Pitch Shifter - The remix war (1994)

A few asked for it, and as I previously promised, so here's The Remix War, remixing select songs from Desensitized.

Although the Therapy?, Gunshot and Biohazard remixes are a bit "hit and miss" in feel and execution, Pitch Shifter on the other hand manage to remix their own songs, if not into gold, but something pretty damn close.

This is not a record that will be sorely missed by the world of sounds, if it would disappear overnight, but more of a curious experimentation aimed at the more diehard Pitch Shifter collectors and completionists. It's good for a listen once in a while, but nothing to lose your sleep over.

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(68MB/320CBR)

Pitch Shifter - Desensitized (1993)

Time for my last Pitch Shifter upload (If I can be arsed later on, I'll share the Remix Wars, and perhaps even Infotainment?, but the material after that is just too "meh" for my liking (And I don't even own those buggers anyway)).

While not as downtuned and harsh as predecessors Industrial and Submit, Desensitized managed to deliver a unique blend of older material, combined with a newfound "Ministryesque" groove.

The grunting vocal style has been replaced with snarls and shouts, they are almost like commands barked at the listener. The riffs are still heavy and memorable, driving the music onward at all times. The overall mood of the album is almost hypnotic. Hypnotic in the sense of groovy, drawn out songs, "headbanging rhythm" with industrial collages layered on top of everything.

Like I stated at the beginning, in my opinion the group took a turn for the worse after this release. Although Infotainment? has it's moments, and is more diverse than previous releases, it's only good for a listen once in a while. Their later stuff featured only one or two songs which I fancied per album, and was more like a slip down the stairs towards an inevitable faceplant.

With all the hate out of my system now, I'll state the obvious: This is still an excellent album and a milestone in industrial metal. Listen to the last track, Routine, and after a long period of silence, you'll get to hear the excellent re-recording of Landfill from the Industrial-album. It's almost worth for it alone!

Enjoy!

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Download part 2
(95+16MB/320CBR)

Pitch Shifter - Submit (1992)

Gritter, feels like this.

A firm fan favourite, the Submit "mini LP" had Pitch Shifter moving into another direction from the Industrial-album. It was their first release on Earache after their shift from Peaceville. Even though still heavy as a ten ton slab of concrete, they started incorporating more subtle elements into their music; ideas of their own if you will.

The guitar riffs are buried among the chugging grind, with the drum machine commanding the assault. On top of the mix is a howling and yowling lead guitar, ever present and coercing the listener into submission.

If you're into flagellation through audio, this is a great place to start. Although the sound is truely pummeling, at the same time it's very groovy .. and, I really, really hate to use the term, epic. Thanks to a great production and mastering job, the album has a living and breathing sound. Massive!

Highly recommended audio pleasure. Enjoy!

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(63MB/320CBR)

Pitch Shifter - Industrial (1991)

You know, this is just one of those things. When you decide to call your album Industrial, you better fucking deliver.

And they did.

Pitch Shifter was often called the bastard child of Godflesh, but in my opinion they added much more to the scene. The monotonous grunts, deliberately stiff drum programming (Trick question: does anybody recognize which drum machine it is :), gloomy atmosphere and pummeling palm muted riffs. Although I am admittedly a huge Godflesh fanboy, I always thought Pitch Shifter was more straightforward in their approach.

This is heavy, nasty and gritty industrial metal. There's no need to look any further. Enjoy!

"I'm an American, and I killed Americans. I'm a human being, and I killed human beings, and I did it in my society"
-Ed Kemper

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(85MB/320CBR)