The band was formed in 1989 by bassist Mark Clayden with guitarist and programmer Johnny Carter, later joined by vocalist JS Clayden and Stuart Toolin. During this time, the band played with local bands and soon gained attention of the Peaceville Records. During this time, JS went to live in France to sell paintings.
During 1990, the band started recording their début album, Industrial, with the main vocalist being Mark Clayden instead of JS, who contributed with backing vocals. The band later went on a small tour with bands like Napalm Death.
Their first few releases had a distinctive industrial sound where the influential gaze of Godflesh was abundantly apparent.
The simplified 808 style drum tracks and sluggish drone guitars evolved over the next decade to produce some of the most intense loop based crunching metal/punk riffs and hard floor dance rhythm sections.
Throughout their highly acclaimed career although often commercially overlooked, Pitchshifter were often heralded with founding the Electro Punk genre with JS Claydon's 'sex pistols' barrages on the current state of the UK, simplistic chord driven guitar lines and the inclusion of more and more elaborate sampling and synth based elements.
Similar to previous attempts at this meld of minds such as Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI) Pitchshifter created an intense and dedicated fan-base who still work hard to promote the outfit.
Although the band officially ceased to be after releasing the album PSI, they have continued to reform for the occasional festival appearance or one-off event each of which is accompanied by one-off releases for ticket holders.
Since shutting down the PSI-political propaganda machine, members have gone on to work on various projects together and solo, including This is Menace, a super group comprising of members of Amen, Hundred Reasons, Funeral For a Friend and Earthone9.
Mark Claydon is now a regular tutor at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), and runs a regular advice column for bands just starting out in the UK-based Total Guitar magazine (available through Future Publishing).
Microwaved
Pitchshifter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evidence of your intrusion, multiplied by my contusions.
You can't suture the future (though you might try).
Because we're cut, dried, microwaved, safe in the knowledge that we'll be saved.
You say there's no black in the Union Jack but you can't give me a single reason why.
I say there's no 'common wealth' in the Commonwealth, 'cause it's the
And don't you read the papers?
Economics is going to save us and " science never sleeps ".
The lyrics to Pitchshifter's song Microwaved seem to be a scathing critique of the oppressive and racist systems that are ingrained in society. The first verse speaks of systematic abuse on a daily basis and the exploitation of the marginalized, with evidence of this intrusion being multiplied by the singer's contusions. The line 'you can't suture the future' seems to imply that despite efforts to cover up and ignore these issues, they will inevitably come to a head in the future.
The chorus seems to be a commentary on the complacency of those in power, who are content to maintain the status quo and keep people 'cut, dried, microwaved' and dependent on them for salvation. The repeated line 'because we're cut, dried, microwaved, safe in the knowledge that we'll be saved' seems to be a sarcastic criticism of this mindset.
The next verse takes aim at the UK's history of colonialism and racism. The singer calls out the denialism of those who claim that there is no black in the Union Jack, but can't offer a reason why. The line 'I say there's no 'common wealth' in the Commonwealth' seems to criticize the way in which the UK's former colonies have been exploited for their resources while their people continue to suffer under the weight of poverty, racism, and inequality. The final line seems to be a comment on the way in which the country's economy has historically been fueled by the exploitation of others.
Overall, Microwaved seems to be a powerful commentary on the way in which oppressive systems of power are ingrained in society, and the need to confront and dismantle them in order to create a more just and equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
Systematic abuse on a daily basis, you're a racist (you don't know why?)
You consistently discriminate against others and lack the knowledge to understand why it's wrong.
Evidence of your intrusion, multiplied by my contusions.
I have physical injuries that serve as evidence of your persistent intrusion into my life.
You can't suture the future (though you might try).
You can't fix or repair the damage you've caused in the future, even if you attempt to do so.
Because we're cut, dried, microwaved, safe in the knowledge that we'll be saved.
We're processed, packaged, and made artificially safe, yet we believe we're protected.
You say there's no black in the Union Jack but you can't give me a single reason why.
You deny racism exists in your country but cannot provide any logical explanation to support your claim.
I say there's no 'common wealth' in the Commonwealth, 'cause it's the Color of your money matters since the day the country died.
There's no actual shared prosperity in the Commonwealth, it's merely about the color of one's money which has been the driving force since the country's inception.
And don't you read the papers?
Don't you stay informed through media and news outlets?
Economics is going to save us and " science never sleeps ".
People have faith in economics to rescue us and believe that science is tireless in its research and progress.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNATHAN CARTER, JON S. CLAYDEN, MARK CLAYDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deadgeneticblueprint
Looks like I'm not the only who shares the same childhood memory. Test Drive 5 and Twisted Metal 3 for the win.
@aaroozz
fuck yeah!
@FLsurferHurricanePLZ
deadgeneticblueprint nope twisted metal 2 bro
@forgotten_saiyan567
YES. grew up playin twisted metal 2 3 and 4. love all three and still play em on pc since my ps2 decided to nope out
@Siberian7201
Twisted Metal 3
@Hikikomorisama
Same here bro. Used to play both those games a lot so I went out and made my mother buy me this album back in the late 90s. Awesome album I might add.
@anthonyjomarortiz3161
2:00 is when the goosebumps hit and you have to focus on not crashing cause you're at top speed in 1st place with everyone just a few feet behind you
@joaolucasmr.johnson5685
Hi @anthonyjomarortiz3161 it's Very truth, literally The opponents take a few meters behind us. Test Drive 5 brough Sweet Memories forever Bro, hugs from Brazil!!!
@SquizzMe
Washington DC from Twisted Metal 3!
@jfagjr
yes hehehe.