Album Review #6: Pendulum

Pendulum
In Silico

Without a doubt one of the hottest DnB producers in the world of the moment, Pendulum are re-defining a genre and totally transforming its global importance from its underground roots to their newly top 10 chart single 'Propane Nightmares'.
When the six-piece declared last year that they would be reinventing themselves after only their first album, with a view to playing with live guitars on stage, it wasn't unexpected they would receive some criticism from DnB's biggest fans. However, what's even more surprising is how far and wide their scope as a band is becoming. If their 2005 head busting single 'Slam' was anything to go by then last year's standalone single 'Blood Sugar' was a pure cementing of intent from the Aussie born UK based superstars.
As one of this year's most anticipated new releases, second album 'In Silico' has been receiving some negative criticism for it's electronica based synths on DnB beats and live drums, but I tell you what; its fucking fantastic.

Signaling intent from the absolute outset frontman Rob Swire unleashes a tornado of big beat synths laid to 170bpm DnB beats that screams with all the malicious bloody intent that the cold war very almost lived up to. "Well it's been such a long time coming/I thought you'd understand". followed by a few minutes of pleasure and pain to my ears comes the burning apifany "here we go again...". Pendulum are back with a bang, they're the sound track to your weekend interracial-orgy house party and they couldn't give a fuck.
It's when flowing through second track Different that you really notice a different in sound, presense and message.

The members of the band once used to be in metal bands in their early youths but changed their roots when earning $150 for a gig became the shitty norm and they decided to branch out into Australia's small but exclusive DnB scene.
Formulating a sound that they found to be enjoyable as well as profitable, they sold a quarter of a million copies of debut record Hold Your Colour, and relocated to the DnB heartland of the UK.
However, I can't help but think other influences such as The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Fat Boy Slim and Klaxons have moulded the bands new electric ridden sound. Not since the heyday The Prodigy and the outrageously delicious get-off-your-tits Music for the Jilted Generation.

New single Propane Nightmares could well be Pendulum's Firestarter, its brash, its bold, and it fucking rocks. An entire generation of indie kids, has been spawned into existance by the Arctics moulded by Klaxons, beefed up by Muse and then totally transformed into the 2000s wasted youth by Pendulum. "I just wonder what we've gotten our selves into."

Filtering out into the next phase of the album, comes heavier bass driven thunderbolts of electronica and electro, mostly instrumental, but instantly approachable. Almost acting like a chilled sanctuary of ear bashing noise between the epic beats of Rancid and soul destroying Jerk.
However, dipping further into this album there are certainly moments of pure experimentation with the 7 minute Midnight Runner and DnB Regge infused The Other Side; the other of what you may ask, my arse or Jacobs technicoloured rainbow-coat?
The closest thing that some of these is probably LA electronica duo Crystal Method, whos break/big-big club anthems and bassline ridden tracks Bound Too Long, Starting Over, True Grit and Weapons of Mass Distortion from 2004s third record Legion of Boom are still making ripples through the American rave scene now.

Moving to the close of the album, 2007 Single Granite although being the ninth track on the album, carries the most clout and its message couldn't be clearer than Peter North's penis through a telescope! "I know you really try to understand/but this is a new way!"
Like an erupting volcano of spitting molten lava and mushroom ash clouds, Pendulum's rumbling bassline is cutting through the mainstream as quickly as The Sex Pistols ferocious eruption from the mainstream back in 1976.
The album does end on a real sweet note, and your left yearning for more like the Tellytubbies after a day at the seaside!

Far from the day of their DnB roots and signatures tracks Voyager and Toxic Shock, however they are branching out into a whole new kind of dance/rock that will surely place a big influence on many new bands emerging at the moment such as The Cool Kids.
I wouldn't say this album is better than the original, for saying that would mean that I would understate one of the best DnB releases ever! and for that I feel my life would be in danger!

7/10