Pendulum (drum and bass band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | January 1, 2002 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Founder | Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, Paul "El Hornet" Harding |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Pendulum is an electronic rock ensemble originating from Australia, established in 2002 in Perth, Western Australia by founding members Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul "El Hornet" Harding. The group later expanded its lineup to include Ben Mount, Peredur ap Gwynedd, and KJ Sawka. They are known for their distinctive fusion of electronic music with hard rock influences, covering genres such as drum and bass, industrial rock, and electronic rock.
Their initial album, Hold Your Colour (2005), was met with favorable reviews and predominantly showcased drum and bass sounds. Their following releases, In Silico and Immersion, featured a wider range of styles, integrating industrial and electronic rock elements.
In 2012, the band went on hiatus as Swire and McGrillen concentrated on their side project Knife Party. Pendulum reunited in 2015, subsequently issuing the remix compilation The Reworks in 2018, followed by the EPs Elemental (2021) and Anima (2023). Their fourth studio album, Inertia, was released in 2025, marking a notable comeback.
2002–2007: Formation and Hold Your Colour
Pendulum began as a trio of DJs based in Perth, Western Australia. Founders Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen had roots in rock and metal groups, while Paul Harding had drummed for punk bands in the mid-1990s and was active in the local drum and bass scene under the alias "El Hornet." Swire and McGrillen had previously performed DJ sets locally and intended to launch a record label. Their collaboration commenced at The Perth Producers night held at The Drumclub, which led to the formation of Pendulum.
Their debut single 'Vault', released in 2003 via 31 Records, attracted attention within the UK electronic music community, prompting their relocation to London that same year. They also issued 'Spiral / Ulterior Motive' in 2003 and contributed to the 2004 compilation 'Jungle Sound: The Bassline Strikes Back!', with Harding handling the mixing of the second disc. After receiving an album contract from Breakbeat Kaos—Fresh's record label—they launched their first full-length record Hold Your Colour in 2005. The album charted successfully in both the UK and Australia, earning gold certification in Australia.
Following the debut's success, Breakbeat Kaos re-released the Jungle Sound compilation as Jungle Sound Gold, marketed as "mixed by Pendulum," without obtaining the band's approval. Displeased with this action, Pendulum severed ties with the label.
In 2006, the original trio expanded into a six-member band by incorporating MC Ben Mount, guitarist Peredur ap Gwynedd, and drummer Paul Kodish. During this period, McGrillen took on bass guitar duties for live performances and some studio sessions.
2007–2009: In Silico and Live at Brixton Academy
Pendulum unveiled their sophomore album, In Silico, on 12 May 2008. This release introduced stronger rock influences while maintaining their electronic foundation. Reviews were largely positive; however, The Guardian noted it felt somewhat outdated. Commercially, the album performed well—peaking at number two on the UK Albums Chart, number nine on the Australian Albums Chart, and reaching number sixteen on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. In November 2008, three songs from In Silico appeared on the soundtrack for Need for Speed: Undercover, with "Tarantula" also featured in the video game MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. The track "Tarantula" later served as inspiration for "Centipede," a release by their side project Knife Party.
Toward the end of 2008, Pendulum recorded a live performance DVD at Brixton Academy on December 4th and 5th; this was released on 17 April 2009. Shortly thereafter, drummer Paul Kodish exited the group for reasons not publicly disclosed.
2009–2011: Immersion
In 2009, Pendulum embarked on a European tour while announcing the development of their third studio album, Immersion. This album was officially released on 24 May 2010, following an exclusive preview event held at London's Matter nightclub in January of the same year. The track "Salt in the Wounds" earned recognition as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, and the lead single, "Watercolour", premiered on his show in March 2010, subsequently earning the title of Single of the Week. Additionally, "Watercolour" was featured in the soundtrack for the 2010 video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.
On 1 April, Pendulum unveiled an innovative 360° interactive music video for "Salt in the Wounds". The single "Watercolour" achieved a peak position of No.4 on the UK Singles Chart, representing the band's highest chart placement to date. In May 2010, Pendulum took center stage as headliners at Radio 1's Big Weekend festival. The album’s second single, "Witchcraft", released in July, climbed to No.29 on the UK charts, while the third single, "The Island", reached No.41.
Rob Swire had intended to release "Ransom" if it outperformed "Witchcraft"; initially, this track was removed due to corrupted files. Nevertheless, Pendulum issued "Ransom" as a charity single in April 2011 to aid tsunami relief efforts. The fourth single from the album, "Crush", was released in January 2011.
Also in January 2011, a Deluxe Edition of Immersion was launched on iTunes, including the original 15 tracks alongside remixes from artists such as deadmau5, Tiësto, and Chuckie. This edition featured music videos for "Watercolour," "Witchcraft," and "The Island," tailored for both UK and US audiences.
2011–2015: Knife Party and hiatus
On 26 October 2010, Rob Swire announced plans for a new record with punk influences, signaling a departure from Pendulum’s traditional drum and bass sound towards faster punk rhythms and slower dubstep beats.
By 29 March 2011, Swire clarified that no new album was forthcoming at that time but assured fans that fresh material would be released later that year.
During 2011, Pendulum supported Linkin Park on selected dates of their North American "A Thousand Suns" tour and also headlined their own tour with support from electronic rock group Innerpartysystem.
That year also saw Pendulum performing at several major festivals including Download Festival, Oxegen, The Eden Sessions, Glastonbury Festival, T in the Park, V Festival, headlining Global Gathering, South West Four in London, and Bestival on the Isle of Wight. They were main stage headliners at New Zealand’s Rhythm & Vines festival and led LovEvolution 2011 in Oakland, California.
On 3 January 2012, Pendulum announced a break from touring while hinting at a possible new album release in 2013. However, by June 2012, Swire confirmed that no additional live performances or Pendulum albums were planned as he concentrated on his primary project, Knife Party. Meanwhile, El Hornet and MC Verse continued performing DJ sets under the Pendulum name as other band members pursued separate ventures.
Formed by Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen in 2011, Knife Party focuses on electro house, dubstep, and club music genres. This project operates independently from Pendulum and has become their main artistic outlet.
On 22 August 2013, Swire suggested via Twitter that alongside a forthcoming Knife Party album, a new Pendulum release might arrive in 2014. El Hornet later confirmed this possibility but advised fans to remain patient.
By July 2014, Swire indicated that work on the new Pendulum album would likely commence around September with a potential early-2015 launch. However, during a Reddit AMA in December 2014, he revealed that active work on the album was not underway but that they possessed older material which could be reimagined into something distinct from previous efforts. Swire expressed little enthusiasm for continuing Pendulum’s blend of drum and bass with rock elements, preferring instead to focus on Knife Party or new projects where he retained creative control; he ruled out plans for live tours or fixed release schedules.
2015–2019: Commemorating Hold Your Colour and the Reunion
On 20 July 2015, to honor the 10th anniversary of Hold Your Colour, Rob Swire marked the occasion through the Pendulum Twitter account by expressing gratitude to their supporters and updating the profile image to display a birthday cake beneath Pendulum's original logo. A few days later, on 26 July, he posted videos showcasing vintage Pendulum studio sessions, emphasizing the band's enduring influence.
Pendulum's first live appearance in four years occurred on 22 August 2015 at V Festival in Essex, where Swire and Gareth McGrillen joined El Hornet and Ben Verse for a DJ set under the Pendulum name. Swire described this return to the stage as both enjoyable and somewhat unusual.
The band announced a live reunion for the 2016 Ultra Music Festival in Miami, where they closed the event alongside Knife Party. This performance was notable as their first without MC Ben Verse and included collaborations with artists such as deadmau5.
In December 2016, Pendulum confirmed their participation at Nova Rock festival in 2017 and hinted at further projects planned for that year. They also took part in Perth’s Origin NYE festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Pendulum officially declared their comeback on YouTube on 9 January 2017. By mid-January, they suggested a potential London tour and a new album release slated for summer 2017. Their subsequent live appearances included Ultra Singapore, Nova Rock, Hungary’s VOLT Festival, Ultra Korea, Nass Festival, and London’s South West Four Festival.
On 10 August 2017, Rob Swire revealed intentions to produce a new Pendulum album. The band parted ways with Warner Music UK to release future works through their independent label Earstorm, seeking enhanced artistic freedom.
Pendulum headlined Jersey’s Weekender festival on 2 September and wrapped up their summer tour with a set at Ultra Japan on 18 September 2017. They also performed at Snowbombing festival in 2018.
On 26 February 2018, Pendulum announced The Reworks, a remix compilation released progressively from March through June, accompanied by The Complete Works box set. They scheduled their first headline show since 2011 at London’s Printworks on 14 April. Swire confirmed that new original material was forthcoming.
On 29 January 2019, Swire and McGrillen disclosed plans for "potential new Pendulum material" following their Knife Party EP Lost Souls, with recording involving remaining members anticipated soon. They explained that although they had intended to release new tracks in 2018, they preferred not to debut them live prematurely.
In March 2019, Pendulum announced a headline DJ set at Southwest Four Festival featuring Swire, McGrillen, and El Hornet performing before a Mayan temple-inspired stage. This event launched their "Trinity" tour, which included dates across North America, Europe, and Australasia throughout 2019 and extending into 2020.
2020–2023: Releases of Elemental, Anima, and Remix Projects
On 16 September 2020, Pendulum unveiled two new tracks titled "Driver" and "Nothing for Free", released the following day—marking their first original music in ten years. The video for "Nothing for Free," released on 18 September, depicts rabbits confronting a myxomatosis outbreak as an allegory for the global COVID-19 pandemic. On 14 September 2020, the band performed a concert at Spitbank Fort to promote these releases; this show was streamed live on YouTube on 2 October.
Pendulum released "Come Alive" on 16 April 2021 featuring footage from their London SW4 Trinity performance in 2019. Alongside this release, they announced a headline festival appearance at Drumsheds scheduled for 13 August 2021—hinting at a potential comeback tour delayed due to the pandemic.
The EP Elemental was announced on 20 May 2021 with a release date of 17 June; it includes a collaboration titled "Louder Than Words" with Hybrid Minds. The following day saw the debut of an innovative live-action/animated hybrid video directed by Ed Bulmer for this track, inspired by classic cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes. A remix EP of Elemental followed on 19 November 2021.
On 2 June 2023, Pendulum released "Halo", featuring Matthew Tuck—the Welsh metalcore vocalist from Bullet for My Valentine—as the lead single from their second EP Anima, which was scheduled for release on November 3. Additional singles from this project included "Colourfast" (released September 8) and "Mercy Killing" featuring Scarlxrd (released November 1).
In June 2023, the band premiered the documentary 'Pendulum: The New Era', detailing their hiatus between 2012 and their reunion in 2016.
October 2023 saw Pendulum perform a cover of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" on Australian radio station Triple J as part of the Like a Version series.
2024–present: Inertia
Pendulum recommenced their touring activities in March 2024 with a select series of UK and European festival appearances, introducing the track "Napalm" featuring Joey Valence & Brae. The single was officially released in August 2024, coinciding with their performance at the Reading & Leeds festival.
In May 2025, the group revealed plans for their fourth studio album, titled Inertia. This release includes "Napalm," all eight songs from the Elemental and Anima EPs, as well as five new compositions, several of which were previewed during live shows spanning 2023 to 2024.
On 9 August 2025, Pendulum headlined their most significant live concert to date at Milton Keynes Bowl, an outdoor UK venue with a capacity of 65,000, where they had previously performed only as supporting artists. The album Inertia was officially launched on 22 August 2025, marking their first full-length studio release in 15 years. It features collaborations with artists such as Bullet For My Valentine, AWOLNATION, Wargasm, among others.
Artistry
Pendulum’s initial output centered on darker, amelodic drum and bass tracks like "Masochist" and "Vault," which were released through labels including Uprising Records (NZ). Over time, their sound shifted toward a more mainstream electronic rock style infused heavily with drum and bass and dubstep elements. Early works such as "Another Planet" aligned with the global drum and bass scene akin to artists from Breakbeat Kaos like DJ Fresh and Adam F.
The band is recognized for remixing prominent acts including The Prodigy’s "Voodoo People," as well as producing covers and remixes of Led Zeppelin, Linkin Park, Calvin Harris, Coldplay, and Metallica. While some remixes remain unreleased, they have been incorporated into live performances. Notably, their remix of the Australian TV "ABC News Theme" achieved considerable traction on youth radio station Triple J, securing the number 11 spot in the 2010 Triple J Hottest 100.
Pendulum combines elements of drum and bass, alternative rock, and heavy metal with acoustic instrumentation to craft their distinctive electronic rock sound. Their tracks range from synth-driven pieces like "Slam" and "Propane Nightmares" to guitar-focused numbers such as "Showdown" and "The Tempest." Their live shows employ sophisticated digital mixing setups; bassist Gareth McGrillen has mentioned that up to thirteen computers are used simultaneously to blend sounds in real time. Rob Swire has expressed a desire to explore rawer, punk-inspired music styles—a direction described by McGrillen as adopting a "less polished approach." Their fondness for progressive rock and metal genres heavily influences this fusion of styles.
Controversy
In 2006, Pendulum’s former label Breakbeat Kaos released an album containing a Pendulum DJ mix recorded two years prior without obtaining the band’s consent. This led Rob Swire to publicly condemn the release on the forum Dogs on Acid. The disagreement was eventually settled; DJ Fresh received credit in the Immersion album booklet, and Pendulum resumed collaboration with Breakbeat Kaos through vinyl releases of tracks like "Witchcraft" and "The Island."
Electronic artist Goldie criticized Pendulum’s track "Granite," labeling it a "shit single" and accusing the band of abandoning their drum and bass origins. Swire responded in an interview with The Times, explaining that Goldie’s emphasis on conceptual albums contributed to his initial hesitance towards the genre. Swire himself favored styles such as breakbeat, straightforward house, and hardcore until bassist Gareth McGrillen introduced him to broader electronic music influences. According to McGrillen in an interview with The Age, this dispute has since been resolved amicably.
Current lineup
- Rob Swire – lead vocals, synthesizers, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, production, DJ (since 2002)
- Gareth McGrillen – bass guitar, backing vocals, production, DJ (active from 2002), MC (since 2016)
- Peredur ap Gwynedd – guitar (joined in 2006)
- KJ Sawka – drums and percussion (since 2009)
- Paul Harding – DJ (active since 2002)
Past members
- Paul Kodish – drums (2006–2009)
- Ben Mount – MC (2006–2018)
Touring personnel
(Contributed during Pendulum’s live shows before Peredur ap Gwynedd and Ben Mount became permanent members.)
- Matt White – guitar (2006–2008)
- MC Jakes – MC (2006–2008)
Studio albums
- Hold Your Colour (2005)
- In Silico (2008)
- Immersion (2010)
- Inertia (2025)
Remix albums
- The Reworks (2018)
Extended plays
- Elemental (2021)
- Anima (2023)
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (AIR Awards) celebrate achievements within Australia’s independent music scene annually.
|- | rowspan="2" | 2006 | Hold Your Colour | Best Performing Independent Album | |- | Pendulum | Independent Artist of the Year | |-
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are yearly accolades honoring the contemporary music sector in Western Australia, organized by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM).
| 2006 | Pendulum | Best Electronic Producer | Template:Won |
| 2007 | Pendulum | Best Electronic Producer | Template:Won |
| Best Live Electronic Act | Template:Won | ||
| 2008 | Pendulum | Best Electronic Producer | Template:Won |
| Best Live Electronic Act | Template:Won | ||
| 2009 | Pendulum | Best Live Electronic Act | Template:Won |