Combichrist

Biography

Combichrist is an American aggrotech / industrial metal band formed in 2003 by Norwegian vocalist Andy LaPlegua, who also founded the bands Icon of Coil, Panzer AG, Scandinavian Cock and Scandy. Combichrist was formed in Atlanta, Georgia. The band consists of only LaPlegua in the studio, with a changing lineup of live performing members. Releases by the band have been very successful in terms of sales and charted in top positions for dance and alternative charts worldwide.

Formation and early years

The first material that LaPlegua wrote for the project was a power noise/techno crossover track Thanx to my Buddies under the moniker D.r.i.v.E for the Advanced Electronics Vol. 2 compilation. The song was later remade into Like to Thank My Buddies on Combichrist's album Everybody Hates You×Everybody Hates You21 February 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1This Shit Will Fcuk You Up4:462Enjoy the Abuse5:143Today I Woke to the Rain of Blood5:464I’m Happy Anyway5:115Blut Royale5:346Who’s Your Daddy, Snakegirl?6:237Feed Your Anger4:508God Bless4:289Happy Fcuking Birthday4:4810This Is My Rifle4:5811Like to Thank My Buddies6:1912Lying Sack of Shit5:0213Without Emotions4:41. The project's name was later changed to Hudlager and then finally to Combichrist before the debut album The Joy of Gunz×The Joy of Gunz1 September 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Intruder Alert3:422Joy to the World4:183You Will Be the Bitch Now3:254Winteryear3:375Play Dead4:076Turmoil2:547Master Control3:458Vater Unser4:279The Line to the Dead4:5710Bulletfuck3:3311Human Error2:5012God Wrapped in Plastic3:5613History of Madness4:5014Shrunken Heads for All Occasions7:0615This Is the Joy of Gunz4:08 was released on the German record label Out of Line.
The band name came from a fanzine of LaPlegua'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. 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.

The Joy of Gunz (2003–2005)

Combichrist's first LP The Joy of Gunz×The Joy of Gunz1 September 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Intruder Alert3:422Joy to the World4:183You Will Be the Bitch Now3:254Winteryear3:375Play Dead4:076Turmoil2:547Master Control3:458Vater Unser4:279The Line to the Dead4:5710Bulletfuck3:3311Human Error2:5012God Wrapped in Plastic3:5613History of Madness4:5014Shrunken Heads for All Occasions7:0615This Is the Joy of Gunz4:08 was released in 2003. Sporting a fresh, original and aggressive new sound the brainchild of LaPlegua took the crowds by storm. On Halloween of the same year, the limited edition EP Kiss The Blade×Kiss the Blade30 October 2003 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Kiss the Blade (Motherfucker 667 mix)3:502Kiss the Blade (Frequensy Cabrone 667 mix)3:413Minus One3:154The Well6:115Penalty Shot4:23 was released with 667 pressings which sold out in less than a week. In 2004, the second EP, Sex, Drogen Und Industrial×Sex, Drogen und Industrial25 October 2004 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Blut Royale (Instru-Mental version)5:322Tractor5:043Anatomy5:064Sex, Drogen und Industri (LowTech mix)5:215Sex, Drogen und Industri (remixed by Soman)5:036Sex, Drogen und Industri (Unknown mix)4:527Vater Unser (Combicritters 2004 mix)4:488Like to Thank My Buddies (live INFEST 2004)6:19, 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.

Everybody Hates You (2005–2006)

The year 2005 saw the release of Everybody Hates You and it was at this time that LaPlegua began labeling the music as "Techno Body Music" or TBM. The band released a song called "This Is TBM" on the Masterhit Recordings compilation This Is... Techno Body Music Vol. 1. They played this song live during their 2005 shows, adding vocals to it. No vocal version of the instrumental track was ever released, and the lyrics were instead later reworked for the track "Electrohead". After this release, LaPlegua stopped referring to their music as TBM. Shortly after the release of the album, Army On The Dance Floor producer Kourtney Klein was added as alternating keyboardist and drummer to the band. The full-length album featured two tracks that became club classics "This Shit Will Fuck You Up" and "This Is My Rifle×This Is My Rifle2005 · Album · Compilation,RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1This Is My Rifle (Autoclav 1.1 remix)4:552This Is My Rifle (Bang Youre Dead remix by EGR)6:263This Is My Rifle (Dance Until You Die remix by Neuroatt)4:444This Is My Rifle (Exit Wound mix by Fatal Rupture)4:335This Is My Rifle (Hells Apocalypse remix by Elektrosnip)5:306This Is My Rifle (Lasergun 2.0 remix by T3chn0ph0b1a)5:567This Is My Rifle (remix by Adipocre)3:138This Is My Rifle (remix by Dioxin)5:309This Is My Rifle (remix by Flesh Eating Foundation)5:1910This Is My Rifle (remix by DJ Kriegschrei)5:3411This Is My Rifle (remix by Skylight Glare)5:2912This Is My Rifle (remix by UCNX)3:3613This Is My Rifle (remix by Xlivid)4:4714This Is My Rifle (Spoils of War mix by Kandelectra)5:1715This Is My Rifle (WW mix by Heresian)4:3616This Is My Rifle (remix HR Funk'n Stuff V1.1)4:0517This Is My Rifle (Cervello Elettronico remix)6:1818This Is My Rifle (remix by Head Crash)3:1419This Is My Rifle (version 2 remix by DJ Antimatter)6:10" and it was also the project's U.S. debut on Metropolis Records. Further benchmarks were set with the release of the 2006 EP "Get Your Body Beat×Get Your Body Beat2 June 2006 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Get Your Body Beat (album version)4:362Products (Life Composer version)5:133What the Fcuk.5:534Get Your Body Beat (Käpt’n K mix by Sascha Konietzko/KMFDM)4:125Get Your Body Beat (Rotten Blood remix by Amduscia)4:476Get Your Body Beat (remixed by Spetsnaz)3:327Get Your Body Beat (Shooting Up remix by Point45)4:558Get Your Body Beat (Tortured remix by Manufactura)5:319Get Your Body Beat (remixed by Sergio Mesa)7:0310DNA AM7:11" the title track of which landed Combichrist its first appearance on Billboard's Top 10 Dance Singles chart. 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. The band embarked on a North American tour with KMFDM soon after the release of the single.

What the Fuck Is Wrong with You People? (2007–2009)

On March 6, 2007, What the Fuck Is Wrong with You People? was released to some critical praise and popularity. The album featured 2006's break out single "Get Your Body Beat×Get Your Body Beat2 June 2006 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Get Your Body Beat (album version)4:362Products (Life Composer version)5:133What the Fcuk.5:534Get Your Body Beat (Käpt’n K mix by Sascha Konietzko/KMFDM)4:125Get Your Body Beat (Rotten Blood remix by Amduscia)4:476Get Your Body Beat (remixed by Spetsnaz)3:327Get Your Body Beat (Shooting Up remix by Point45)4:558Get Your Body Beat (Tortured remix by Manufactura)5:319Get Your Body Beat (remixed by Sergio Mesa)7:0310DNA AM7:11", it had an explosive barrage of corrosive beats, leering vocals, and acidic melodies. WTFIWWYP? was a high energy, adrenaline charged piece of sonic battery. Combichrist played on the Gothic Cruise in 2008, and released a limited CDr EP only available to ticket-holders. Limited to 200 copies, it contains seven tracks, of which six are exclusive.

Today We Are All Demons (2009–2010)

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×Today We Are All Demons16 January 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1No Afterparty0:422All Pain Is Gone4:573Kickstart the Fight5:024I Want Your Blood5:135Can’t Change the Beat4:266Sent to Destroy (edit)4:377Spit (Happy Pig Whore Mom)4:278New Form of Silence3:519Scarred4:2610The Kill V25:1911Get Out of My Head4:2612Today We Are All Demons5:0213At the End of It All / [unknown]26:06. According to an exchange with a fan, Trevor Friedrich of Imperative Reaction and formerly of Eighteen Visions, he was asked to join the band as a drummer with Joe Letz (of Wednesday 13) in October 2008. He replaced keyboardist Kourtney Klein, who began full-time work with Nitzer Ebb.
Combichrist released Today We Are All Demons on January 20, 2009. Combichrist immediately went on a highly successful North American tour with Black Light Burns (featuring Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit) and an extensive European tour with Rammstein. For part the European tour that year, Trevor was temporarily replaced by Mark Jackson of VNV Nation. Combichrist's song "Shut Up and Bleed" featuring W.A.S.T.E was put on the soundtrack for the horror movie The Collector. Their song "Today We Are All Demons" (Beneath the World Mix) was put on the soundtrack for the movie Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.

Making Monsters (2010–2014)

Combichrist's album, Making Monsters×Making Monsters27 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Declamation1:552Follow the Trail of Blood5:333Never Surrender4:484Throat Full of Glass4:485Fuckmachine5:156Forgotten4:077Just Like Me5:088Slave to Machine4:269Through These Eyes of Pain4:1210Monster:Murder:Kill5:4911They6:2012Reclamation4:31, was released digitally on August 31, 2010, and on CD on September 28, 2010. Combichrist began a tour in support of the new album in late 2010, with Aesthetic Perfection and iVardensphere as the support bands. 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 LaPlegua 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.
Combichrist's music was prominently featured in the hack-n-slash style video game DmC Devil May Cry. Their track "Never Surrender×Never Surrender6 August 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Never Surrender (album version)4:502Never Surrender (IAMX rework)5:063Never Surrender (remix by Melt)4:474Never Surrender (Terence Fixmer remix)5:12" was featured in a gameplay demo, and Throat Full of Glass is played during the opening sequence. LaPlegua was heavily involved in the game's soundtrack.
A new song called Bottle of Pain was released in January 2012 for the Underworld: Awakening movie soundtrack.

We Love You (2014–2016)

In October 2013, LaPlegua announced on Facebook that there would be a new album on the way in 2014. On December 10, 2013, Combichrist announced the title of their 7th studio album, We Love You×We Love You21 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1We Were Made to Love You3:502Every Day Is War3:573Can’t Control4:114Satans Propaganda2:415Maggots at the Party4:136Denial3:507The Evil in Me4:038Fuck Unicorns3:069Love Is a Razorblade3:2010From My Cold Dead Hands4:1811We Rule the World, Motherfuckers4:5412Retreat Hell, Part 14:3813Retreat Hell, Part 28:49, with a March 2014 release date. The We Love You promo tour, included acts from William Control and New Years Day. Two singles were released from this album, "From My Cold Dead Hands×From My Cold Dead Hands28 February 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1From My Cold Dead Hands (album version)4:192From My Cold Dead Hands (Deathelectro remix by Ryle)4:523From My Cold Dead Hands (remixed by Nitro/Noise)3:434From My Cold Dead Hands (Darksiderz Hardstyle remix)3:205From My Cold Dead Hands (Monikkr vs. Matlin NYC club remix)5:126From My Cold Dead Hands (Gavin Reign remix)4:437From My Cold Dead Hands (remix by Ginger Fish feat. Disco Death Rock)3:458You Amount to None4:51" and "Maggots at the Party". The video for Maggots at the Party has been nominated by Berlin Music Video Awards for 2015 Most Trashy Video.

This Is Where Death Begins (2016)

This Is Where Death Begins is the eighth studio album. It was released on June 3, 2016. The album sees the band moving further away from their original electronic sound towards rock and metal.

Make Europe Great Again (M.E.G.A) Tour and This Is Where Death Begins (2016)

In February 2016, it was announced that the new album (as yet untitled, but often hashtagged #ThisIsWhereITBegins on Instagram posts about it) will be released in May. LaPlegua and the band's official Instagram pages posted snippets, clips, and hinted at guest artists – possibly some of Coal Chamber and Filter, and the female singer of MXMS. A full European tour is planned for June and July, with Nick Rossi (ex-New Years Day) joining the live line-up as a second drummer/percussionist. Meanwhile, the band's first show of the year – the Out Of Line Festival in Berlin – saw them perform without long-time keyboardist Z. Marr, who has left the band to pursue other interests (in June 2016 it was revealed he has joined <PIG>.) He was replaced by Elliott Berlin, of Aesthetic Perfection and Telemark, who has previously played keys for an "Old-School" Combichrist show and toured extensively as their show tech. Nick Rossi will be playing live keys on the forthcoming tour, in addition to his drumming duties – much as Shaun Frandsen did on the 2012 Evolution Tour.
On April 9, LaPlegua played a solo show at Complex, in Glendale, CA, which was a rare outing of the early instrumental incarnation of the band. The set list included tracks like Brain Bypass, Adult Content, Without Emotions, God Bless, Bulletfuck, Spit, God Wrapped In Plastic, The Kill (Instru-mental Version from "The Frost EP"), God Warrior, and other rarely or never played techno/noise tracks.
Of the evening, LaPlegua said: "It was a rarity show, and I played the show exactly like I did back in the days when it was just me. No point playing obvious songs, when I can do those songs on any given show. I was happy to play all those songs I can never do with the full band, and I could have done a million more. Thanks to everyone coming out last night. I had a blast doing an old school set like this. For those who missed it; I will never do it again, so you missed out. To those who were there, thanks for sharing this night with me."
On April 18, it was announced that the new album will be called This Is Where Death Begins×This Is Where Death Begins3 June 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 51 tracks · 4 discsDisc 11We Are the Plague4:162My Life My Rules4:203Glitchteeth2:584Exit Eternity4:485Skullcrusher3:526Time Again4:307Destroy Everything3:578Tired of Hating You3:549Don't Care How You Feel About It5:3510Blackened Heart3:5311Pay to Play3:3512Slakt3:1613Black Tar Dove, Pt. 11:2114Black Tar Dove, Pt. 24:0815Homeward4:57Disc 21Brain Bypass5:012Adult Content5:083Winteryear3:414Without Emotions4:385Line to the Dead4:486History of Madness4:497The Kill5:088Spit4:329Vater Unser4:2610Turmoil2:4911Industrial Strength4:5412Convenient Silence5:1913Strike5:3114Bullet Fuck4:1815God Warrior4:5016God Bless4:30Disc 31Just Like Me3:562No Redemption2:403Zombie Fistfight1:574Can’t Control4:285Maggots at the Party4:356Retreat Hell, Pt. 14:577Never Surrender5:088Blut Royale5:209What the F**k Is Wrong With You?4:5010Love Is a Razorblade4:25Disc 41Just Like Me3:472No Redemption2:323Zombie Fistfight1:574Can’t Control4:145Maggots at the Party4:256Retreat Hell, Pt. 14:457Never Surrender4:558Blut Royale5:129What the Fuck Is Wrong With You?4:3710Love Is a Razorblade4:11 with a release date of June 3, 2016. Available on double vinyl and CD, a two-CD version includes a live recording of the Complex, LA, show. A three-CD and DVD version includes audio and video from the Summer Breeze Festival in 2015, making this the band's first official live release.

One Fire (2019)

Following the 2017 release of standalone track "Broken : United×Broken : United22 September 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Broken : United4:09", a new album called One Fire×One Fire6 June 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Last Days Under the Sun (Fear Of Domination Remix)3:482One Fire (Rave The Reqviem Remix)3:213Guns at Last Dawn (Judgement Is Freedom Remix by Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory)3:254Last Days Under the Sun (Gigantor Remix)4:375Understand (Solar Fake Remix)6:186Hate Like Me (GrooVenoM Remix)4:047One Fire (Flynt Flossy Remix)2:448Last Days Under the Sun (Gigantor Dub Remix)4:39 was scheduled for a Spring release, delayed from Fall 2018, followed by a US tour in March/April and European shows (some festival, some headline) in June, July, August. Joe Letz announced his departure on January 17, after 13 years as main drummer, ahead of official album/tour announcements and in line with his new sober lifestyle. LaPlegua posted a farewell statement, confirming that "Joe's departure has nothing to do with the band itself. It is about recovery, a different life and spending more time with his family." LaPlegua added that he/Combichrist has "new management, new booking agency, Nick Rossi and Eric 13 working hard with me, Elliot Berlin on keyboards and a new second drummer Will Spodnick."

Podcast, side projects, and CMBCRST (2020–2025)

LaPlegua set up a Combichrist Patreon, where he posted some exclusive unreleased Scandy tracks and "Sec Four" which was used in DMC game trailers but never released. During 2020, he continued working on new Combichrist material for a 2022 album - beginning with the single "Not My Enemy" released early 2021 - and confirmed that Elliott Berlin has rejoined the band as a recording and touring member. In addition, the first official solo album will be released under the name LaPlegua - containing some songs that were originally destined for a third Panzer AG album. First single, "I Will Heal" was released online in February 2021, with the post-punk/goth rock album pencilled for a summer release. New material from Icon Of Coil is also in the works, as is a new project of Viking techno which will come out under the name HDLGIR. Meanwhile, the podcast "Oh Weird! It's Combichrist and Co!" began recording in early 2021, featuring LaPlegua and his sound/lights crew, Greg Gory and Chris Norris, often with special guests. The band hope to resume touring in late summer (Europe) and autumn/fall (USA) 2021, however guitarist Eric13 would be sitting it out with Jamie Cronander filling in for him. On September 15, 2021, the new single "Compliance" was released, accompanied by a lyric video. On May 13, 2022, another new single "Modern Demon" was released.
On May 17, 2024, the band released a full-length album called CMBCRST×CMBCRST17 May 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Children of Violence4:222D for Demonic5:483Heads Off4:334Only Death Is Immortal5:115Compliance5:076Northern Path4:437Through the Ravens Eyes4:398Wolves Eating Wolves5:009Not My Enemy4:4110Modern Demon4:4811Planet Doom5:1012Sonic Witch5:0613Violence Solves Everything Pt. I0:5114Violence Solves Everything Pt. II (The End of a Dream)4:23Disc 21At the Gate2:422Hallway3:113To Cast a Shadow4:104Into the Morgue3:535The Body3:546Fear the Dark4:487Fear the Light4:488Another Wave3:199Sunrise2:24. They toured this album extensively, throughout Europe, USA and Australia during 2024 and 2025. In addition, Andy returned to the "Old-School Electro" shows, playing short runs or standalone dates, often with Elliott Berlin on keys. The limited box version of CMBCRST includes the bonus disc "Old School Show Live In Glasgow", which was recorded there on 30th April 2023.

Lineup changes and The Venom In The Mouth Of God (2025/26)

On June 5, 2025, they released a new single called Desolation. On July 8, 2025, Dane White announced his amicable departure from the band after six years. His final appearance is in the music video for the "Rise" single, released on 28th August. On November 25, 2025 the band released their third new single "Feraline×Feraline20 November 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Feraline5:122RISE4:153Desolation5:03". Andy has repeatedly stated in interviews that the new album will reflect the Old-School Electro Shows he has been playing. He intends to release six singles in total, with the album out in 2027. On April 23, 2026, the fourth single "Demons Wanna Be Summoned×Demons Wanna Be Summoned23 April 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Demons Wanna Be Summoned4:21," featuring King 810, was released. On May 2, 2026, the band's label Out Of Line announced that their next album, The Venom In The Mouth Of God×The Venom in the Mouth of God24 July 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1ODR4:462Desolation5:033The Future Is a Memory4:234Born Deströyer4:295Feraline5:116RISE4:157Venom6:298S.T.F.U.3:579Each Scar a Vision4:3810Only Here for a Good Time4:1711The Way We Want to Be Seen4:4812Demons Wanna Be Summoned4:2113Second Ending (We Have Been Here Before)6:54 would be released on July 24, 2026, with pre-orders going live the same day.
Tim Van Horn returned to drum for a festival in Mexico (which Eric13 missed due to working on his And The Pinheads project), and for the European festivals in August 2026 Mikko played drums - having previously played keys for the farewell Panzer AG festival shows earlier in the year. The new album tour cycle will begin in North America in September, with a drummer still to be announced.

Band members

Combichrist was originally just LaPlegua onstage, followed by LaPlegua plus one other 2003–2006. There was no set or regular lineup until Joe Letz joined on drums, when it changed and expanded to also include Shaun F and Jon Horton. Combichrist has existed and played as a solo act, a duo, a trio, a quartet, a quintet, and on occasion has played shows with six members. The Past Members include full and touring members of the band, while the Guest Members includes special appearances for one or two shows only. Elliott Berlin, for example, guested on keys for an old-school show (Glasgow) and on keys with the full band when Z_Marr quit (Berlin), before becoming a full touring member in 2018.