A deeply stirring, emotionally charged instrumental album.

Pelican, Chicago’s post-rock pioneers, return with Flickering Resonance, a thunderous album with more than its fair share of introspection. The result? Affirmation that Pelican retains its status as a masterful storyteller with wildly good music, sans vocals. That’s right—Pelican knows how to enrapture audiences without words. 

Flickering Resonance is, without a doubt, a masterful journey that enmeshes atmospheric post-metal soundscapes with unparalleled instrumental intensity. The band’s profound emotional undercurrent is evident from the album’s inception, with a vibrant pulse between intricate riffs and textured melodies. As tracks glide effortlessly from one sound to the next, an expansive set of moods takes shape, challenging what listeners think they know about Pelican’s range.

Opening with “Gulch,” Pelican demands attention, its brooding depth overwhelming listeners. They combine heavy-hitting, powerful guitars with emotive melodies that round out the beginning of an otherwise intricate album. Pelican’s signature sound is on full display, and listeners are welcomed into a powerful musical landscape with vivid imagery from the onset. 

“Evergreen” contrasts sharply with its predecessor, a fresh sound compared to the album’s initial darker edge. Rejuvenating guitars flow in perfect harmony with a steady rhythm section, and the entire track is a welcome experience. It hits in all the right places, balancing minor chords against guttural guitar riffs for an otherworldly experience. 

As the album ebbs and flows, “Indelible” and “Specific Resonance” are perfect examples of the band’s expansive range. Elaborate guitarwork shows off a multifaceted sound that perfectly balances precision with more chaotic elements. 

“Cascading Crescent” and “Pining For Ever” offer a darker, more thoughtful experience. The music is full-bodied and completely hypnotic, and distorted power chords provide an unabating soundscape from the onset. 

“Flickering Stillness” and the closing “Wandering Mind” round out the album with more than 15 minutes of collective instrumentals. They are a reflective riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, so to speak. The entire album provides a meditative, trancelike quality, with the occasional high-octane guitar riffs jarring listeners back to reality. 

At its core, Flickering Resonance is a powerful, musical experience. Pelican continues to redefine boundaries, pioneering consistent uncharted territories. Longtime fans and newcomers can all appreciate Pelican’s latest offering, the entire band a reminder that creativity knows no bounds.