After releasing two albums with his band Icon Of Coil last year, and releasing an album by his side project Panzer AG, singer Andy LaPlegua doesn't sit idle. This is the result of his second side project, Combichrist. Icon... more » Of Coil's same tedious programming, sequencing, and attention to detail are there, but Andy has taken a different musical approach. Aggressive EBM is grafted to power noise electronics with floor shattering beats, crunchy synths, catchy melodies, and plenty of well-placed samples.« less
After releasing two albums with his band Icon Of Coil last year, and releasing an album by his side project Panzer AG, singer Andy LaPlegua doesn't sit idle. This is the result of his second side project, Combichrist. Icon Of Coil's same tedious programming, sequencing, and attention to detail are there, but Andy has taken a different musical approach. Aggressive EBM is grafted to power noise electronics with floor shattering beats, crunchy synths, catchy melodies, and plenty of well-placed samples.
CD Reviews
This sh*t will f*ck you up.
G. I. Alamo | USA | 04/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"So, you are 1/3 of one of the most respected and imitated groups in the synthpop scene, what do you do?
a. Go on and keep doing what you're doing.
b. Try and kill your previous work by releasing mediocre records.
c. Put out a project that no one can truly comprehend but still refer to it as a force to be reckoned with.
C of course!!!
Andy knows best, that's all I can say after following Combichrist's history. Bringing a band into the scene that's so recognizable and so impressive that blows everyone away. Combichrist's latest work is Everybody Hates You, a groove packed effort that releases all of andy's alter ego thru lyrics.
Songs like "this s%^$ will F*(k you up" and "This is my rifle" show the genius behind a properly composed dance floor hit while songs like "enjoy the abuse" and "happy fu*&in' birthday" are a verbal assault laid on top of fantastic layers of abrasive grooves that bear the sound of Combichrist.
You won't be dissapointed."
Terribly addicted rivethead! Can't Stop!
VoteForTheLeastWorst | Somewhere, US United States | 05/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Stomp bang! Stomp bang! Argh! I love this album! It is completely addicting. It definitely has a large vibrating pulse to it with excellent well-crafted arrangements. I wouldn't call it "dancey" nor would I call it straight EBM. However it pulls from a lot of different electronik genres and is just hard, intense, abbrasive, yet very listenable. It's not just pure noize or anger either. It's really hard to describe in my opinion. But you can definitely stomp to it that's for sure. The first song is amazing! Who's your daddy Snakegirl? is also very good. I love the samples and all the computer voices on this album. It is rather conceptual imho. And if you don't like This is My Rifle, you don't have a pulse! When you listen to Enjoy the Abuse you'll know it because you'll be looking over your shoulder expecting Andy to start slapping you with a ruler as a terrorizing wall of sound hits you! HAHA! Enjoy the abuse and enjoy this album!"
Catchy as hell
Jennifer Counts | Houston, TX United States | 10/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"errr... well, more like 4 1/2 stars. I had heard of Combichrist before, but my first true introduction was seeing them play live last week, opening for the Genitorturers at a club here in Houston. I was so taken with the rhythms and the show in general that I marched my butt straight over to the merchandise booth and bought this CD (I also got Andy to sign it while he was hanging out by the booth after the show.. woohoo). Since that night last week, this disc has hardly left my CD player. It's freakin' addictive. Granted, the lyrics can be repetitive, but somehow I don't care. I love most of this CD, though there are a couple tracks in the middle that just don't keep my attention. The half-star deduction was because the middle of the album, I think, isn't as strong, and only half because the good songs are good enough to mostly make up for it. Favorite tracks: "Blut Royale", "Enjoy the Abuse", "I Woke To the Rain of Blood"."
My first Combichrist cd
E. Anderson | 07/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a big fan of Icon of Coil, I try to make an effort to check out Andy LePlegua's side projects. I have to admit I am not big on Panzer Ag. The music didn't really stood out with me but it did not stop me from checking out Combichrist. I recently bought the latest Combichrist cd "Everybody Hates You". I have to say that I enjoyed this much more than Panzer Ag's first cd. The cd starts off with the thunderous "This s*it Will Fcuk You Up". The fast paced beats were in your face and aggressive. The momentum continues with "Enjoy the Abuse". Combichrist is definitely more aggressive musically than Icon of Coil but they still maintain that same melodic sensibility. You can certainly hear it in "Today I Woke to the Rain of Blood". The lyrics are a lot darker than IoC's and Andy's vocals not so polished. Andy takes on a more aggressive approach when he sings. The momentum in the songs never dies down. The energy rages on through out the cd. After listening to "Everybody Hates You", I am excited I will be seeing the band live this fall when they hit the road with KMFDM."
Everybody loves combichrist
Turiel | DC, KS | 05/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this act alot, it stands out from quite a bit of the "cookie-cutter" EBM thats out there today. Its loud, noisy and fun. For those rivets out there looking to get their non rivet friends into industrial/ebm this is a great cd to recommend. I tend to find that my normal rock friends catch onto this cd right away. I think what is great about it is you can dance to it, or just bang your head.
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1