Pendulum & Hadouken!

"Feed the fire. Break your vision. Throw your fists up. Come on with me".

On Thursday 2nd December, I attended the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham and was lucky enough to see, in my opinion, two of the most exciting bands, Pendulum and Hadouken. I had seen both live before, Pendulum once, and Hadouken three times; so, obviously I had quite high expectations. With the hopes that I would be witness to some new exhilarating songs, and get the pleasure of hearing some older and well-loved classics, I most definitely was not disappointed.

"You wanted the world. You wanted it all".

At 8:10pm, after louder growing chants from the audience of "HA-DOU-KEN!", British grindie band Hadouken (pictured above) graced the stage. They opened their forty minute set with the booming synths and building beats of Rebirth, and then to M.A.D, the first and forth song from their most current album For the Masses (2009). The band which formed in Leeds, after lead singer James Smith and Daniel 'Pilau' Rice met at Leeds University, played eight songs from their 2009 album, House is Falling, Ugly, Mic Check, Turn the Lights Out, Bombshock, and Lost, including the two opening songs just mentioned. But, intertwined within their set, Hadouken treated the buzzing audience to sneak previews of two new songs, Mecha Love and Oxygen, which will be released on their new album which is due in 2011. The audiences taster of what can be expected for new Hadouken stays true to their grime roots providing catchy lyrics and featuring lead singer, James, showing off his vocal abilities and talents by amalgamating both singing and raping their creative words, which indeed adds even more electrifying variety to the band's appeal. This can be seen from the excited roars received from the crowd after hearing both new tracks. Also, the band included in their set popular favourite That Boy, That Girl, with a force showing the audience how far they have come and the staying power that this band possess.

At 9pm, Australian electro-rock, drum and bass band, Pendulum (pictured above), began their two hour consecutive play list for the sold-out night of their tour, treating the audience to nineteen of their contagious songs. Spoiling their fans with a variety of old and new tracks, they began their set with the magical, introductory sounds of Genesis, blending into Salt in the Wounds, both tracks from the Immersion album (2010). In their set, the band treated the audience to a cover of The Progidy's Voodoo People, which appeared to be a hit with their audience who seemed familiar with the iconic track. Juxtaposed to the cover song was Witchcraft, enchantingly, their fans sung word-for-word in time with vocalist Rob Swire to the ballad-inspired lyrics at the beginning of the track, until the song broke into an outstanding, pumping beat which is unmistakably one of the catchiest tunes from their most recent album. Two highlights of the set were old favourites; Tarantula and Blood Sugar, tracks from the 2005 and 2007 re-issue of the album Hold Your Colour, both songs were absolutely electrifying, displaying to the audience just how talented Pendulum are. Every song that the band performed, vibrated throughout the entire arena, with the audience bouncing up and down in unison. Pendulum's Immersion Tour is set to hit North America in February 2011, and the band will also be the opening act for Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns Tour.

2011 is set to be spectacular for Pendulum, so "Hold your colour", and watch this space for new music coming from the band in the not too distant future.