What would become CMBCRST, the newest full-length from the AggroTech progenitors of Combichrist, has made our most anticipated list 3 years in a row now starting in 2022 following the release of “Compliance” in 2021 so to say that this record is pretty high up on our 2024 releases would be a vast understatement. Add in the varied styles that have been teased since that first taste back in 2021 (“Planet Doom”, “Modern Demon”, “Heads Off”, etc…) and it sure sounds like an exciting time to be a Combichrist fan, right?
Right! It’s, as the kids say, a banger! And easily one of the most diverse yet solid records that Combichrist has put out. It’s a collision of the styles that Combichrist has honed over the years but modified and just made better. “Children Of Violence” is a clusterfuck of sounds and probably the best starter as it recaps the past several years musically nicely with hints of Electronica, Techno, Darkwave, AggroTech, Industrial and some straight up METAL represented within.
Speaking of, you dig when Combichrist just goes full tilt Metal??? Then “D For Demonic” is for you! Think Ministry’s “Warp City” but with Andy LaPlegua at the helm as the fierce and fiery frontman fumes from there into another headbanging delight in the form of “Heads Off” while “Only Death is Immortal” takes the sound of Making Monsters, broadens the scope for a modern Combichrist anthem with crushing solos and pulsating beats.
“Compliance” has been on heavy rotation in the RNRF offices since it initially dropped a few years back and here in CMBCRST there are subtle differences like the addition of a more electronic atmosphere but essentially it’s the same beastie that haunted fans clamoring for Combichrist to go back to their “old” sound. “Northern Path” is another soaked in synthetic atmosphere but still percussive and beats-heavy before getting all shreddy and then “Wolves Eating Wolves” is a feral yet intricate ripper with a glorious LaPlegua-driven chorus.
Another previous single, “Modern Demon”, seamlessly fits within the techno organic tapestry of CMBCRST for an Electro Metal hybrid that’s similar in style to “Compliance” with bigger throbbing beats and an infectious groove that’ll have fans bouncing wherever they’re listening. “Planet Doom” flows nicely out of that with a creepy opening line that’s similar to the American Horror Story: 1984 theme (Fitting as the accompanying video that you can see below is essentially a throwback to 80’s slasher flicks, too) before the bombastic sonic thrashing really begins with “Sonic Witch” strolling in next all cool as a cucumber with some Hall & Oates-like programmed beats before expanding into a driving raucous rawker that’s still just as vicious even with a more laid back tempo.
When “Violence Solves Everything (Part 2- The End of A Dream)” was recently released heralding the arrival of the new record we should’ve figured there was a “Part 1” somewhere out there. But we didn’t so we were pleasantly surprised when Combichrist whipped up 51 seconds of a punky Industrial maelstrom out of nowhere for “Part 1” and then just sashay their way into the vibrant “Part 2” as LaPlegua’s voice glistens while broadly positing “How do you want this dream to an end?” before delivering a truly iconic Combichrist chorus.
CMBCRST releases on May 17th through Out Of Line. Pre-orders are up now and can be found by heading here. For more from Combichrist, including upcoming live excursions, follow them across the information superhighway by heading here or here. And for even more Combi-goodness, subscribe to their Patreon by clicking here.