Things have been quiet for the post-metal juggernauts Pelican in recent years. Having this EP, Ataraxia/Taraxis, being only one of two releases in the past 3 or 4 years can almost assuredly be attributed to the members all heading in different directions geographically from their hometown of Chicago. All four tracks of this record were each recorded in a different studio when it was convenient for all of the members to unite for the project. I can't imagine this being easy for a band to survive in this manner, but after listening to this piece of music... they certainly make it work.
Ataraxia/Taraxis clocks in at around 18 minutes and while short on running time, it does not come up short in meandering through multiple sub-genres all beneath the umbrella of post-metal. The albums opener, "Ataraxia", gets the gears of this record turning very slowly with a mostly keyboard driven drone. A low growling bassline swells in to anchor this track to the records first sonic explosion in the form of "Lathe Biosas". This song bursts open with loud churning guitars and pummeling drum work (to be honest, this is some of the hardest drumming I've heard this band employ in years) only to collapse into the only slightly more subdued "Parasite Colony". On this track, you will be reminded of previous works that this band has created as it is definitely classic Pelican. You will be lulled by its initial mid-tempo groove only to be shaken by the second halfs heavy-handed stoner-esque riffery. Lastly we have "Taraxis", the companion piece to the albums opener. This final track starts off much like the record does in a quiet "less is more" acoustic approach only to bring the whole world crashing down in a wall of fuzzed out guitar and pounding rhythm.
Pelican breaks no new ground on Ataraxia/Taraxis, but what they do is remind you who the true torchbearers of post-metal are. I firmly believe that in most cases, to release an EP is to whet the appetites of your listeners for what is to come... and I certainly can't wait to hear more from Pelican.
Staff Rating
4.00/5
User Rating
0/5
