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Reading's Pitchblend have already scored a result, being voted 'Best Unsigned Band' in the 2001 Kerrang! readers poll, and now they've taken the brave step of pressing up and distributing their first single proper under their own resources with an exhortation to "feel free to copy/rip this CD and share any MP3's". It's a refreshing attitude, one that shows that they understand that word of mouth is all, and that people need to hear you. Props are due for that then, and also for the quality of that single, the dark neo-goth-prog-metal of 'Patterns In Silence'. They'll hate us for that reference, but it's the same tag that could be applied to My Vitriol, and there's your closest reference, albeit leavened by the fact that Pitchblend are far 
more striking, for more muscular and far more serious. Plus points all, for a band that bears close attention.
Suzie Q

Imsoscene.com
Long-awaited third EP from Reading-based alternative metal group. This four track EP from Pitchblend (Rich Savage - guitar, Alex Wilson - guitar, Mark Peacock - bass, Matt Eaton - drums) is only their third EP, but well worth the wait. If ever there was a moment when a band should stand up and shout about themselves, this must be it for Pitchblend. This EP rocks.

Unusually for an EP released and paid for by the band themselves, there's a professional quality to the EP. The cover artwork is simple yet stunning, with a nice blurry montage of colour live photos on the inside cover. This is a band that are well aware that it takes more than just music to get noticed these days. A sad but true statement.

Rich Savage's vocals seem to improve with every outing. A criticism of the band's previous releases has been that it's sometimes difficult to make out the vocals. Not so on this EP. The vocals are clearer, stronger and delivered with more passion than ever before.

One thing you don't get with Pitchblend is short changed. With just four tracks, this EP still tops 18 minutes in length, then there's the interactive content on top of that.

First track, Patterns In Silence, weighs in at a hefty 4:52. The 
quality of the vocals is the first thing that strikes you with this 
track, and overall it has an almost anthemic quality. Not ones for samples and studio trickery to beef out their songs, the band keep it simple, preferring to let the drums, bass and guitars do the talking. The first track sets the theme for the rest of the EP, with three other quality songs to follow.

From the opening riff to another classic Pitchblend solo, Second track Timeless is over five minutes long and is another massive track. The chorus is huge, perfectly illustrating the band's ability to mix the slow and mellow with a wall of noise when they need to. This is a band that knows when to play loud, but more importantly, knows just when to tone it down for maximum effect. Pitchblend songs aren't just written. 
They're crafted.

At three minutes, Requiem has the ideal sound for a finale, a last track, either on an album or in a live set. A rival to Pitchblend's classic "Driver" in that respect. There's nice use of a phaser on the guitars which emphasises the feel of the whole song. Aptly named, Requiem has that "end of the world" theme. It's the end of the world and I don't give a fuck.

Closing track Sirenna will be familiar to Pitchblend fans as the 
opening instrumental to the band's live set. The song itself has been around for a while on mp3 but nothing like this. The version included here is most likely how the band originally wanted it to sound. It's huge. It's tighter. It's haunting, and builds up from quiet beginnings to an in-your-face wall of noise that is quite simply superb.

As if 18 mins of glorious, well-crafted rock wasn't enough, there's some interactive bonus features on the EP too. Easy to use, simply pop it in your CD drive and let your PC do the rest. On the interactive side, there's photos, video, lyrics and a screensaver.

In short, with this EP you get everything Pitchblend have to offer. Awesome vocals, superb riffs, massive drums and a perfect mix of mellow rock and all-out metal. Classic guitar solos and a surprising lack of the all-too-famliar "double kick pedal abuse" you hear from most bands these days, this is old school rock updated for 2003 and it's got the Pitchblend stamp all over it. If you haven't heard of Pitchblend before, then get yourself to the band's official site at www.pitchblend.com and order this EP. Failing that, catch them at a show soon and get a copy. Before they run out. Because this EP is going to be huge. Same as the band.
Darren

Audiocratic.com
Reading based band Pitchblend come back into the limelight with their new release 'Words Phrased From Nothing'. Since the last distributed release a lot has happened to the band, whether it has been gaining a new guitarist, Alex Wilson, or winning best unsigned band in the Kerrang readers poll to appearing on Total Rock radio, a lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last couple of years for the band and they'll be looking to take a step further with this release. 'Patterns In Time' starts the offering with a gentle rock ethic and melodic vocals from Rich Savage, upping the tempo for the chorus before hitting a more melancholy section. This sound is one that Pitchblend have worked on for a few years and seem to improve on each turn. 'Timeless' has a whole more epic feel to it, a lot of emotion fuelled into this one, which changes up tempo with some pounding drum work from Matt Eaton, as well as some neat guitar work from Rich Savage to upgrade the whole feel of the song. 'Requiem' has a jagged intro with a meatier riff involved before the melody smoothes over, again a song that builds to the chorus and keeps an intense level while doing so. 'Sirenna' ends the release with it being an instrumental piece, a very unravelling piece at that, starting slowly in a melancholy fashion, a journey of sound, increasing intensity and power before fading out to a close. Pitchblend have done well with this effort, it's certainly been a long time coming but an impressive effort none the less. The band deserves a chance on a bigger stage and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later when they can make music to this calibre. Maybe we'll get to hear a full length next time? Let's hope so.
RG

Rockmidgets.com
If Living With Eating Disorders produced my favourite demo of 
November, then Pitchblend pick up December's unofficial prize (if not least for the RIAA baiting note inside encouraging us to share mp3s of their latest CD - mwahahaha!). Pitchblend deal in a kind of heavy yet atmospheric prog (Wait! Come back!) metal, filled with equal parts moshpit riffs and soaring, squalling solos, and accompanied by a vocals that lie somewhere between Ian Watkins and Paul Draper. Do yourself a favour when you get this CD and immediately skip to third track 'Requiem'. Put simply, this is what Mansun would have sounded 
like if they had abandoned pop for metal. In the meantime, 
instrumental track Sirenna recalls the soundtrack to some dark epic fantasy/sci-fi film. For sheer value for money alone, it's worth the effort; the CD boasts a screensaver, videos, and more besides. The only problem with it is that I'm struggling to come up with a negative point about it. This recording is the result of a two-year hiatus and two previous attempts to nail down the band's sound on CD. Third time lucky. With this recording, Pitchblend are set to be one of the most thrilling new bands of 2004.
5/5 
Ruth

Figure-of-eight.com
Think back two years and you may remember a young Pitchblend heading up the 'Best Unsigned Band' section in the 2001 Kerrang! readers poll. The band had just been name-dropped by one of the most famous magazines in the rock world, however here we are two years down the line and the band are still very much unsigned. Not that strange you may think; there are plenty of bands who attract a lot of attention yet never quite make it, however with Pitchblend you'd think things might be that bit different. Anyone who's ever heard the quartet will know they sound absolutely huge. We're talking a band that have the finished sound to take over the world yet have one major stumbling block in their path - they're British. It's an old cliché to say "if they were American they'd be huge" but with Pitchblend it's incredibly easy to get that impression. 'Words Phrased From Nothing' shows a band who've matured hugely since their early days. Soaring atmospherics and metallic guitars (helped by the addition of second axe man Alex Wilson) add to a sound which already had the blueprints of an exciting future yet their easily listenable, radio-friendly edge is much more suited to the US than the current UK scene.

'Patterns In Silence' with it's almost haunting layered guitars and flowing vocal hooks show a band who although still young have a very professional, measured approach to songwriting. Breakdowns and interludes are placed intelligently and the song eases its way through five minutes of emotive energy. 'Timeless' continues with yet more of the same with frontman Rich Savage's vocals and fret bashing solo's perfectly complimenting the soaring musical backdrop with an end result of amazingly listenable, atmospheric rock.

Throwing an instrumental track into anything is always a daring move yet Pitchblend have again come up with the goods and 'Sirenna' provides a fitting end to a consistently good demo. Swelling from an eerie melody into a driving, distorted finale and ending with a swell of feedback it becomes blatantly obvious that this is a band who have mastered their respective instruments. Talented and exciting, Pitchblend can surely only stay out of the limelight for so long, and when they finally break through prepare for a major dent in the rock scene as we know it.
8/10