Combichrist – The Venom In The Mouth Of God (Digital/CD/Vinyl Album – Out Of Line)
Andy LaPlegua released a new Combichrist album this summer, an event many fans always look forward to. I might be making a somewhat unusual comparison here, but the evolution of Combichrist strongly reminds me of the path taken by Dawn Of Ashes. I’m not necessarily comparing the two in terms of genre—although perhaps I am—but both started out with an Electro-inspired sound, gradually moved towards a more pronounced Metal production, and eventually arrived at a synthesis of both influences.
Combichrist already made this clear on their previous album, “CMBCRST”, which was a masterpiece, but on this new record, the fusion is even more explicit. It’s a perfect blend of EBM, Dark-Electro with an Industrial edge, and Metal. Some tracks lean more towards the Electronic side, while others are dominated by guitars. Throughout its 13 tracks, the album delivers top-tier production. The Electronic elements are built around icy, abrasive textures and leads, while the Metal components add an extra punch. And then, of course, there’s Andy’s voice, which once again sounds powerful and possessed. Amid all this intensity, softer passages occasionally emerge, evoking something akin to Industrial-Pop. The album exudes a sense of complete creative freedom, as if nothing is forced and anything is possible. This gives the record a distinctly personal and inventive character.
The album contains several gems and certainly won’t disappoint Combichrist fans. Once again, a brilliant record—made in Norway. (Rating:9).
Listen to “Born Destroyer”:
https://combichrist.bandcamp.com/track/born-destr-yer
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
