Pendulum

Pendulum are an Australian drum and bass group from Perth, formed in 2002 and active from 2002 to the present. The line-up includes Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, Paul Harding, Ben Verse, Peredur ap Gwynedd and KJ Sawka, with Swire handling vocals, synthesiser and production, McGrillen on bass guitar, production and DJ duties, Harding as DJ, ap Gwynedd on guitar, Sawka on drums and Ben Verse as MC. The group relocates to the UK in 2003.

Style and releases

Their music combines drum and bass with electronic rock, and their sound is associated with heavy beats, low bass lines and synthesised lead parts. Over time, their recordings also bring in rock and broader electronic elements. Their debut album, Hold Your Colour, appears in 2005 and becomes one of the biggest-selling drum and bass releases. Their second album, In Silico, is their first release on Warner Bros. Records through the band’s Earstorm imprint, and their third album, Immersion, appears in 2010 and reaches number one in the UK album chart.

Collaborations, remixes and side projects

Pendulum collaborate with Freestylers on the single “Fasten Your Seatbelt”. MC $pyda and DJ Tenor Fly also appear as vocalists on “Tarantula”. The band also creates remixes, including a version of The Prodigy’s “Voodoo People”. In 2011, Swire and McGrillen start Knife Party as a side project for making different kinds of electronic music.

Recognition and activity

The track “Vault” is played widely by DJs and is named Best Track of the Year at the annual Knowledge Drum’n’bass Awards. The group later goes into hiatus from 2012 until 2020, when new material appears with the tracks “Driver” and “Nothing for Free”.