by Bret Love
Emerging from the early-'90s industrial underground, Pitchshifter matched metallic grooves with industrial samples to create a thunderously rhythmic sound punctuated by jagged, slashing riffs. Rather than making grinding noise the primary focus, here it's merely an added layer that builds upon the rock-hard foundation to form an abrasive collage of sound. The album opens with the furiously pounding drums and angular guitar of &Diable,& which features memorable lines like &Can't hate me like I do/I know me better,& delivered in an angered, anguished howl. &Ephemerol& opens with a slow, bottomless bass groove that erupts into chaos, with echoing vocals and effects-drenched guitar lending a subtly psychedelic shimmer, while &Triad& uses a percussive sample to create a polyrhythmic feel that's damn near danceable. Though at times the vocals border on overbearing, and the angst-metal sound has since become an almost laughable cliché, Pitchshifter's intense, dense sound and memorable riffs separate them from the aggro-industrial pack.