REVIEW: The Pendulum Swings, Real Gone Rocks

September 21, 2026 | Real Gone Rocks

Deardarkhead whip up a superb sound on ‘Letting Go’. Building from a solid bassline, the number takes a mid tempo groove and layers that with a soaring guitar that shares a very lyrical sounding melody. The lead guitar tone is beautiful, bringing a pinch of very commercial goth to an already great sound. A key track on an instrumental album, the music here is so strong that a vocal really isn’t missed, despite Deardarkhead sharing something that would typically find space for a spacey, studio treated voice to bring an extra layer of atmosphere. In and out in a little over three minutes, this number relies on absolutely no padding, and as the last notes fade, you might feel a definite urge to hit the repeat button… This is an absolutely stunning track, and it turned out to be perfect way to advertise ‘The Pendulum Swings’ via a pre-release since, although the rest of the album is quite varied, it often resembles this track in a way that really doesn’t disappoint.

The band’s first new long player for a quarter of a century taps into a world of really smart post punk and goth influences, delivering ten brilliantly formed tracks that share Deardarkhead’s instrumental prowess with ease. The decision to drop the vocals this time out is a smart move; the extra space allows for the guitars to take centre stage more often, showcasing some superb playing from Kevin Harrington, allowing his atmospheric approach to weave against some rather muscular bass work from Brandon Howard. There are elements of the opening number ‘Flamethrower’ that tap into the band’s older shoegaze sound, but in the main, it presents the sound of musicians occupying a new space, with Kevin dropping in occasionally heavier riffs, sharing a rockier edge, which works brilliantly when set against a baggy-ish influence from the drums. More so than ever, this shows how well the band can set up a groove; far less reliant on atmospheres than some of the band’s prior works, this is a punchy opener that really grabs the attention. Bringing in a huge goth influence for the main riff, drawing from the 80s and ‘Dreamtime’ era Cult especially, ‘Coming Undone’ opts for something equally tough, yet pulling a little further in a familiar direction. Kevin’s lead guitar work is especially strong here, allowing a slightly echoing and filtered tone to add a shimmering edge to a rocky sound, while the rhythm section locks into another unshakeable groove. If you’re invested in the new Deardarkhead sound by the end of this track, you’ll certainly find musical interest through the rest of the material.

Taking a lighter approach and leaning a little more upon their previous indie sound, the tone of the guitars that sit at the centre of ‘Tears’ feels a bit more nostalgic, but Brandon’s harder bass sound ensures that this is far more than an easy recycling job. A rockier “chorus” allows Kevin to cut loose, again, showcasing the driving force behind a band who instinctively know their way around some great riffs, but the real star on this track is drummer Robert Weiss. He pushes everything forward with a tight performance that owes so much more to the band’s shoegaze past. Eventually the rockier riffs take centre stage, filling the latter part of this superb workout with some great sounds. Tapping into a mix of heavy indie, taut post rock and a pinch of goth, this is a genuine album highlight, capturing the “new” Deardarkhead in full flow. Then, hinting at a great contrast, the bouncy ‘Sad Songs (And Better Days)’ manages to couple a dream pop rhythm guitar with a Peter Hook inspired bassline, steering everything towards a tough indie sound that the band appear to take in their stride. There are moments where it feels impossible to tear your ears away from the brilliant bass riff, but Kevin plays up a storm here via the guitar, sounding especially confident when reaching for a post punk riff that’s delivered at volume. This actually couldn’t be more different from some of Deardarkhead’s past works if it tried, but it’s certainly none the worse for that – it’s a thrill to hear the band really branching out in terms of riffs.

During ‘In Another Life’, Deardarkhead dive even deeper into a world of late 80s goth sounds with the help of a throbbing bassline and deep sounding guitar lines that venture into the darker corners of a sweeping melody. In keeping with album standout ‘Letting Go’, a brighter, ringing guitar tone compliments some strong lead parts, often drawing again from old goth and post punk influences, but even carrying a faint echo of early work from The Fierce & The Dead. In terms of setting an atmosphere in place, this feels effortless, and even if it sounds a little more like something you’ve heard from the band previously, it’s anything but stale. Elsewhere on a filler free disc, you’ll encounter some busier drumming at the heart of ‘Black Pearls’ which sits surprisingly comfortably against a world of purer shoegaze influences that call back to Deardarkhead’s past, and a title cut that presents another prominent bassline cutting through a wall of shimmering guitar tones, leaning into a more familiar sound and influences from the turn of the decade circa 1990. Any familiarity seems to fuel this band’s creative streak, however, resulting in something that, although would benefit from being a touch more dream pop-esque, captures the musicians in good form, and for fans of Kevin’s guitar sound might even sound better over time.

A lot can change in twenty five years, even the outlook of a veteran act from the alternative set. Deardarkhead could’ve staged a long overdue comeback with something that mirrored the shoegaze-y swirls of their ‘Oceanside’ collection, but, as it transpires, the band’s decision to cast aside a previous sound in favour of something a little more direct has paid dividends. The music here is terrific; the moody arrangements work some wonderfully retro sounds that, hopefully, should greet the ears of maturer fans more than favourably, while still capturing a sound and energy that never feels tired if heard by the first time listener. A recommended disc.

https://www.realgonerocks.com/2026/09/deardarkhead-the-pendulum-swings/