Nighttime Stories
Pelican · 2019
44 min · 8 tracks · post-metal
Ethereal soundscapes merge with heavy riffs, creating a haunting atmosphere that evokes the mysteries of night.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cold Hope — This track encapsulates the album's blend of atmospheric melodies and crushing heaviness, featuring dynamic shifts that highlight Pelican's signature sound.
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Midnight and Mescaline — The seamless interplay of intricate guitar lines and rhythmic precision in this track creates a compelling auditory journey that defines the album's essence.
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Nighttime Stories — Serving as the title track, it embodies the thematic core of the album, intertwining reflective passages with powerful crescendos that evoke introspection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with atmospheric soundscapes, creating a unique post-metal experience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that build gradually, layering ethereal soundscapes with heavy guitar riffs.
- Each track typically runs over five minutes, allowing for extended instrumental passages that develop slowly.
- The final two tracks shift to a more subdued tone, incorporating ambient elements that contrast with the heavier earlier pieces.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for deep focus
- haunting soundscapes for introspection
- consistent progression with climax
- midnight listening for reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party tracks
- prefer short, standalone songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2019, Nighttime Stories marks Pelican's fourth studio album, following their 2013 release Forever Becoming. This album arrives as the band continues to evolve their sound within the post-metal genre, integrating more ambient elements while maintaining their heavy foundations. The record showcases a matured approach to composition and sonic exploration.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Russian Circles· Isis· Cult of Luna
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 WST 3:11
- 2 Midnight and Mescaline 4:56
- 3 Abyssal Plain 4:48
- 4 Cold Hope 6:57
- 5 It Stared at Me 3:22
- 6 Nighttime Stories 6:35
- 7 Arteries of Blacktop 6:33
- 8 Full Moon, Black Water 8:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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