Pelican

Chicago, IL post-metal architects Pelican have never gone more than two years between releases, until now. Thankfully ending their three-year hiatus with this four-cut EP, Ataraxia/Taraxis continues the progression begun with 2007's superior City of Echoes. Opener "Ataraxia" melds synthetic airplanes buzzing at low altitudes with gently shimmering acoustics. "Lathe Biosas" stomps forth with Kyuss-like stoner grooves that High on Fire wish they could harness. Even though it recycles riffs from the title track off 2009's Ephemeral EP, "Parasite Colony" percolates mightily, buoyant upon the metronomic beats of Larry Herweg. "Taraxis" pauses halfway through with incidental percussion like Queens of the Stone Age, then lopes away, trailing distortion in its wake. Since the demise of Isis, Pelican have rightfully taken up the helm as true innovators of the subgenre, as Ataraxia/Taraxis solidifies their place at the top of the heap.