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Combichrist

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Combichrist
Andy LaPlegua of Combichrist performing in 2007
Andy LaPlegua of Combichrist performing in 2007
Background information
OriginNorway
GenresAggrotech, EBM, industrial music[1][2][3][4]
Years active2003–present
LabelsMetropolis Records (North America)
Out of Line (Europe)
MembersAndy LaPlegua - Vocals
Joe Letz - Drums
Z Marr- Electronics
Trevor Friedrich - Percussion
Abbey Nex - Guitar
Past membersWes Borland -guitar
Jon Horton - percussion
Shaun F - keyboard
Kourtney Klein - Percussion
Mr. Bjoern Petersen - programming/guitar (later keyboard)
Syn M - keyboard

Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech and EBM band formed in 2003 by Andy LaPlegua, who also founded the bands Icon of Coil, Panzer AG, Scandinavian Cock, and Scandy. Combichrist is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The band consist of only Andy in the studio with Joe Letz, Z_Marr, Trevor Friedrich, and a revolving guitarist spot currently filled in by Abbey Nex for live performances. Releases by the band have been very successful in terms of sales and charted in top positions for dance and alternative charts worldwide, a few releases have even sold out completely. The lyrical content of Combichrist typically varies from themes of misogyny, murder and suicide to BDSM and paramilitary themes, with some sampling of movies, phone calls, or interviews done throughout most songs.

History

Formation

The first material LaPlegua wrote for the project was a powernoise/techno crossover track Thanx to my Buddies under the moniker D.r.i.v.E for the Advanced Electronics Vol. 2 compilation[5]. The song was later remade into Like to Thank My Buddies on Combichrist's album Everybody Hates You. The project's name was later changed to Hudlager and then finally to Combichrist before the debut album The Joy of Gunz was released on the German record label Out of Line.[6] The band name came from a fanzine of Andy's in the 1990s, with Combichrist being a character in it that was a "punk-rock messiah." The character would go on drug and alcohol fueled rampages, later healing those whom he had beaten.[7]

A few years after the band's conception, LaPlegua departed Norway for the United States, which is now the current home-base for Combichrist and his other projects Scandy, Panzer AG, and Scandinavian Cock.[8]

Success

Combichrist performing in 2008

Combichrist's first LP The Joy of Gunz was released in 2003. On Halloween of the same year, the limited edition EP Kiss The Blade was released with 667 pressings which sold out in less than a week.[9]

In 2004, the second EP, Sex, Drogen Und Industrial, spent several weeks at number one in the DAC charts. At the same time that Sex, Drogen Und Industrial was released, a limited edition of 666 white-vinyl 12" pressings for Blut Royale were produced, and sold out quickly.[9]

The year 2005 saw the release of Everybody Hates You and it was at this time that Andy began labeling the music as "Techno Body Music" or TBM.[10] The band released a song called "This is TBM" on the Out-of-Line compilation Techno Body Music volume 1.[11] After this release, Andy stopped referring to their music as TBM.

Their 2006 single "Get Your Body Beat" was released to commercial success debuting in the number 14 slot for Billboard's Dance Singles on the date 06/06/06.[12] The music video for the single was included on the DVD release of the biopunk film The Gene Generation with the song also being used in the movie.[13] The band embarked on a North American tour with KMFDM soon after the release of the single.[9]

On March 6 2007 What the Fuck is Wrong With You People? was released to some critical praise and popularity.[14][15]

Pull Out Kings producer and songwriter Z Marr joined the band as keyboardist in January 2008 to begin work on the album Today We Are All Demons.[16] According to a private exchange with Trevor Friedrich of Imperative Reaction, he was asked to join the band as a drummer with Joe Letz (of Eighteen Visions and Wednesday 13) in October 2008.

Combichrist released Today We Are All Demons on Jan 20, 2009. For part the European tour that year, Trevor was temporarily replaced by Mark Jackson of VNV Nation.[17] Combichrist's song "Shut Up and Bleed" featuring W.A.S.T.E was put on the soundtrack for the horror movie The Collector.[18] Their song "Today We Are All Demons" (Beneath the World Mix) was put on the soundtrack for the movie Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. [19]

Limp Bizkit's guitarist Wes Borland joined Combichrist briefly in October 2009 for their tour of North America and in the studio for recording of new material on Making Monsters.[20]

Combichrist's latest album, Making Monsters, was released digitally on 31 August 2010 and on CD on 28 September 2010.[21] Combichrist began a tour in support of the new album in late 2010, with Aesthetic Perfection and iVardensphere as the support bands.[22][23] In 2011, after opening for Rammstein at Madison Square Garden in December 2010, both bands announced Combichrist would be supporting Rammstein on their North American tour and Andy announced the "Monsters on Tour Part II" taking place around the scheduled Rammstein shows. The "Monsters on Tour Part II" had the same support as the 2010 tour but with the additions of Angel Spit and God Module performing with them on select dates.[24]

Combichrist's song Never Surrender was featured in a gameplay demo for the upcoming hack-n-slash style video game DmC Devil May Cry with Andy LaPlegua working on the soundtrack for the whole game.[25] A new song called Bottle of Pain was released in January 2012 for the Underworld: Awakening movie soundtrack. [26]

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Combichrist discography.
Year Album
2003 The Joy of Gunz
2005 Everybody Hates You
2007 What the Fuck is Wrong With You People?
2009 Today We Are All Demons
2010 Making Monsters

References

  1. ^ "Combichrist -Everybody Hates You (Metropolis)". Raves.com. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  2. ^ "Music Exile - CD Reviews". Wrappedinwire.com. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  3. ^ "Combichrist - AlterNation". Alternation.eu. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  4. ^ "Serving Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana". Tiger Weekly. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  5. ^ "D.r.i.v.E song". Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Name Change". Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Origin of the Combichrist Name". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Confirmation of location". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "Combichrist band history from Metropolis Records". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Andy talks Combichrist and the changing soundscape". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  11. ^ "TBM Compilation". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  12. ^ Combichrist Debuts at #14. Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Combichrist and VNV nation work on Gene Generation". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  14. ^ "What the fuck is wrong with you people? review". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Another album review". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Z Marr's personal page". Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  17. ^ "Mark Jackson fills in for Trevor". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  18. ^ "Movie Soundtrack". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  19. ^ "Combichrist on Undreworld 3 soundtrack". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Combichrist -Limp Bizkit guitarist joins Combichrist". Kerrang.com. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
  21. ^ "New Combichrist Album". Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  22. ^ Combichrist Announce 'Monsters On Tour'
  23. ^ Combichrist announce next U.S. tour
  24. ^ "Combichrist to support Rammstein at Madison Square Guarden".
  25. ^ "Andy LaPlegua talks about the crossover appeal of Combichrist".
  26. ^ "Underworld 4 soundtrack". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
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