Pitchshifter - Infotainment?
Earache - MOSH137 - 26th September 2007
By Paddy Walsh
This re-release of
Pitchshifter's seminal 1996 album stands as an interesting relic of the mid-90s, as industrial metal was beginning to make waves through
Fear factory and
Ministry, with
Pitchshifter's blend of samples and occasional techno leanings with bruising hardcore that had been influenced by everything from
Godflesh to
Killing Joke.
Infotainment? is regarded by many as
Pitchshifter's finest hour, with the band going down the major label route shortly after and treading water precariously in search of a wider fan base. It's also an interesting snapshot of the mainstream metal scene shortly before nu-metal came and erm, ruined everything you might say, with many of those bands apeing
Pitchshifter's chunky riffs 'n samples pastiche.
Infotainment? is in fact an entertaining album, albeit somewhat dated. However, 'Underachiever', '(We're Behaving Like) Insects', and 'Product Placement', all have a satisfyingly heaviness, the industrial elements never proving intrusive and acting as simply another aspect of their sonic palette. 'Bloodsweatsaliva' even has a seattle-esque quality, vocalist J. S. Claydon toning down his shouty hardcore vocals and almost allowing some melody creep through, in a vein strangely similar to
Therapy? circa
Troublegum. Listeing to
Infotainment? is very much akin to a nostalgia trip back to the days when grunge was breathing it's last gasps of life and nu-metal was soon to rule the alternative airwaves.
Infotainment? stands as a kind of bridge in mainstream metal limbo, but don't let that put you off, because it's a thoroughly enjoyable slice of industrialised hardcore that, whilst has been done to death since, hasn't actually been done much better.
Official Pitchshifter Website
Official Earache Website
