Pelican – Flickering Resonance
Release Date: 16th May 2025
Label: Run for Cover
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Rock, Post-Metal, Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock.
FFO: Russian Circles, Isis, Don Caballero, Red Sparowes.
Review By: Hillary Wisniewski
2008 was the year in which I was first made aware of Chicago’s Pelican, and this came about because my beau at the time (now husband) was all about anything Hydrahead Records. Really, you couldn’t go wrong with releases from that label; however, there was something that stood out to me when it came to Pelican. It wasn’t the heaviness of the band that made an impression on me, but rather the overall atmosphere of their sound. There was something unique to it, but in the same regard it was familiar and comforting. Flickering Resonance builds upon this same feeling; listening to it was like returning home after an exhausting journey. According to the press release, “On Flickering Resonance, Pelican doesn’t attempt to reinvent itself as much as emphasize the elements that were so often overlooked. Though Pelican’s thick sonic backbone remains intact, the songs on Flickering Resonance show a more humanistic side of the band.” That’s what upped the game on this work-they seem to be more comfortable delving into elements that may have taken a second stage to the heavy riffs and bombastic sounds of previous albums.
Flickering Resonance opens in a manner similar to Australasia in the aspect it kicks off with an upbeat and bright feeling; this truly is the golden thread that ties all of the tracks together. Pelican demonstrate the ability to draw upon lessons learned throughout the past 25 years, and to put those to good use (even periods of dormancy lend themselves to growth). There is compositional deftness via complex melodic layers which became more front and center with City of Echoes, and it is further built upon in this work. The pummeling riffs ala earlier albums such as Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw are present as well, so no worries about Pelican not bringing out the heaviness. This is not what this album is primarily about, though. Sure, this wouldn’t be the same band without the weight of those massive riffs; however, Pelican is proving they are masters of their style while also being able to expand to allow space for adaptation. Their unique cadence in terms of the rhythm of their songs, coupled with that hopeful spirit, make for a winning combination.
This review is short and sweet, but at the end of the day, anyone who listens to Pelican knows what to expect in general. Flickering Resonance isn’t boring, nor does it just reinvent the wheel. It truly builds upon a foundation that was painstakingly laid. You can tell these gents have comfort with who they are as a band and what they want to accomplish with their sound. I don’t think they intended to be the torch-bearers during what many consider to be troublesome times; however, to me this is the role they fill. If this year has taught me anything, it is the importance of keeping a light burning bright in the darkness. May Flickering Resonance be that source of brightness for you as well.
(4.5 / 5)
