10 Best Instrumental Rock Albums Since 2000
8. Pelican - What We All Come To Need
Restraint is something not often associated with the instrumental rock scene. Knowing when to pull the reins in is an art in itself and post-metal enthusiasts Pelican carefully mastered that subtle skill in 2009 with the stark wasteland What We All Come To Need.
No track here exceeds the eight minute mark; the group instead work to flesh out the compositions at a more conventional rate. This intense focus adds a lot to the album with songs like the spidery riff belter ‘Ephemeral’ or the multi-layered and multi-faceted ‘Strung Up From The Sky’ wasting no time in establishing their intentions.
There's not a heavy hitter like 'Bliss In Concrete' from their previous release City Of Echoes but the album doesn't need it. It allows the group to explore their sonic capabilities further, providing the album with a staying power that some of their previous work lacked. Highlights here include the heavy opening anthem 'Glimmer', the complex musical rollercoaster 'Specks Of Light' and the melodic yet grimy title track, all examples of Pelican's new found appreciation for the spacious elements of their music.
It's sometimes too sparse. However, those moments of doubt are few and far between on what is an otherwise a stellar outing for the Illinois instrumentalists.