Since Pelican formed in 2001, they have remained one of the elite bands in the Instrumental Rock/Metal world. Initially a side project, it soon blossomed into something much more after putting out their 2001 self-titled EP, before their 2003 debut full-length album Australasia, which snowballed into 5 more EPs (through to 2015’s The Cliff), and 6 more albums (through 2025’s Flickering Resonance).
Also touring when possible (most recently set to play in the USA with Russian Circles before a spring tour together in Europe), Pelican’s sound has always been defined by melodies that lead you down a dark, atmospheric path that paints mind images without any need for words. Truly a unique band that captures your imagination, 2025 was a big year for the band, which released the aforementioned Flickering Resonance (with Guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec returning for the first time since 2012) while touring extensively across both North America and Europe.
Pelican’s seventh album, Flickering Resonance, delivered an epic sonic journey over eight songs that last a little less than an hour with elements of Shoegaze and Doom Metal. Another example of Pelican’s progression: during the 2024 recording sessions for Flickering Resonance, the band also tracked additional songs that did not quite fit. The case with many artists, when a record is created, why scrap them, when they can be saved for a later date? Considering this, in 2026, Pelican released those songs not included on Flickering Resonance on the new EP called Ascending.
Set for release on January 20, 2026, through Run For Cover Records, it will be Pelican’s seventh overall EP ever released and will be available either digitally or as a 12-inch vinyl. A total of four songs; they are not entirely new to ears, because “Adrift” and “Tending the Embers” were released independently early in 2024, digitally only. With that in mind, “Cascading Crescent” was featured on Flickering Resonance, but the difference is that this edition of the song features guest vocals from Thursday’s Geoff Rickly. Quite cool, the version with Rickly on vocals gives you an entirely different feel for the music. Previously available only as a limited-edition vinyl 7-inch, you can now find this mix of the song digitally and as part of this new EP.
Which leads us to the EP’s title track, “Ascending,” an unreleased song from the Flickering Resonance recording sessions. Exciting to hear, the song is nearly 8 minutes long of heavy fuzzy guitars with a rich groove. Continuing along with various changes, it is a soundtrack-like movement that takes you through various twists and turns.
Overall, Pelican’s Ascending is a great companion to Flickering Resonance that is highlighted by the title track. something that may not have fit into the framework of the full-length, but fits well as a standalone piece, Cryptic Rock gives the Ascending EP 5 out of 5 stars.
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