Released in 2009 via Hydra Head Records, Pelican’s What We All Come to Need is a masterful instrumental post-metal album that balances crushing heaviness with melodic depth and expansive atmosphere. The record demonstrates the band’s ability to craft compositions that are both technically precise and emotionally resonant, solidifying their place as one of the leading forces in modern heavy music.
The album opens with Deny the Absolute, immediately immersing the listener in layered, distorted guitars, driving bass, and thunderous drums. Throughout What We All Come to Need, tracks such as An Inch Above Sand and Final Breath highlight Pelican’s skill at building tension and release, alternating between sludgy, aggressive passages and soaring, melodic climaxes.
Instrumentation is intricate and dynamic. Guitarists Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec craft interwoven riffs that blend heaviness with nuance, bass provides both weight and melodic counterpoint, and drums navigate complex rhythms with precision and power. The absence of vocals shifts the focus entirely to the music’s texture, dynamics, and emotional resonance.
Production emphasizes clarity and depth, capturing the full impact of the band’s layered arrangements while allowing the subtle harmonic and textural elements to shine. The pacing of the album maintains momentum while providing room for reflective, atmospheric moments.
What We All Come to Need is not simply heavy music; it is a journey through tension, melody, and sonic expansiveness. Its instrumental focus allows the listener to engage deeply with the compositions, making the album both challenging and rewarding.
Ultimately, What We All Come to Need stands as one of Pelican’s most accomplished works, a record that combines technical mastery, emotional depth, and immersive atmosphere into a powerful and cohesive instrumental post-metal experience.
