Author Topic: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion  (Read 4031 times)

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Offline Zantera

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[Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« on: May 21, 2010, 06:53:49 AM »
Artist: Pendulum
Album: Immersion
Genre: Electronic rock/mainstream Drum and Bass (and more)
Year: 2010

Tracklist:
1.    "Genesis"      1:09
2.    "Salt in the Wounds"      6:39
3.    "Watercolour"      5:04
4.    "Set Me On Fire"      5:02
5.    "Crush"      4:13
6.    "Under the Waves"      4:55
7.    "Immunize" (feat. Liam Howlett)    4:36
8.    "The Island - Pt. I (Dawn)"      5:20
9.    "The Island - Pt. II (Dusk)"      4:09
10.    "Comprachicos"      2:48
11.    "The Vulture"      4:03
12.    "Witchcraft"      4:12
13.    "Self vs Self" (feat. In Flames)    4:45
14.    "The Fountain" (feat. Steven Wilson)    5:00
15.    "Encoder"      5:22

Australian band Pendulum started out as a pure DnB-act, but with their last album "In Silico" (released in 2008), they changed their style to more electronic-rock, and reached mainstream-success.
This is their third album overall since the debut "Hold Your Colour" in 2005.
I've been waiting for this album ever since i first heard about it, and those expectations grew even more when i heard that Steven Wilson (my personal god) would collaborate with Pendulum on a track. :)

The album opens with a intro, entitled "Genesis", which sounds like an intro to a modern space-movie.
Very cool overall, doesn't sound remotely similar to the other intro's Pendulum has used before.
The album continues with "Salt in the Wounds", which has that sound we're familiar with.
I wasn't a HUGE fan of "Showdown" (which was the opener on In Silico), so this song was a positive surprise.
Next comes the first single from the album, "Watercolour" which is a very solid track.
It has grown lots since i first heard it, and it's a very catchy electronic-rock song.
I must have played it 20-25 times now, but its still growing.
The album has 3-collaboration songs, first one is "Immunize" which features Liam Howlett (The Prodigy).
It's one of the songs that stood out right from the first listen, and it's a great uptempo-song, which will blow your speakers.
Then comes, what i think is the 'main-song' on the album, a 2-part divided song called "The Island".
Being a prog-fan, i just love it when there's a main-song divided into 2-3 parts, it really adds a certain "epic"-feeling to it.
One example that came to my mind, was Porcupine Tree and Waiting. (which is divided into 2 phases as well).
Waiting and The Island share a certain similarity, part1 is more 'traditional', catchy and sing-along friendly, meanwhile part2 is very experimental and instrumental-based.
Part 1 is called "Dawn", and it's Pendulum's attempt on making a catchy house-song.
I think they pull it off great, it's very catchy, and a fantastic song.
Part 2 is called "Dusk" and features some insane/cool instrumental-parts, and together they form 9 ½ minutes of awesomeness.
"The Vulture" sounds very The Prodigy-influenced, and "Witchcraft" is a great catchy song. (brings back thoughts to Propane Nightmares)
Then we have the other 2 collaborations, "Self vs Self" which features In Flames, and "The Fountain" which features Steven Wilson.
They're both very cool, because of the different approaches, but personally i'd say "The Fountain" is one of the best songs on the album.
Everything SW touches just seems to turn into gold. :D
The album closes with "Encoder".

My overall thoughts on this album are very positive, many fans of the band meant that they sold out with their last album, but i think this album manages to take the good things from the first album, the good things from the second album, and new stuff.
The result is superb, and i think this album is their best, because it features lots of variety.
Out of the songs on this album, you can find the several genres:
Drum and Bass, Electronica, Rock, Metal, House, Dubstep, also there's several parts that sounds like 8bit music from Sega/N64, "The Fountain" and "Set me on Fire" most noticeable.
Overall its one of the better albums i've heard in a long time, but i don't think i will rate it higher then Anathema at the end of the year. :P

Still, i give this album

Points: 4.5/5
Highlights: The Fountain, Encoder & The Island (both parts)



Reviewed by: Jimmy O. (Zantera)
« Last Edit: July 14, 2010, 05:23:53 AM by Zantera »

Offline Portrucci

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2010, 07:20:22 AM »
Really good review!  :tup

The album is great. Definitely a 4/5 star for me.  :smiley:
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Offline Gwii

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2010, 01:07:35 PM »
Good review.  I think this is Pendulum's best album.
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Offline Zantera

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2010, 01:58:37 PM »
Good review.  I think this is Pendulum's best album.

I agree!  :tup

Offline faemir

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2010, 11:36:01 AM »
The Island part I is my personal favourite song, but I agree with everything else you said.

Wilson told me at the Anesthetize premier he wasn't too sure of his contribution, but I liked it.

Offline Zantera

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2010, 12:23:06 PM »
The big question that's been going around in my head, how did Pendulum come across Steven Wilson? :P

Offline Quadrochosis

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2010, 02:19:10 PM »
Just got it today, man what an awesome album.

Highlights for me:

"Immunize"
"Crush"
"The Island" (Both Parts)
"The Fountain"
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Offline Pyroph

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2010, 07:29:28 AM »
Listened to a few songs, not really my style, but The Fountain is amazing.

Offline Nick

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2010, 06:15:07 PM »
Read the sticky threads.
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Offline Sigz

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2010, 06:40:43 PM »
Awesome album. Island Pt. 1, Self vs Self, and The Fountain are the definite standouts right now.
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Offline Sigz

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2010, 09:44:46 PM »
Goddammit The Fountain is really, really addictive.
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Offline Gorille85

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2010, 11:52:26 PM »
Wow! I'm not really familiar with this band nor the whole electronic genre but this album is something! Highlights for me are "Set Me On Fire" (especially the big riff) and "The Island" (both parts).

Offline jag66

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Re: [Music] Pendulum - Immersion
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2010, 05:40:38 AM »
decent album with some great synth leads.. much better than In Silico IMO

faves: watercolour, the island, the fountain, witchcraft and encoder.