Pelican (band)

Lore & Background

Pelican was first affiliated with Hydra Head Records but by 2009 signed with Southern Lord Records. Their first EP for Southern Lord was 'Ephemeral', released on June 9, 2009, though they had already toured with Wolves in the Throne Room in 2008 to support 'City of Echoes'. Their album 'What We All Come to Need' was released on October 27, 2009, and does not feature appearances by Greg Anderson or Aaron Turner (Greg Anderson contributed to 'City of Echoes', Aaron Turner to 'Pink Mammoth' and the Tusk split). In celebration, the 'Pelican Burger' was served at Kuma's Corner for one night.

In 2012, Pelican announced a new EP, Ataraxia/Taraxis, and began a European tour in April, playing in England, Italy, Germany, Finland, the Dunk Festival in Belgium, and the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands. Support bands included Bo Ningen and Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster in the UK, and Tombs in continental Europe. In June 2012, the band announced an amicable split with guitarist and founding member Laurent Schroeder-Lebec, who had not been touring for two years; Dallas Thomas of The Swan King performed live in his stead. Pelican released its fifth studio album and first without Schroeder-Lebec, Forever Becoming, on October 15, 2013.

In February 2019, Pelican announced three new releases, including a remixing/remastering of Forever Becoming, a new album, and a single 'Midnight and Mescaline'/'Darkness on the Stairs' for Record Store Day. Their sixth studio album, Nighttime Stories, was released on June 7, 2019 through Southern Lord. In 2022, guitarist Dallas Thomas left the band, but founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec did not return for live performances; he left in 2012 and has not performed with Pelican since.

Reader's Guide

Pelican's significance lies in their distinctive instrumental approach within heavy music, blending elements of post-metal, stoner rock, doom metal, and post-rock. Their refusal to be confined to a single genre, as noted by band members, has allowed them to reach audiences across metal, punk, and indie scenes. The band's evolution from slow-building compositions to more direct material reflects their adaptation to live performance energy. Their song 'Ephemeral' appearing in the 2013 video game Dead Space 3 highlights their crossover into popular culture. Pelican's legacy includes a stable core lineup—Trevor de Brauw, Bryan Herweg, and Larry Herweg—alongside the return of founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec after a decade. Their discography, spanning six studio albums and six EPs, demonstrates a consistent commitment to instrumental heaviness and atmospheric depth, influencing later instrumental metal and post-rock acts.

Did You Know?

• Pelican's song 'Ephemeral' appears in the end credits of the 2013 horror video game Dead Space 3.
• The band's guitarist Trevor de Brauw stated Pelican is not instrumental by design; they 'just didn't know how to put vocals in our music and for it to sound right.'
• In celebration of the album What We All Come to Need, the 'Pelican Burger' was served at Kuma's Corner for one night.
• Founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec left the band in 2012 and has not performed with Pelican since, including in 2022.