Customer Reviews

March Into the Sea

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would, without a doubt, say that "March Into the Sea" is the definitive Pelican song....I would say it is the only song you need, chugging and morphing along at 20+ minutes...I would say all these things if I didnt think all the rest of their work was so freaking good as well...But if you want a jumping off point, this is the place to start. It has the best elements of both their earlier, crushing, chuggin work, and there newer acoustic, post-rock stuff. Granted they have always combined those styles to make the music they make, just in different measures as they have progressed. If you are sold on this song I would then go buy Australasia and The Fire In Our Throats...as they both have their fair share of crushing riffs, post rock solitude and dreamy soundscapes...

If you are not familiar with Pelican, here are some ideas for you to digest. All the comparison to Mogwai, Isis, and Jesu are right on. I can see where people are going comparing them to Godspeed You Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky, as they take their time getting to places. But those two bands are their own complete beasts. I often think of the instrumental song "Orion" by Metallica on Master of Puppets...Imagine if that song were 10 minutes, or in this case, 20 minutes, complete with crushing distorted guitar passages, with fierce drums, and with beautiful dual guitar pieces, interwovem over chilled out bass and drum passages...now youre getting the point. I hope...

With two tracks lasting over 32 minutes, this CD single is more like an EP. The first track is the full 20-minute version of "March into the Sea"; the version on Pelican's latest album lasts only 10 minutes. This Chicago band is four guys that play "instru-metal" - that is, with no singer. Expect an epic, dynamic sound that hits both crashing climaxes and mellow, emotive passages. This track somehow morphs into piano, acoustic guitar, and flute textures. The second track is a remix by Justin Broadrick of Godflesh and Jesu fame. The remix sounds just like a Jesu track, complete with majestic drones and ten-ton drums. Hydra Head can do no wrong at the moment.

My title is in reference to the lead single on this cd, the gigantic 'March Into The Sea', which clocks in at over 20 minutes. For those who own the latest album `The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw' this will be familiar as the no.3 track `March To The Sea' (I don't really know why the name is altered), but without the long expansive, ethereal acoustic section, which on the album follows with the `untitled' track. On the single here the two tracks are squashed together, and I personally prefer this as the acoustic secretion becomes more intertwined with the heavier passages.

As for the song, well, for those unfamiliar with Pelican, it's a tour-de-force of post rock with a metal edge. Like most of the post rock bands Pelican create an astounding `wall of sound' that thunders and roars, sounding very much like the moody weather shown on the cover art. Pelican have a fresh take on this style, they encompass some really crunching undeniably metal riffs and the odd double bass onslaught in the drums department. For those familiar with Pelican, this is a great new direction, the band is simply taking the elements of old, and expanding them with a far more ambitious structure and sound. The other track here `Angel Tear's is decent, from their previous work `Australasia', its nowhere near the lead singles calibre however.

Great lead single from the epic `Fire In Our Throats...', definitely worth checking out if new to Pelican and a fan of post rock and metal.

4 stars, great EP.

In between albums, Pelican has released another brilliant EP. It is remniscent of the first EP, but with similar production to their full-length. Amidst their stylistic contemporaries, Pelican stands out as a great atmospheric metal band, avoiding some of the pitfalls of bands like Isis and Neurosis (bands I also like, but they are no Pelican). After about 15 mins into 'March into the Sea,' look out for that flute! Also pay attention for the bowed guitar. At 20 minutes, the title track is longer than many EPs with half the musicianship, and that isn't even mentioning the remix of 'Angel Tears' from Australasia, which is interesting and good, but really just a bonus track at the end of the day.

The 20-minute version of 'March Into The Sea' is even better than the album version and twice as long. The second song also exceeds ten minutes in length. Well worth the six bucks and strongly recommended for fans of Explosions In The Sky and Mogwai. The full album 'The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw' is also excellent.

As I read the reviews, I got excited but upon listening it's nothing much to shout about. This is true specially if you are in touch with the more substantial offerings by Japan's Corrupted or even mid-period Boris.

In fact, this is pretty boring (I'm typing as I'm listening to the EP here). I don't hear nothing new. Get any album by Mastodon put it beside this offering and you'll immediately see how pale Pelican is in comparison.

I suggest anyone reading to go and get Corrupted's El Mundo Frio (2005) instead and you'll hear true heaviosity, skill and invention. Or Boris' Feedbacker. Or Mastodon's Leviathan. Or even Justin Broderick's own old project Godflesh.