Pendulum's Reimagined Tracks In "The Reworks" Reveal A Hidden Diversity

Pendulum are the uncontested masters of drum & bass, and their rock fusion propelled them to greatness. After a hiatus, Pendulum are back, and are introducing the new era with an album of remixed. Pendulum's reimagined tracks in The Reworks reveal a hidden diversity in their music.

A diverse lineup of artists tackle the remixes on The Reworks, with everyone from underground EDM artists to high-profile rockers. That alone is a testament to the malleability of Pendulum's music, as all the songs sound right at home in their discography. Noisia begins the album with a remix of 'Hold Your Colour,' adding a new urgency and darkness to the mix as their signature fat bass dominates the drop. Knife Party's remix of 'Blood Sugar' follows a different dynamic, going for a more hype drop than a brooding one. There's plenty of diversity in the way these artists orchestrate their drops, making The Reworks engaging from start to end. There's definitely a big difference between songs; even with 'The Island, Pt. 1 (Dawn)' that receives two remixes. Skrillex's remix is far more accessible and revolves around melodies, while AN21 goes for a more dark and aggressive tone.

The Reworks isn't all about the drops. It's about building a new atmosphere out of already built tracks. It's the dynamic of these new remixes that really makes The Reworks interesting. Eelke Kleijn's remix of '9,000 Miles' is one of the most beautiful tracks on the record, simply because of the beautiful atmosphere it builds. The closing track, ATTLAS' remix of 'Streamline,' is heavenly all the same, some glitchiness accenting the glorious atmosphere. On the flip side, several tracks develop more energy than atmosphere. Grabbitz reconstructs 'Propane Nightmares' to a degree that it feels like it should be on Linkin Park's Reanimation, while Devin Townsend brings out the guitars for a heavy remix of 'Crush,' highlighting the rock side of Pendulum's music. The wild synths of DJ Seinfeld's remix of 'Still Grey' and the urgency of the Matrix & Futurebound remix of 'Watercolour' highlight the more pristine synths the band has used, but not before Pegboard Nerds hone in on the wonderful synth line of 'Witchcraft.' There's so many things to latch onto with Pendulum's music, and each artist explores something different.

Pendulum's reimagined tracks in The Reworks reveal a hidden diversity in their music that's easily missed. All the remixes are different from each other, each honing in on different aspects of the band's music but still staying true to heart of the band's core. It's a new era for them, and this new exploration of these classic tracks is a fitting start.

Favorite Tracks: Propane Nightmares (Grabbitz Remix); 9,000 Miles (Eelke Kleijn Remix); The Island, Pt. 1 (Dawn) (AN21 Remix)

Least Favorite Track: Vault (Moby Remix)

Rating: 76 / 100

Stream or buy The Reworks on Apple Music, and follow our 2018 Playlist on Spotify: