Scratching the Surface

In the drum-and-bass scene, Paul Harding, Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, known collectively as Pendulum, are an anomaly. While most drum-and-bass DJs and producers readily cite hip-hop as a primary influence, Pendulum swings in a vastly different direction. For these three musicians, who earned their stripes playing in metal bands in their native Perth, Australia, before relocating to London, it’s always been about heavy metal. With an established reputation in drum-and-bass circles as bona fide arena rockers, like Roni Size before them, the members of Pendulum are poised to transcend the scene and gain mainstream recognition with their debut disc, Hold Your Colour, which is peppered with huge riffs and monster breakbeats. Fall under their sway on Saturday, September 17, at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom.