And now for something completely different. I had the chance to talk with ECCENTRIC PENDULUM, the pioneering prog-thrash-death metal band from Bangalore, India. They have just released a new album, so read these few lines to get to know them better – or even support them.
Hey guys, thanks for your time, hope you’re chilling right now! Please introduce ECCENTRIC PENDULUM in the best way possible. Also, what was the inspiration behind your band’s formation?
Hi, we are a five-piece prog-death band from Bangalore, India, formed in 2005.
We were the first band to perform at Wacken Open Air in 2011 as part of the Metal Battle, where our career officially started. Since then, we’ve played at SWR and other small pub gigs in France, Spain, and Germany. The name suggests that the pendulum is not following the metronome.
While we do follow the metronome, our music features many time signatures, hence the name – “eccentric,” asymmetrical, non-uniform. We were just a bunch of college kids wanting to jam while studying engineering, and we did this as a hobby. Some still think it’s just a hobby, even today.
You play death metal with thrash and progressive elements. How does your songwriting process start, and what bands have influenced your music? Are there any non-metal influences that strongly impact the band members?
We listen to not only metal but also a lot of rock, OSTs, jazz, and electronic music like IDM, downtempo, jungle, gabber, harsh noise, and powerviolence. Our influences are mainly American death metal bands from the ’90s. We’re inspired by NEVERMORE, DEATH, BTBAM, OPETH, TOOL, RIVERSIDE, and STEVEN WILSON to some extent.
The songwriting process is very spontaneous – a member comes in with four or five riffs, and we keep playing them and experimenting until they form something coherent. Sometimes, a strong chorus is the starting point.
They say the process is more important than the final product, so we try to keep it simple. At its core, it starts as thrash or death metal, and then the progressive elements come in.
What role do technology and modern production techniques play in shaping your sound, especially given the progressive side of your music?
We use the computer mainly for the metronome and recording demos. The rest is done the old-school way, just like before. Of course, there are digital mixers, but on our latest album, there’s barely any quantizing or editing. Our playing has reached a new level of precision, something we’re proud of and that’s taken a decade to achieve.
So, MIDI tracks, click tracks, and demo tracks are where computers and DAWs are used the most, along with mixing and mastering, which involves both digital and analog systems.
Your debut album “Winding the Optics” was released in 2011 and received praise for its intricate structures. Are you still on the same path, or have you evolved musically since then?
Oh yes, we enjoyed the release of that album for a couple of years, with good tours and great reception.
The songwriting for our second album began almost immediately in 2012, and we’ve been working on it for over a decade now. We’re definitely on the same path – one of improvement and progress, despite a hiatus between 2018 and 2023, which was beyond our control.
What is the concept behind your lyrics, and where do you find inspiration for them?
Our lyrics often touch on topics like death, dismay, false worship, and politics. If the truth be told, every album in the world is a concept album, whether intentional or not. The concept and lyrical theme are intertwined, sometimes invisible but always present. We find inspiration in movies, live shows we attend, and the literature we read.
Who is in charge of your visual work, especially the cover artwork? Is this part of the band’s music important to you?
Artwork is incredibly important – it can make or break an album. It’s the first impression of a release, so it’s crucial.
The art for our albums is done by Sam from France/Canada, who goes by the name ECTOPLASM. Her work focuses on themes like gore, the cosmic nature of things, and universal sexuality and expression. She works in mixed media, and it’s all hand-drawn.
How much has the internet helped the band? Do you rely on any music platforms?
Without Bandcamp, we wouldn’t have been able to reach our foreign fans. The internet and Bandcamp are essential to us, though we have a big middle finger for Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music – they don’t pay artists anything; it’s all a scam!
Your live performances are intense, and you sound incredibly tight. How do you prepare for shows, and what do you aim to deliver to the audience? What’s your favorite song to perform live and why?
We don’t have any hidden evil agendas or stage props. It’s quite simple – we like to rehearse five times before a gig, and we live by that mantra. After a break, we jam five times, and it all comes back. We are at our most comfortable when delivering our songs live. The sound engineer is crucial, and while the sound is okay 3 out of 5 times, sometimes we have really great shows.
Bangalore has become a hub for metal in India. How has the this local scene influenced your music, and how do you see the metal scene growing in India overall? Any bands you’d recommend?
Yes, Bangalore is the “Silicon Valley of metal,” if that even makes sense, haha. Anyone who goes to Thailand, Hong Kong, or Japan ends up here eventually – that’s just how it works.
There are also many “spite gigs,” where organizers try to outdo each other, and the fans love it. We welcome these spite gigs! I think the bands influence the scene more than the other way around. A band to watch out for is OBLITERATING VORTEX.
What are some of the best albums released this year, in your opinion?
SKELETAL REMAINS, DYSRHYTHMIA, KASHIWA DAISUKE, STABBING, VIPASSI.
You have a new album, “Perspectiva Invertalis,” out now. What can fans expect, and are you satisfied with how it sounds? How will you promote it? Any upcoming tour dates?
Oh yes, it’s by far the best material we’ve ever made. I know every band says that, but if you look at our discography, our sound has come a long way, and so has our playing. We have some international guests on the album, which added rage and finesse. We’re promoting it in every way possible, playing a lot of shows.
We opened for SUFFOCATION, and next we have ULCERATE. We’re looking forward to Bangalore Open Air in 2025, though it’s still to be decided if we’ll play.
Do you incorporate feedback from fans into your music?
Nope, we’ve never received any feedback, lol.
Top three Indian beers?
Hmm, beers in India suck, bro, lol. Maybe an IPA or a stout? And there’s always Kingfisher Ultra, which all the losers drink here, lol.
Last lines are yours. Feel free to send messages, recommend good food, or say whatever you wish. 🙂
As for good food, India has a lot: kheema vada, misal pav, bisibele bath, haleem, aloo, paneer… and all the sweets: rasmalai, malai gulla, rasgulla… the list never ends.
Follow ECCENTRIC PENDULUM:
Official website: https://www.eccentricpendulum.com/
Bandcamp: https://eccentricpendulum.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EccentricPendulum1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eccentric_pendulum/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/eccentricpendulum
