Zeromancer

Biography

Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust (vocals), Kim Ljung (bass guitar/backup vocals), Noralf Ronthi (drums), Lorry Kristiansen (programming) and Per-Olav Wiik (lead guitar). They have released seven studio albums; the latest, Orchestra of Knives×Orchestra of Knives24 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Testimonial4:352Damned Le Monde4:013Transparency4:164Mourners4:265Birthday2:446Terminal Love4:067Worth Less Than Deutsche Marks to Me4:248Orchestra of Knives4:469Stand on Ceremony4:4710San Zero3:12, was released in 2021.

Formation and Clone Your Lover (1999–2000)

The core of Zeromancer met in the influential Norwegian band Seigmen. During the 1990s, Seigmen dominated the Norwegian rock scene and also made a name for themselves internationally, playing concerts abroad. When Seigmen split in January 2000, Kim Ljung (bass guitar/backup vocals) and Erik Ljunggren (programming) went to Los Angeles and got an idea for a new band called Zeromancer. Two more members of Seigmen joined them in Los Angeles: Alex Møklebust (vocals) and Noralf Ronthi (drums). James Saes recorded the first demos with the band and stood in as their guitar player. A little later, the band was complete, when they joined with Chris Schleyer (guitar), formerly of Kidneythieves and Prick which was released under Trent Reznor's label Nothing Records.
On 13 March 2000, Zeromancer released their first album, Clone Your Lover×Clone Your Lover13 March 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Clone Your Lover3:502Flirt (With Me)4:003Something for the Pain3:334Split Seconds3:165Fade to Black3:566God Bless the Models4:107Opelwerk3:288Flagellation3:539Die of a Broken Heart3:2510Houses of Cards3:57. The title track was a minor hit at many clubs and venues. The album also won Zeromancer the award for the best newcomer of 2000 at the German Alternative Music Awards. A music video was created for the song "Clone Your Lover".

Eurotrash and US tour (2001–2003)

In 2001, Zeromancer released the album Eurotrash×Eurotrash1 October 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Doctor Online3:182Eurotrash4:083Need You Like a Drug3:314Chrome Bitch4:195Wannabe3:506Neo Geisha4:327Cupola6:008Send Me an Angel3:589Plasmatic5:2310Raising Hell4:5611Philharmonic4:5912Germany8:17, which featured a cover version of the song "Send Me an Angel" by Australian band Real Life, the original having been a major hit in 1983. A music video was created for the song "Dr. Online".
In spring 2003, coinciding with the US reissue of Clone Your Lover, the band toured in the United States with the early 1990s bands Pigface and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. This tour did much to increase Zeromancer's fanbase in the United States. The tour also let Zeromancer take a break from recording their third studio album, working on it after the tour was over.

Zzyzx, Chris Schleyer departure and hiatus (2003–2006)

In autumn 2003, Zeromancer released their third album, Zzyzx×ZZYZX1 September 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Teenage Recoil4:382Hollywood4:343Famous Last Words4:334Erotic Saints3:465Idiot Music4:366Stop the Noise4:117Feed You With a Kiss3:488Lamp Halo4:059Mosquito Coil4:3410Blood Music4:21. The songs on the album were a lot calmer than the first two albums, which fans had not expected. The name comes from a street sign that the band saw while touring in the United States. In San Bernardino County, California, there is a place named Zzyzx Springs, which was named to ensure that it would be last in the index of all US place names. A music video was created for the song "Erotic Saints×Erotic Saints2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Erotic Saints".
Following the release, Chris Schleyer left the band and joined A Perfect Circle as a rehearsal guitarist. In 2007, he created his new band Affected and worked with Nine Inch Nails on their tour.
The band went on hiatus for three years. During this time, Kim Ljung created his solo project, Ljungblut, and recorded a double-CD with Dan Heide. Alex Møklebust did some producing for a few Norwegian bands (such as Gåte and Don Juan Dracula) and Erik Ljunggren has lent his programming skills to a number of other artists (Satyricon, Undergod) and began to study at a film school in Lillehammer. Seigmen also reunited for some concerts and recorded a live CD and DVD.

Sinners International, The Death of Romance and current events (2006–present)

Zeromancer returned in fall 2006 and began touring again. An early ten-track demo from the oval room was recorded. They released a single titled "Doppelgänger I Love You×Doppelgänger I Love You1 May 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Doppelgänger I Love You4:17". It was played in Europe, peaking at number 4 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts[1]. There was also a music video created for the song. It has since been leaked to the internet. The song is from an upcoming Zeromancer album called Sinners International×Sinners International13 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Sinners International5:022Doppelgänger I Love You4:023My Little Tragedy4:044It Sounds Like Love (But It Looks Like Sex)3:235Filth Noir4:166Fictional4:037I'm Yours to Lose3:188Two Skulls4:109Imaginary Friends4:0010Ammonite6:02. On 22 October 2007, Zeromancer released their second single, titled "I'm Yours to Lose×I'm Yours to LoseOctober 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I'm Yours to Lose3:212Doppelgänger I Love You (I Hate You remix by Snifferdogs)5:32", from their upcoming album; it was released on a CD single which includes a remix of "Doppelgänger I Love You".

In an interview with heavy-metal.de with Kim Ljung on 22 August 2007, Kim was asked about the new album:
Your last CD "ZZYZX×ZZYZX1 September 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Teenage Recoil4:382Hollywood4:343Famous Last Words4:334Erotic Saints3:465Idiot Music4:366Stop the Noise4:117Feed You With a Kiss3:488Lamp Halo4:059Mosquito Coil4:3410Blood Music4:21" was softer than your preceding two albums. What can we expect from the new album "Sinners International"?
All albums of Zeromancer are different, because we are writing and recording the songs at different times. Our guiding principle is that we're never making over a song. There are many bands who do the same over and over again. We are always trying to change us, not at least to feel alive. I think the new album will sound differently than all three before. It will be like a combination of all CDs. Take the deeper meaning, put in all the things we liked and blend everything to something new. So, we hope to exceed the best.
Lorry Kristiansen replaced Erik on keyboards and programming.
A post on their official website, zeromancer.com, announced the release date for Sinners International as 13 February 2009, with a tour to follow in March.
The band released the It Sounds Like Love (But It Looks Like Sex) EP in October 2009. It contains remixes of tracks from Sinners International and of their Depeche Mode cover "Photographic".
Zeromancer released their fifth album, The Death of Romance×The Death of Romance26 February 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks12.6.250:462Industrypeople4:153The Hate Alphabet4:074The Death of Romance3:275The Pygmalion Effect4:276Murder Sound3:467Revengefuck3:298Virgin Ring4:019The Plinth5:2110Mint6:0911V4:41, on 6 March 2010, releasing the track "Industrypeople" as the first single of the album. A video for the track was made though it was not released until 2012. They also released several videos for "Zeromancer TV" with touring updates.
After "The Death of Romance Tour" was done, Zeromancer almost immediately got back into the studio to work on their sixth album. On 25 January 2013, the band released Bye-Bye Borderline.
A new single, "Underground", was released on their best-of album Something for the Pain, which was released 1 November 2013.
Their seventh studio album, Orchestra of Knives×Orchestra of Knives24 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Testimonial4:352Damned Le Monde4:013Transparency4:164Mourners4:265Birthday2:446Terminal Love4:067Worth Less Than Deutsche Marks to Me4:248Orchestra of Knives4:469Stand on Ceremony4:4710San Zero3:12, was released 24 September 2021.

Music

Zeromancer's music is largely industrial rock, similar to Celldweller, KMFDM, Die Krupps, Stabbing Westward, Oomph!, Orgy, Pitchshifter, and Rammstein. Elements of synthpop are in some of their work, with similarities to that of Depeche Mode.

Current

Alex Møklebust – vocals (1999–present)
Kim Ljung – bass, backing vocals (1999–present)
Noralf Ronthi – drums (1999–present)
Lorry Kristiansen – keyboard, programming (2003–present)
Per-Olav Wiik - guitar (2018–present)

Former

Chris Schleyer – guitar (1999–2003)
Erik Ljunggren – keyboard, programming (1999–2003)
Dan Heide – guitar (2003–2018)

Singles/EPs

2000: "Clone Your Lover×Clone Your Lover13 March 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Clone Your Lover3:502Flirt (With Me)4:003Something for the Pain3:334Split Seconds3:165Fade to Black3:566God Bless the Models4:107Opelwerk3:288Flagellation3:539Die of a Broken Heart3:2510Houses of Cards3:57"
2001: "Doctor Online×Doctor Online3 September 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Doctor Online3:202Doctor Online (Rico remix)4:413Fractured4:22"
2001: "Need You Like a Drug×Need You Like a Drug2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Need You Like a Drug3:312Eurotrash2:453Send Me an Angel3:57"
2003: "Famous Last Words×Famous Last Words28 July 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Famous Last Words4:312New Madonna4:183Gone to Your Head5:15"
2007: "Doppelgänger I Love You×Doppelgänger I Love You1 May 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Doppelgänger I Love You4:17"
2007: "I'm Yours to Lose×I'm Yours to LoseOctober 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I'm Yours to Lose3:212Doppelgänger I Love You (I Hate You remix by Snifferdogs)5:32"
2009: It Sounds Like Love (But It Looks Like Sex) (EP)
2013: "The Underground×The Underground2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Underground4:13"
2021: Damned le Monde (EP)
2021: "Mourners×Mourners30 April 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Mourners4:262Mourners (Remix by Electro Spectre)4:333Mourners (Remix by Sebastian Komor)5:044Mourners (Rework by Rotersand)6:09"
2021: "Terminal Love×Terminal Love25 June 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Terminal Love4:062Terminal Love (L'Âme Immortelle Remix)4:103Terminal Love (Architect Detention Remix)4:324Terminal Love (Sniffergod Remix)5:12"

In other media

An edited version of Zeromancer's song "Chrome Bitch" was used as part of the opening bumper for the syndicated radio program Loveline.
"Flirt with me" was used in a Norwegian program called Singel 24-7 on TV3.
"Dr. Online (Rico remix)" appears on the Graver's Paradise album, remixed by Rico Darum. Another version of "Dr. Online" appears on Non-Stop Ride, an industrial album compiled by the band Godhead.
"Cupola" appears on Beauty in Darkness Vol. 6.

Etymology

Zeromancer derived their name by combining the titles of the novels Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis and Neuromancer by William Gibson.