The Metroschifter began in 1994 when Scott Ritcher (Sunspring), Pat McClimans (Falling Forward) and Mario Rubalcaba (Clikatat Ikatowi) met up in Louisville, Kentucky. The band introduced a unique mix of overdriven, melodic indie rock and complex hardcore on their debut album The Metroschifter Capsule.

Chris Reinstatler (Transcend) took over drumming duties in 1996 and the band went on to release four albums with Doghouse Records and to tour extensively, playing hundreds of concerts on five US tours and six trips to Europe.

The band released Metroschifter Encapsulated in 2000, a unique record on which a cast of other bands were recruited to record previously unreleased Metroschifter songs. The result was an album of new Metroschifter songs performed by the likes of Elliott, The Get Up Kids, Ink & Dagger, The Promise Ring, Refused, Burning Airlines, Rye Coalition and more.

Metroschifter launched its own label, I Can’t Believe It’s A Record Company, in 1998, and the band members have collaborated on other projects as well.

Chris Reinstatler performed in Jon Ashley's The Shooting Gallery and Brett Ralph’s Kentucky Chrome Revue. Pat McClimans has recorded solo, with the Pat McClimans Group and with Lafayette, Indiana’s Root Hog. In addition to recording and touring as a solo artist, Scott Ritcher has recorded with Best Actress and Stockholm’s Jazzbrunch.

The Metroschifter had another European tour booked for December 2021 but it was canceled due to COVID safety concerns.