Combichrist- Frost EP: Sent to Destroy

ARTIST: Combichrist

ALBUM: Frost EP: Sent to Destroy

LABEL: Metropolis Records

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 11-1-08

A tasty preview of Combichrist's next full-length, this nine-track EP offers three new tracks and a half-dozen mostly forgettable remixes. Title track "Sent to Destroy" is classic Combichrist, with Andy Laplegua bellowing aggression over a brutal techno beat. It's catchy club candy, and thanks to the emphasis on vocals, sure to kill live. There's also an instrumental version of "The Kill" that recalls Combichrist's first album, all minimalist synth stabs and pummeling beats. The biggest potential club hit, though, is "Prince of E-Ville." With the lyrics as well as the samples all taking pot-shots at the goth scene, it's the kind of in-your-face humor that makes Combichrist songs so memorable in and out of the club. Unfortunately, that's only a third of the EP, the rest given over to lackluster remixes, from Rotersand and Northborne's more minimalist takes on "Sent to Destroy" to Caustic's noisy but uninspired remix of "Prince of E-Ville." The one bright spot is Babyland's "Princess Mix" of "Prince of E-Ville," which adds science fiction synthesizers and plenty of rumbling bass for a mix that's demonstrably different both from the original version and from their own brand of electronic junk-punk. That mix alone makes this a solid enough EP, but unless you're a DJ, you might want to skip the rest of the filler.

For more Combichrist goodies, visit www.combichrist.com.