PENDULUM created an electric atmosphere at the O2 Academy, with bass so loud that you could feel it in your chest, and a light display that matched the highenergy music.
Doors opened at seven, but the band did not take to the stage until after nine o’clock.
There was no support act to entertain the crowd, so we listened to a drum and bass medley and waited... and waited... and waited.
This may have been a tactic by the band to build tension and anticipation, but it resulted in me becoming extremely bored. It got to the point where people were chanting “Pendulum” and stamping their feet as the crowd became restless.
The band kicked off the set with Showdown, which raised everyone from their seats – where they stayed for the rest of the gig.
They played Propane Nightmares and then MC Verse worked the crowd up to the fan favourite Slam and the whole venue was jumping. They also played newer songs, such as their latest single Crush, from the Immersion album.
Vocalist Rob Swire did what many artists cannot do – he sounded exactly like the record. The sound the band produced while on stage was more guitar-heavy and had more of a rock feel than drum and bass.
Pendulum ended the gig with the epic song Watercolour after a two-minute encore from the crowd, and as they said their final goodbyes, drummer KJ Sawka threw his drumsticks into the crowd.
The band did not disappoint with a non-stop, high energy set, and I left with my ears ringing and a smile on my face.
Katherine Weir
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