Though Pelican’s thick sonic backbone remains intact, via a recording by longtime ally Sanford Parker (a collaborator as far back as their first EP), the songs on Flickering Resonance demonstrate a more humanistic side of the band. Songs like “Pining For Ever” and “Indelible” tease Pelican’s doom-metal bonafides while feeling equally ebullient and earnest - playing like a downtuned Texas Is The Reason transmuted to a post-rock landscape. Meanwhile songs like the searing lead single “Cascading Crescent” act as an appreciation for the glimmers of joy that occur even in the bleakest landscapes, as represented by an opening cavalcade of heavy riffs that pivot mid-song to a sugar rush of pastoral melodies. In conjunction with the album’s pre-order, the song is being made available as a limited edition 7” single featuring a vocal version (exclusive to the vinyl) fronted by emo icon Geoff Rickly of Thursday on the b-side.

“When Laurent left and we were able to carry it through, there became a real sense of gratitude for the fact we still have this artistic outlet and a community of people who want to support it,” states Shelley de Brauw, referencing Schroeder-Lebec’s ten year sabbatical from the group. That feeling of deep, grounded appreciation doesn’t just dwell within the band members, it’s expressed outwardly in every track on Flickering Resonance. Because at the core of Pelican are four individuals who have grown both separately and together, and always will.