Editing Project Pitchfork

{{Short description|German dark wave / industrial music group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Project Pitchfork
| image               = projectpitchfork-blackfieldfestival-2013.jpg
| caption             = Project Pitchfork at the Blackfield Festival 2013
| image_size          = 
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               =
| origin              = [[Hamburg]], Germany
| genre               = {{hlist | [[Electronica]] | [[dark wave]] | [[electro-industrial]] | [[Electronic body music|EBM]] | [[futurepop]] }}
| years_active        = 1989–present
| label               = {{ hlist | Candyland Entertainment | [[Trisol Music Group]] | [[EastWest]] | Karma Records (South America)  | [[List of industrial music labels|Hypnobeat]] | [[Off Beat (label)|Off Beat]] }}
| spinoffs            = {{ hlist | Rec | IMATEM | [[Santa Hates You]] | [[Aurora Sutra]] | Jansen Spilles }}
| website             = {{ URL|http://www.project-pitchfork.eu }}
| current_members     = 
*Peter Spilles
*Jürgen Jansen
*Achim Färber (live drums)
*Christian "Leo" Leonhardt (live drums)
| past_members        = 
*Dirk Scheuber
*Markus Giltjes
*Yenz Schrader
*Patricia Nigiani
*Carsten Klatte
}}

'''Project Pitchfork''' are a German [[dark wave]] and [[electronic music]] group from [[Hamburg]], Germany.

== History==
=== First years (1990–1994) ===
Project Pitchfork were formed by Peter Spilles and Dirk Scheuber. After agreeing to work together, they picked the project's name by choosing a random word from the dictionary.<ref name="regen-2013">{{cite web |last1=Ziegler |first1=Grant V. |title=Project Pitchfork: What Makes the Timekillers Tick? |url=https://regenmag.com/interviews/project-pitchfork-what-makes-the-timekillers-tick/ |website=ReGen Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=24 August 2013}}</ref> The band gave their first performance in Hamburg in February 1990<ref name="regen-2013" /> and released their demo, ''K.N.K.A'',  in August. In May 1991, their debut album ''Dhyani'' was released. The band's second album, ''Lam-'Bras'' was released in February 1992 and yielded the first vocal appearance of Patrica Nigiani. Six months later, the band's third album, ''Entities'' was released. The band switched labels to [[WestCom|Off Beat]] for their 1994 release ''Io''. The album featured two singles, "Renascence" and "Carrion", and marked the first time the band entered the German Charts. The album was followed by a lengthy German tour.

=== The development years and success (1995–2002) ===
In 1995, Project Pitchfork established their own label, Candyland Entertainment,<ref name="culture_shock_2">{{cite journal |title=Project Pitchfork: Precious New World |journal=Culture Shock |date=1996 |issue=2 |pages=21–23 |publisher=Genocide Project |location=Hackensack, NJ |language=English |issn=1093-1651 }}</ref> through which they would release the majority of their material as well as some side projects and bands such as Philtron and Deep Red. 1995 also saw the release of two EPs, ''CH'I'' and ''Corps d'Amour'', and one album, ''Alpha Omega''. The year finished off with a tour supported by [[Rammstein]].<ref name="peek-a-boo-2016">{{cite web |last1=Coldheart |first1=Stef |title=Project Pitchfork: Great bands can be really great bastards |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/project-pitchfork-2016/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=5 June 2016}}</ref> The next Project Pitchfork studio album ''¡Chakra:Red!'' was released in 1997. It was the first album since ''Dhyani'' to be written as a group effort, rather than by Peter Spilles alone, and the first to include Jürgen Jansen as a permanent band member.<ref name="peek-a-boo-2015">{{cite web |last1=Kruth |first1=Xavier |title=Interview: Project Pitchfork |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/project-pitchfork-535/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=18 September 2015}}</ref>

Immediately after their first US tour in 1998, Project Pitchfork returned with concept album ''[[Eon:Eon]]'', their first while signed to label [[EastWest]], an imprint of the major label [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]]. The album yielded three singles, "Steelrose", "Carnival", and "I Live Your Dream". With the support of EastWest, the band had greater resources available to produce videos for their music, which led to their being the first gothic industrial band to receive airplay on music TV in Germany.<ref name="the-dominion-2011">{{cite web |last1=Palfrey |first1=Sean |title=Project Pitchfork – Twenty years in the making |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/dominion/dominionfeatures/project-pitchfork-twenty-years-in-the-making/ |website=Terrorizer |publisher=The Dominion Magazine |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=16 August 2011}}</ref> The video for "Steelrose" earned the band a nomination for an [[Echo Award]] for Best Video National.

Between 1998 and 2001 the band built out their own studio which gave them more time to develop their next release.<ref name="cmj-07-01">{{cite journal |last1=Filicky |first1=Brad |title=Interview with Jürgen Jansen of Project Pitchfork |journal=[[CMJ|CMJ New Music Report]] |date=2 July 2001 |volume=68 |issue=720 |page=32 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2001/CMJ-720-2001-07-02.pdf |access-date=24 January 2022 |publisher=College Media, Inc. |location=New York, NY |issn=0890-0795}}</ref> In 2001, the band released their eighth studio album ''[[Daimonion (Project Pitchfork album)|Daimonion]]'' and supported the album with a European tour. In 2002 the band released the "NUN" trilogy which consisted of album ''Inferno'' and EPs ''View From a Throne'' and ''Trialog''. This earned the band another nomination for an Echo Award, this time for Best Alternative Act National.

=== Recent years (2003–present) ===
Project Pitchfork returned with album Kaskade in 2005. In February 2009 the band released ''Dream, Tiresias!'' which received praise from electronic music magazine, ReGen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regenmag.com/Reviews-1804-Project-Pitchfork-Dream-Tiresias.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416045803/http://www.regenmag.com/Reviews-1804-Project-Pitchfork-Dream-Tiresias.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-04-16|title=Review :: Project Pitchfork - Dream, Tiresias! |accessdate=2020-03-24}}</ref> In 2010 the band's follow up album ''Continuum Ride'' was released along with a video to support the song "Beholder." ''Continuum Ride'' was inspired by the band's US tour in 2009, particularly their experience of Detroit, whose dilapidated skyline led to a more "dark and destructive" sound than that of their previous album.<ref name="brutal-resonance-2010">{{cite web |last1=Lindström |first1=Patrik |title=Interview: Project Pitchfork |url=https://www.brutalresonance.com/interview/project-pitchfork-interview-jul-2010/ |website=Brutal Resonance |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=23 July 2010}}</ref> By 2011 Project Pitchfork ceased operating their Candyland label, having since begun releasing their work on the Trisol label.<ref name="peek-a-boo-2015" />

The band released ''Quantum Mechanics'' in 2011 as well as a video for the album's second track, "Lament". Later that year the band released a compilation album titled ''First Anthology''.<ref name="peek-a-boo-quantum">{{cite web |title=Trisol Presents New Album by Project Pitchfork This Summer |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/news/2011/trisol-presents-new-album-by-project-pitchfork-this-summer/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=22 June 2011}}</ref> In 2013 the band released their fourteenth studio album, ''Black'', and a music video to accompany the song "Rain".<ref name="peek-a-boo-black">{{cite web |title=Project Pitchfork Wears Black |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/news/2013/project-pitchfork-wears-black/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=21 February 2013}}</ref> In June 2014, the band announced via their official website a new album titled ''Blood''. To promote the record the band held a pre-release show in Hamburg. The album was released in September and featured a music video for "Blood-Diamond (See Him Running)" edited by Peter Spilles himself.<ref name="peek-a-boo-blood">{{cite web |title=Peek-a-Boo Presents the New Clip by Project Pitchfork |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/news/2014/peek-a-boo-presents-the-new-clip-by-project-pitchfork/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=21 November 2020 |date=21 October 2014}}</ref>

In 2016, Project Pitchfork released their ''Second Anthology'', a double CD that included one new track, several unreleased rarities, and many re-recorded and remastered tracks.<ref name="sideline-second-anth">{{cite web |author1=Inferno Sound Diaries |title=Review: Project Pitchfork – Second Anthology |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-second-anthology-dcd-album-trisol/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=17 April 2016}}</ref> Also in 2016, the band released the album ''Look Up, I’m Down There'' to commemorate their 25th anniversary. The album was released in two versions: a standard CD release and a special, limited edition double CD with an 80-page art book containing complete lyrics and a short story by the fantasy author Björn Springorum.<ref name="sideline-look-up">{{cite web |last1=Van Isacker |first1=Bernard |title=Project Pitchfork to release new album 'Look up, I'm down there' also as a mega-limited 2CD art book |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-to-release-new-album-look-up-im-down-there-also-as-a-mega-limited-2cd-art-book-get-your-copy-here/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=19 September 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, the band released the album ''Akkretion'', the first of what was planned to be a trilogy of albums for release that year.<ref name="sideline-akkretion">{{cite web |last1=Van Isacker |first1=Bernard |title=Project Pitchfork returns with new album 'Akkretion' – here are the details |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-returns-with-new-album-akkretion-here-are-the-details/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=11 December 2017}}</ref> On 12 October 2018, the second part of the trilogy, ''Fragment'', was released.<ref name="sideline-fragment">{{cite web |author1=Inferno Sound Diaries |title=Review: Project Pitchfork – Fragment |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-fragment-cd-album-trisol/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=15 December 2018}}</ref>

Starting in 2019, Trisol began releasing reissues of all the band's material over the previous decade from ''Dream, Tiresias!'' through ''Look Up, I'm Down There''.<ref name="sideline-reissue2019">{{cite web |last1=Van Isacker |first1=Bernard |title=Project Pitchfork continues reissue series with 2 more sets |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-continues-reissue-series-with-2-more-sets/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=4 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="sideline-reissue2020">{{cite web |last1=Van Isacker |first1=Bernard |title=Project Pitchfork reissue 'Black' at the end of July on 2 double vinyl (incl. 2CD) sets |url=https://www.side-line.com/project-pitchfork-reissue-black-at-the-end-of-july-in-2-double-vinyl-incl-2cd-sets/ |website=Side-Line |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=14 May 2020}}</ref>

On 2 March 2021 the band announced that cofounder and keyboardist Dirk Scheuber had left the band.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Chris |date=2021-03-02 |title=Project Pitchfork and Dirk Scheuber part ways |url=https://www.synthpopfanatic.com/news/project-pitchfork-and-dirk-scheuber-part-ways/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Synthpop Fanatic |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024 the band release “Elysium” the third and final act of cosmic electro trilogy that started with “Akkretion”. To support the album release the band will commence a German tour in April 2024 with one date in the UK during May and will play various festivals.

== Members ==
=== Current lineup ===
*Peter Spilles – [[Singing|vocals]] (1989–present)
*Jürgen Jansen – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]s (1996–present)
*Achim Färber – [[Drum kit|live drums]] (1999–present)
*Christian "Leo" Leonhardt - [[Drum kit|live drums]] (1999–present)

=== Former members ===
*Dirk Scheuber – keyboards (1989–2021)<ref name=":0" />
*Patricia Nigiani – [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]], live keyboards (1992–1994)
*Markus Giltjes – live drums (1995)
*Yenz Schrader – drums, [[Electric guitar|guitar]]s (1998)
*Carsten Klatte – live guitars (1999–2011)

===Timeline===
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:850 height:auto barincrement:30
PlotArea = left:80 bottom:100 top:5 right:5
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1989 till:12/31/2022
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1989
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1990
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

Colors =
 id:vocals   value:red        legend:Lead_vocals
 id:backing  value:pink       legend:Backing_vocals
 id:guitar   value:green      legend:Guitars
 id:keyboard value:purple     legend:Keyboards
 id:drums    value:orange     legend:Drums,_percussion
 id:lines    value:black      legend:Studio_album
 id:lines2   value:gray(0.65) legend:Live_album
 id:bars     value:gray(0.92)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =
 color:black layer:back
 at:03/01/1991
 at:02/01/1992
 at:10/01/1992
 at:03/01/1993
 at:02/07/1994
 at:09/01/1995
 at:02/05/1997
 at:10/05/1998
 at:02/26/2001
 at:10/01/2002
 at:05/30/2005
 at:02/27/2009
 at:07/23/2010
 at:08/12/2011
 at:01/25/2013
 at:09/19/2014
 at:10/28/2016
 at:01/26/2018
 at:10/12/2018
 color:lines2 layer:back
 at:03/01/1997
 at:11/03/2003

BarData =
 bar:Spilles  text:"Peter Spilles"
 bar:Scheuber text:"Dirk Scheuber"
 bar:Nigiani  text:"Patricia Nigiani"  
 bar:Giltjes  text:"Markus Giltjes"
 bar:Jansen   text:"Jürgen Jansen"
 bar:Schrader text:"Yenz Schrader"
 bar:Färber   text:"Achim Färber"
 bar:Klatte   text:"Carsten Klatte"

PlotData=
 width:15

 bar:Spilles  from:01/01/1989 till:12/31/2022 color:vocals

 bar:Scheuber from:01/01/1989 till:12/31/2021 color:keyboard

 bar:Jansen   from:01/01/1996 till:12/31/2022 color:keyboard

 bar:Färber   from:01/01/1999 till:12/31/2022 color:drums

 bar:Nigiani  from:01/01/1992 till:12/31/1994 color:backing
 bar:Nigiani  from:01/01/1992 till:12/31/1994 color:keyboard width:3

 bar:Giltjes  from:01/01/1995 till:12/31/1995 color:drums

 bar:Schrader from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/1998 color:drums
 bar:Schrader from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/1998 color:guitar width:3

 bar:Klatte   from:01/01/1999 till:12/31/2011 color:guitar
</timeline>

== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
*''Dhyani'' (1991)
*''Lam-'Bras'' (1992)
*''Entities'' (1992)
*''IO'' (1994) 
*''Alpha Omega'' (1995) 
*''¡Chakra:Red!'' (1997) 
*''[[Eon:Eon]]'' (1998) 
*''[[Daimonion (Project Pitchfork album)|Daimonion]]'' (2001) 
*''Inferno'' (2002) 
*''[[Kaskade (Project Pitchfork album)|Kaskade]]'' (2005)
*''[[Dream, Tiresias!]]'' (2009)
*''Continuum Ride'' (2010)
*''Quantum Mechanics'' (2011)
*''[[Black (Project Pitchfork album)|Black]]'' (2013)
*''[[Blood (Project Pitchfork album)|Blood]]'' (2014)
*''Look Up, I'm Down There'' (2016)
*''Akkretion'' (2018)
*''Fragment'' (2018)
*''Elysium'' (2024)

=== EPs ===
*''Precious New World'' (1991)
*''Psychic Torture'' (1991)
*''Souls/Island'' (1993)
*''Little IO'' (1994)
*''CH'I'' (1995)
*''Corps D'Amour'' (1995)
*''Trialog'' (2002)
*''View From a Throne'' (2002)
*''Wonderland/One Million Faces'' (2007)

=== Live albums ===
*''Live '97'' (1997)
*''Live 2003/2001'' (2003)

=== Singles ===
*"Carrion" (1993)
*"Renascence" (1994)
*"En Garde!" (1996)
*"Carnival" (1998)
*"Steelrose" (1998)
*"I Live Your Dream" (1999)
*"Existence" (2001)
*"Timekiller" (2001) – #19 DAC Top 50 Singles of 2001, Germany<ref name="dac-singles-01">{{cite web |title=DAC Top 50 Singles 2001 |url=http://www.public-propaganda.de/charts/jahrescharts2001/DACSingle.html |website=Trendcharts oHG |publisher=AMC Alster Musik Consulting GmbH |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210031908/http://www.public-propaganda.de/charts/jahrescharts2001/DACSingle.html |archive-date=10 Feb 2002 |date=2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*"Awakening" (2002)
*"Schall Und Rauch/The Future Is Now" (2005)
*"Earth Song" <small>(feat. [[Sara Noxx]])</small> (2008)
*"Feel!" (2009)
*"Beholder" (2010)
*"Lament" (2011)
*"Rain" (2013)

=== Compilation albums ===
* ''The Early Years (89–93)'' (1996)
* ''Collector: Lost and Found'' (2001)
* ''NUN Trilogy'' (2002)
* ''Collector: Fireworks & Colorchange'' (2003)
* ''First Anthology'' (2011)
* ''Second Anthology'' (2016)

== Videography ==
*Va I Luce (1992)
*Entities Tour (1993)
*Glowing Like Io – Live Performance (1994)
*Alpha Omega – Live (1995)
*Live '99 (1999)
*Collector – Adapted for the Screen (2002)
*Live 2003 (2004)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Project Pitchfork}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.project-pitchfork.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=57 |title=Project Pitchfork |website=Project-pitchfork.eu |accessdate=2020-03-24}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist|38e4df82-6079-42f8-91fa-904e0fecf78f}}
* [http://www.project-pitchfork.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=57 Full band's biography in English]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:German electronic music groups]]
[[Category:German rock music groups]]
[[Category:German dark wave musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Hamburg]]
[[Category:Metropolis Records artists]]
[[Category:Trisol Music Group artists]]
[[Category:Off Beat label artists]]