First off, Pendulum's brand of drum 'n' bass meets guitars ain't no revolution in sound. While the genre's godfathers, The Prodigy, created the definitive blueprint for the dance-rock intersect, Pendulum's recipe is infinitely more derivative.
In recent times, they've become something of a live phenomenon, producing a thumping show that's low on artistic subtlety but has proved incredibly popular, particularly among the 'mad for it' brigade. Certainly, it's easy to imagine their latest effort going down a storm on the summer festival circuit. However, in any other context, it is quite obviously lacking depth or quality.
The sleeve artwork, a 'fantastical' scene of a naked couple underwater drifting towards a shard of light, doesn't exactly fill the heart with hope. And orchestral opener 'Genesis' is nothing more than imitative muzak. Even the presence of Liam Howlett on 'Immunize' fails to elevate proceedings.
Not to labour the point, but the overused epic crescendo template favoured by Rob Swire and Co may well do the trick when there's a humungous soundsystem and mind-bending visuals to hand. Alas, in a more sober environment it's simply repetitive and dull. Twenty minutes in and you may well be clutching your head, trying to quell the urge to barf all over your shoes. Yes it's that awful.
Scarier yet, they have started to move in a nu metal direction. So if you've ever wondered what Limp Bizkit jamming with Apollo 440 would sound like... well, now you've got your answer. Be afraid, children, be very afraid...