Review Summary: Mainstream drum 'n' bass still on top form!
Ever since I heard ‘Slam’ from Pendulum, I fell in love with their first album ‘Hold Your Colour’. So, after hearing they were releasing a second album I was on pins for its release. The second ‘In Silico’ fell through my letterbox I stuck it into my stereo and cranked up the bass. Here is a brief description of every track.
The album starts off with ‘Showdown’ a track very similar to ‘Slam’, but imagine it slightly more rock based and slower tempo. My first impression is that the track is slightly too long, but the end speeds up and sounds epic as it flows into the next track.
‘Different’ is very Shiny Toy Gunsesque from the lyrics to the style. A mix of vocals, electro, and guitar that somehow works, the vocals to and fro from normal to electro with the music so the track doesn’t sound messy. In the middle of this track, it melts into a chill out style that you could hear in Ibiza with echoes and calming tones.
‘Propane Nightmares’ follows. This was the second single from the album and was everywhere over the summer. Not surprising either, this track opens with trumpets and an orchestral ditty when Rob Swire’s vocals are very charismatic on this particular song. Then out of nowhere a very rocky tune smashes in before the drum n bass follow up. This tune is probably the catchiest on the whole album – a wise choice for a single.
Next track ‘Visions’ opens with electronic vocals that reminded me of the Smash robots and a jumpy bass line. Possibly the weakest track on the album this track is always skipped on my player because of the vocals that are so electronic they sound squeaky and the fact that nothing changes throughout the whole track.
‘Midnight Runner’ makes up for it next; the intro is very low key with lovely mysterious whispers and rhythmic tones similar to William Orbits ‘Adagio For Strings’. Towards the end, it takes on a surprising turn sounding almost like Muse with power drills. Another track that is just slightly too long, but a pleasant listen.
‘The Other Side’ is a very unusual track, sounding almost like film score composer Trevor Rabin, but the vocals are very trance. Once the lyrics kick in this track is very catchy and the lyrics are simple making this a great song to sing along to. There is almost no drum n bass to be seen in this track and I would probably have thought this was Shiny Toy Guns due to the female vocals joining Rob Swire.
Thankfully, follow up ‘Mutiny’ is classic Pendulum. The vocals and tune sound almost like a sequel song to ‘Hold Your Colour’ from the previous album. The vocals are a blend of slowed down low and a chorus as the electric guitar solo kicks in. The ending which sounds like a turntable’s wires blowing could have been shorter, but this is one of the strongest tracks on the album.
‘9,000 Miles’ is a stunning chill out track that is perfect for trendy bars. Think William Orbit or Deepsky.
‘Granite’ is ridiculously addictive with a kick ass opening and the speed chops and changes so quickly as do the vocals from singing to screaming. This sounds very club based with dashes of hardcore trance. This was the first single from the album and despite how different it was to the ‘Hold Your Colour’, material I still recognised it was Pendulum due to the elements of drum n bass in the song.
Closing track ‘The Tempest’ takes a while to get going. The opening is just vocals and a quiet drumbeat before launching into a pumping clash that sounds almost like a football chant. The rock tones are very heavy in this particular track with electric guitars used as backing for the majority. Thankfully, Pendulum don’t let us down by the final two minutes of the song. The music gradually speeds up from slow to fast and sounds like the soundtrack to a video game before melting into a lovely epic finish.
I’ve heard several mixed reviews from people who have this album, some say it’s brilliant, some say it grew on them after several listens and some hated it so much they wanted a refund. Personally, I fit into the second category. This is completely different to ‘Hold Your Colour’, but if you like many different genres of music, you may enjoy this album. If your music taste is less varied then maybe this album isn’t for you.
