Two years and one major label mishap have passed since Pitchshifter launched its acclaimed "www.pitchshifter.com" into record stores, and the band will soon return with a fresh sampling of drum-and-bass-flavored metal. On May 23, Pitchshifter will deliver "Deviant" to stores, with the help of its new label home, MCA Records. In 1998, the British band's major label debut caught the ear of numerous critics; however, that album came courtesy of Geffen Records' subsidiary DGC, which soon slashed its roster after Geffen's parent company, Universal Records, merged with Polygram Music. Pitchshifter was left label-less as a result, and the band was soon snatched up by MCA.
Next month's release of "Deviant" will not only mark the end of the group's label turmoil; it will also see Pitchshifter unveil a new lineup. The band's official Web site (www.pitchshifter.com) notes that rhythm guitarist and programmer Johnny Carter recently left the group, and drummer D soon followed. Pitchshifter's camp notes that the split was amicable, and has recruited Bivouac guitarist Matt Grundy and Stimulator drummer Jason Bowld to round out the group.
In addition to shuffling labels and lineups, Pitchshifter also had to change the cover art for "Deviant" when the Norman Rockwell-esque portrait the band commissioned turned out to be a bit too similar to the original. Artist William George lampooned Rockwell's famous Thanksgiving dinner portrait in the original cover art for "Deviant," putting together a scene in which an apple-cheeked family gathers round a giant hand grenade. Fearing potential legal action, the band opted for a different cover, so when the album arrives next month, fans will find the visage of the Pope morphing into the Queen of England.
Pitchshifter is already road testing its new material on the road in support of Static-X. Here's where you can catch them:
- 4/28 - Columbus, OH @ Al Rosa Villa
- 4/29 - Tampa, FL @ WXTB Radio Show
- 5/1 - Rochester, NY @ Harro East
- 5/3 - Old Bridge, NJ @ Birch Hill Nite Club
- 5/4 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
- 5/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
- 5/6 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
- 5/7 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
- 5/9 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
- 5/10 - Atlanta, GA @ Cotton Club
- 5/11 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Garden Amph.
- 5/12 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Garden Amph.
- 5/15 - El Paso, TX @ Club 101
- 5/16 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
- 5/17 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto
- 5/18 - Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theatre
- 5/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ KXTE Radio Show
- 5/21 - Hollywood, CA @ The Palace
-- Robert Mancini
