Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Pitchshifter - Submit (1992)

I think I've mentioned this before, but I enjoy these transitional kinds of releases between two of a band's eras. This EP works as the missing piece of the stylistic puzzle, between the industrial rock/dance of that Excessive Force album and industrial death-doom of that Dead World album. And this Pitchshifter release is much better than those two, kinda like a "Guess That Baby" bulletin board with one cute kid sandwiched between two having really bad hair days...

In truth though, this EP Submit can be considered the transitional release between Pitchshifter's sludge-ish debut and the later material's catchiness. There are different eras that the band have covered and foreshadowed in this release, doing it all with confidence. There's beat in the music and purpose in the writing!

"Gritter" is a brilliant favorite of mine from this EP. It brings in some groove momentum and their earlier deathly vibe, the latter caused by crushing downtuned riffing and deep growling vocals. However, it sounds closer to Godflesh than the more deathly Dead World. JS Clayden took over on vocals after his brother MD put his sole focus on bass. "Deconstruction" is a different highlight with gravelly vocals and repetitive guitar, hinting at their next album. A sure sign of leaving behind their Godflesh influences.

The next track "New Flesh P.S.I." is an early-Godflesh-infused remix of a song from their debut Industrial. "B****rdiser" levels things up a bit, but the chorus sounds like a rip-off of Godflesh's "Like Rats". Those two remixes appeared in their earlier single "Death Industrial" to show the band's earlier evolution.

"Dry Riser Inlet" is another highlight that continues the band's later hints from "Deconstruction". The last song before the hidden track "Tendrill" once again drills through with the band's deathly industrial metal statement. "Silo" is the instrumental hidden track that is quite repetitive and doesn't add much greatness. I won't say it's too much of a stinker, but it's probably best to just stop during the long silence before the hidden track.

"Submit" is a pretty great step up compared to those other two early 90s industrial metal releases I've just reviewed. It's as heavy and crushing as Godflesh at that time, like A LOT, though I would argue about how Pitchshifter used their influences. While not as super-memorable as classics within the genre, Submit is something you can't overlook...

Favorites: "Gritter", "Deconstruction", "Dry Riser Inlet", "Tendrill"