What We All Come to Need cover

Released 17 years ago this October

What We All Come to Need

Pelican · 2009

51 min · 8 tracks · post-metal

A sprawling, instrumental exploration of emotional landscapes, blending heavy riffs with ethereal melodies in a haunting post-metal journey.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    The Creeper — This track exemplifies the band's dynamic range, combining crushing riffs with softer interludes that create a sense of tension and release throughout its length.
  • →
    What We All Come to Need — Serving as the album's title track, it encapsulates the overarching themes of longing and introspection through its gradual build-up and climactic resolution.
  • →
    Final Breath — Closing the album with a powerful emotional weight, this piece contrasts serene passages with intense crescendos, leaving listeners in reflection long after it ends.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
67 /100
Alpine
Higher than 91% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate structures and dynamic shifts create a compelling post-metal experience.

What we noticed

  • The album features long, evolving tracks that often build from quiet, atmospheric sections to heavy, distorted climaxes.
  • Each track typically includes multiple distinct movements, shifting dynamics and textures throughout their duration.
  • The final track ends with a gradual fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of resolution after the preceding intensity.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

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

  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • steady, consistent energy levels
  • atmospheric background focus

Where this album fits

Career context
Released on October 27, 2009, What We All Come to Need is Pelican's third studio album, following their critically acclaimed 2007 EP, City of Echoes. By this time, the band had solidified their sound and gained recognition within the post-metal genre, showcasing their ability to craft intricate compositions that blend heaviness with atmospheric elements.
Stylistic neighbors
Russian Circles· Isis· Cult of Luna
New to Pelican? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Glimmer 7:31
  • 2 The Creeper 7:20
  • 3 Ephemeral 5:09
  • 4 Specks of Light 7:46
  • 5 Strung Up From the Sky 5:12
  • 6 An Inch Above Sand 4:14
  • 7 What We All Come to Need 6:47
  • 8 Final Breath 7:29

What to play next

The Wooden Box
Listen next

The Wooden Box

2010
After the Ceiling Cracked
Go back to

After the Ceiling Cracked

2008
Full Pelican discography Where to start with Pelican Artists like Pelican
post-metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata