The Internet has meant a great deal to England's drum-n-bass meets metal purveyors Pitchshifter who have used it as a direct link to its fans, a pipeline to potential collaborators, and now as a path to a higher spiritual standing… or at least a fuller résumé.

"Myself and Johnny (Carter) the guitarist got ordained on the Internet the other night," frontman J.S. Clayden told MTV News when the band visited New York recently. "It's the Universal Church of Life, which is actually recognized in some states. You can get ordained over the Internet, so I'm a minister now... The Reverend J.S. Clayden, thank you very much." [28.8 RealVideo]

Talking about the duties that he is now allowed to undertake as a man of the cloth, Clayden said, "I was hoping to do divorces, but you can only marry, bury, and baptize people. I think I'll marry drunk people who later have to seek divorce."

Clayden's stop at the Universal Church of Life is certainly not the work of a novice surfer. The band's affinity for the Net is perhaps best evidenced by the title of the group's last album, www.pitchshifter.com , which also serves as URL of the band's official website. There, fans will find news, tour dates, merchandise, and a tour diary in which Clayden chronicles life on the road.

The band also offers downloadable audio samples free for the taking on the site, and encourages fans to with them what they like.

If you'd like to hear what Pitchshifter did with them in the first place, you can catch the band with the Deftones and Quicksand on the following dates:

  • 11/20 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Convention Hall
  • 11/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
  • 11/22 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
  • 11/23 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
  • 11/24 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis