Search - Pelican :: Australasia

Australasia
Pelican
Australasia
Genres: Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (5) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Pelican
Title: Australasia
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Hydrahead Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2000
Re-Release Date: 11/4/2003
Genres: Rock, Metal
Style: Death Metal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790168107528

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CD Reviews

Post-Metal. [4.5 stars]
IcemanJ | Ohio, USA | 10/06/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."
Excellent example of where metal should go
brad_343 | Madison, WI | 03/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
A Sonic Tidal Wave
Rob Walsh | Putney, Vermont | 09/01/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)

"It took me a while to get into the sludgy and epic metal soundscapes of bands like Neurosis and Isis, but soon after I found myself hooked. Isis are by far one of my favorite bands these days. So when my friend recommended this Chicago and described them as Isis with major chords and no vocals, I opted to check them out.



My first reaction was a mixed one. I downloaded the track Drought and found it to be so-so. It sounded like a slightly less interesting Isis song with different production. The guitars where impressive, but something was lacking and it wasn't vocals. But then I heard the album later(with the aide of a certain plant, heh) and found it to be a very enjoyable listening experience.



The guitars on this record have the capability to be crushing, as well as weaving interesting compositions of sound. The opening track of Nightenday is proof enough. My two issues with this band start with the drummer. He is tremendously banal and boring. Nothing but an endless assault of tedious cymbal crashes, out-of-place double kick rolls and a stale sounding snare drum. Obviously, this particular genre is not reliant on drumming technicality, but this guy sounds so limited in comparison to what his bandmates are doing. Also, though one reviewer was happy of the fact that Pelican where not an emo band, I was disappointed to find that some emo/shoegazer influence makes its way into this record. Namely with the last three tracks, Pelican plays a lot of overly melodic and emo-ish acoustic pieces which are begging to have some moppy haired wuss whine about his girlfriend over them. I love soft acoustic melodies, just not these ones.



Still, this album is a testament to the greatness that is Hydrahead records and of a young and promising Illinois band."