Pelican 'Vocalist' Discusses His Involvement on 'What We All Come to Need' - Noisecreep

Over the span of four albums, as well as various EPs and splits, Pelican have established themselves as the forerunner of instrumental metal bands, but longtime fans will be surprised to hear vocals -- gasp! -- on their latest record, 'What We All Come to Need.' Though they appear on only one track ('Final Breath,' the album's closer), it is still a bit of a departure coming from a band that has thus far shunned any sort of oral instrumentation.

So, who has the honor of being Pelican's vocalist? None other than Mr. Allen Epley, who has made a name for himself fronting indie rock favorites the Life and Times, as well as his previous band Shiner (which also featured Every Time I Die bassist Josh Newton on guitar). Noisecreep caught up with Epley to talk about his involvement with Pelican.

Have you always been a fan of Pelican?

Yeah ever since I first heard them, around 'Australasia.' I thought they sounded like Hum without vocals, but slower ... and heavier. But I've always been intrigued with how it's often kind of major key heavy, not always so brooding and dark, like so many other bands in their genre.

How did it go down that you ended up singing on 'Final Breath?'

They asked the Life and Times to go on tour with them and Mono a couple of years ago for the 'Fire in Our Throats ...' record. We bro'd down pretty hard on that tour and became lifelong bros. Apparently those bros like this bro's voice. I am honored and humbled to be included in any way on a Pelican record, but to be the first to sing on such an influential instrumental bands' record is a big deal for me.

Did the Pelican guys have a pretty rigid