Artists in this Article
The guest list on Pendulum's newest album, "Immersion," includes the Prodigy's Liam Howlett, Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson and Swedish headbangers In Flames. Their presence summarizes the sensibilities of this Australian-formed, British-based electro band's third album. The set fuses the drum'n'bass vibe of Pendulum's 2005 debut, "Hold Your Colour," and the melodic strains of 2008's "In Silico." The result is a sound that fits firmly in the rock mainstream without losing a club-friendly underpinning that makes it a bit more hip than standard issue dance-rock. Howlett helps drive the frenetic, orchestrated track "Immunize," while In Flames bring the heavy groove to "Self Vs. Self." And Wilson helps make "The Fountain" a lush, proggy highlight. Pendulum channels the Prodigy again on the song "The Vulture" and taps into Nine Inch Nails on "Comprachicos," while "The Island" is a two-part epic that finds prog and dance elements meeting on common ground. The nearly 68-minute length of "Immersion" works against it at times, but the aforementioned "The Fountain" and the '80s-referencing "Encoder" make it well worth reaching the end.
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