Combichrist – Making Monsters

Releasedate: 27-08-2010; Label: Metropolis / Out of Line
By: Nina Mende

Combichrist was formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua (founder of the band Icon of Coil) as an aggrotech project. Now their fifth studio album “Making Monsters” is released.

Just a year after “Today We Are All Demons” Combichrist are now releasing new material under the name of “Making Monsters”. Twelve new tracks that somehow got on record between the constant touring of the guys are now out for all fans and everybody else to love and enjoy. Even though it is a common phrase about new material, I must say: “Making Monsters” is definitely my favorite album of Combichrist so far! It has the typical aggressive electro sounds like we know it from the older material but it also includes tracks that have more guitar on it and even tracks with a lot of emotions, soft singing and slow (!!!) music. But of course you can find the unique Combichrist sound in each and every single track of “Making Monsters”.

For once the intro is no mailbox talking but more out of a film scene and the music sets in only seconds after. The intro already gives you goose bumps. “Never Surrender” most people probably know already because this song was already being performed live. “Never Surrender” is also the first single of “Making Monsters”. “Follow The Trail Of Blood” as well as “Never Surrender” have the typical aggressive and industrial sound that we know from Combichrist with the singer Andy LaPlegua screaming his soul out. “Throat Full Of Glass” is the first slower song on this album. “Forgotten” reminds of a film soundtrack. “Just Like Me” is completely different from the previous songs. It has more rock elements and the intro is a little kids’ toy singing a church song that every little kid learns in Sunday school. Andy LaPlegua sings much softer on this track, not as heavy as to the industrial sounding songs, yet again there is quite some shouting on this track as well as some industrial samplers in the background. “Slave To The Machine” is one of the most danceable songs on this album. “Through These Eyes Of Pain” is a very slow and emotional song with very soft vocals, quite unusual for Combichrist. This track would be perfect as a duet with a female as B-Side of a single release. “MonsterMurderKill” is another very industrial and machine like song. “They” and “Reclamation” are quite “normal” for Combichrist terms again but not to forget because they are just as great as every other track. “Making Monsters” is an amazing album full of killer tracks. Can’t wait to see them all live. Combichrist will hit Europe again in February 2011. Till then get “Making Monsters”.

Line Up:
Andy LaPlegua – Vocals
Joe Letz – Drums
Z Marr- Keyboard
Trevor Friedrich – Percussion

Tracklist: 01. Declamation 02. Follow The Trail Of Blood (Featuring Brandon Schieppati of Bleeding Through) 03. Never Surrender 04. Throat Full Of Glass 05. Fuckmachine 06. Forgotten 07. Just Like Me 08. Slave To Machine 09. Through These Eyes Of Pain 10. MonsterMurderKill 11. They 12. Reclamation

Links:
Combichrist Official