Pitchshifter

Biography/History

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Pitchshifter (1989-present): a Industrial Metal band from Nottingham, UK.

aised listening to acts like Crass and Flux Of Pink Indians, brothers Mark MD Clayden (bass) and Johnathan JS Clayden (vocals) decided to create their own doom laden industrial metal act in the style of Ministry and Godflesh. The original drummerless line-up would also feature Stuart Toolin (guitar) and Johnathan JA Carter (guitar/programming) to release their debut Industrial (1991) on the 'Peaceville', label and would soon join 'Earache' with the mini set Submit following a year later. Although electronics aided their sound they nonetheless hired a full time human drummer under the name of D. Crushing(a.k.a. D.J. Walters). Desensitized followed in 1993 much in the same style as their past works. But their electronic influences would force a remix album in 1994 titled Pitchshifter -Vs- Biohazard - Therapy? - Gunshot (The Remix Wars). That album was followed up with more of their traditional ear shredding demonstrations in the form of Infotainment? (1996). They had yet to achieve the notoriety of their peers but the Genius Making Plans For Nigel single in 1998, now featuring Jim Davis on guitar, replacing Toolin, set that right with a 71 in the UK now on the 'Geffin' label.

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Their attempts at getting upgraded to the internet revolution failed to chart them at www.pitchshifter.com (1998) by yielding only one hit, Microwaved, when spun off as a single, making 54 UK; its flipside sporting a remix of Genius. The EP Un-United Kingdom (1998) saw them with just Davisand the Clayden brothers, but chart success was met again with Deviant (2000) proving to be their first album to chart at 35 UK and now on 'M.C.A.'

Those who listened to Pitchshifter out of context noted that their earlier albums of heavy guitar work were a stark contrast to their later work featuring sampling and electronic influences, but listening to their albums over their career the style changes were much more subtle as each album came and went. After their 2002 release of P.S.I., Jason Bowld joined on drums but after their March 2003 UK tour the act decided to call it quits with an amicable split of the members choosing to pursue other interests.

Davies returned to The Prodigy, while Tim Rayner (who had recently joined before the split) went to work on Drawbacks, with his brother Tim Rayner, who later joined Pitchshifter as well.

Doheny later broke up with Clayden going on to form his own label, 'PSI Records', and in 2003 released the compilation album Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded and the DVD P.S.I.entology.

April 2018 the band would reunite for a short tour the following November to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the www.pitchshifter.com album; Simon Hutchby from earthtone9 would be replacing Jason Bowld on drums, as Bowld couldn't break away his commitments with Bullet for My Valentine. A bunch of live albums would follow in 2020.

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