Desensitized

by Bret LoveEmerging 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.