosions in the Sky, the instrumental post-rock band. They have many similarities including long, ever-changing songs and shifting, intertwining melodies. The few soft parts on this album are even more similar to post-rock. But the metal side also reminds me, and most other people of Isis, minus the vocals, which is a fair comparison I think. This is a very raw and authentic sounding album, being their first full-length. If I had to say which Isis it was most similar to I'd say Celestial. So fans of Explosions of the Sky AND Isis, like me, will have a good time with this CD, even though it's not really better than either of those bands. Maybe they will live up to them someday. There are six songs on this album and four are around the 10-minute mark, the other two being a lot shorter.

Many songs sound threatening or scary but some softer parts sound relaxing and delightful. "Drought" might be my favorite track; it's a heavy, sludgy mess (in a good way) that continually progresses through different movements and ideas. The first part of it is menacing and brilliant and will probably lure you in. "GW" is in memory of Gary Weber, I don't know who that is, but this is the shortest song on the album and probably the most melodic heavy song. The song entitled "-" is totally un-distorted, it's a relaxing and soothing break from the chaos. It's very nostalgic sounding, with an ever-so-slight tinge of country, and sounds like it could be on a Godspeed you Black Emperor album. It also contains a "singing saw," I didn't know saws could sing but it's very good. Lastly, the title track is mostly heavy like the rest but breaks down into a similar acoustic section for a while and then continues to add acoustics throughout the rest of the song. It's probably my second favorite track.

Isis/Neurosis/Pelican fans also should check out CALLISTO - True Nature Unfolds, an extremely talented similar sounding (more like Metalcore though) band from Finland that deserves much more attention. I liked the Callisto CD instantly but then it kinda dried up fast. Amazon doesn't sell it at the moment.

Anyways, I'm very satisfied with Pelican so far and I hope they will continue to evolve; I'm very much looking forward to another album someday, and it is one of the best metal purchases I've made this year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pelican's Most Complete Album, February 12, 2008

By 

Tom Chase (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Australasia (Audio CD)

Pelican's career is an interesting one for me. Being both a fan of post-rock and sludge/stoner metal (call it what you will), they often hit the spot perfectly. Their debut EP quenched my unabashed desires for monumental heaviness, sounding reminiscent of the most thunderous Isis or Neurosis climax, and the two latest releases ("The Fire In Our Throat..." and "City Of Echoes") are more geared towards the post-rock fan in me. Ultimately, I like these albums for different reasons. "Australasia", on the other hand, manages to combine these aforementioned qualities rather splendidly. It can whisk me up into ethereal places with its progressive post-rock styling, but equally, it can take my face off with outrageously powerful grooves.

Opener "Nightendday" is a perfect example of this. The song showcases airy, gentle, almost ambient moments - then there are typically Pelican melodic chord progressions - and then it is all shattered down with huge monolithic doom riffs. Perfect. And the rest of the album tends to follow suit. There is the utter groove-based sludge metal throughout "Drought" (quite possibly Pelican's most brutal and endearing piece to date) contrasting to the beautiful melodic strumming of "Angel Tears" and the serene acoustic untitled piece. The band really balances the album, giving just enough moments of splendid tranquillity to combat the monolithic heaviness. It is for this reason that I feel "Australasia" is Pelican's finest album to date. It manages to combine all the other standout elements of other releases, making it their most interesting and varied release. Fans of bands such as Isis, Neurosis, Mogwai, Red Sparrowes, Old Man Gloom etc will enjoy this.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent example of where metal should go, March 8, 2004

By 

"brad_343" (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Australasia (Audio CD)

I have grown tired of metal. I admit, I don't look as hard as I could for good metal, but that's because I like so many other genres as well. Here's the story:
A couple friends convinced me to come see Appleseed Cast at the UW Union. I say convinced because I despise almost all emo, and I won't say all given the small chance of something I've never heard being good. So after the opening emo-ish band I was expecting something less than great from the next band. Their image- I'll admit- was a little confusing, with tight t-shirts, tight jeans, and short hair, they looked a little, dare I say...emo.
During the soundcheck they confused me even more by playing totally clean guitars; then I noticed their amps: one had a Sunn and one had Mesa/Boogie. Any guitar player knows these are not amps made to be played clean, so where was the distortion.
I believe they opened with "Drought" (the best track on the album)and my head immediately started to bang. I have never experienced such intensity, and after the show I frantically tried to locate their selling stand. I bought Australasia, and listened to it. All of it.
I won't try to come up with adjectives to describe it; I'll just say two things: 1, the album captures their live show perfectly, and 2, buy it.
By the way, I left about 10 minutes into Appleseed Cast's set.