Pendulum to start writing on the road

by Kev Geoghegan
Radio 1 music reporter

Pendulum's Ben 'MC Verse' Mount on stage in Maidstone

Their second album, In Silico, has been sitting at number two in the UK chart for barely two days but Pendulum are already keen to start writing album number three.

Led by frontman Rob Swire, the Aussie band who have since relocated to the UK, released their first LP, Hold Your Colour, in 2005.

Although it only reached number 41 in the UK, it remains one of the biggest selling drum'n'bass albums.

It was adding a rockier edge to their thumping sound on In Silico which has boosted their profile and ultimately helped them on the way to their first genuine mainstream hit.

While the album is still riding high in the chart, bassist Gareth McGrillen has told Newsbeat the band are eager to begin work on a new record.

He said: "We've been getting the urge to start writing again.

"We're thinking about getting a makeshift studio on the bus so we can keep working."

Radio support

Their punk meets drum'n'bass set, which they describe as an "auditory and visual assault", was one of the stand out performances at Radio One's Big Weekend in Maidstone on 11 May.

The band, currently on a UK tour, played to a packed out In New Music We Trust stage, with a pogo-ing crowd going insane to the Radio 1 A-listed track Propane Nightmares.

Pendulum bassist Gareth McGrillen

McGrillen said: "It's been absolutely phenomenal, especially since the support that Radio 1 has given Propane, the crowds are turning out in droves, every night is selling out.

"It's been going mental."

Drummer Paul Kodish added: "Not only do they sing the words, they sings the riffs as well. It's been great.

"Sometimes Rob stops playing his keyboard and just lets them carry on with the tune."

It's testament to their genre spanning sound that the band are playing Download in June, the hardest rock festival in the UK as well as headlining the dance and electronica festivals like Creamfields and Glade later in the summer.

McGrillen admits thing can get a bit messy between the club kids and the metal kids.

"In Cardiff, you could see young girls coming out of the moshpit with black eyes and then running back in.

"It's a bit mental at our shows. They're not recommended for the weak."

Pendulum are also playing the Reading and Leeds festivals.