Combichrist- Get Your Body Beat

Written by Matthew Johnson

Artist: Combichrist
CD Title: Get Your Body Beat
Label: Metropolis Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 10-29-06

Andy Laplegua's back with a new Combichrist single, and you know what that means: aggressive club beats, acidic synth lines, and slightly stilted lyrics delivered in that trademark Norwegian-accented snarl. It's not quite as catchy as "This S*it Will Fcuk You Up," but it sure comes close. There's no shortage on the remix front here, and while the Amduscia and Spetsnaz versions are fairly straightforward, there are also a few surprises. Though you'd expect metal guitar from them, KMFDM's mix is almost pure hard acid, while Point45 ramps up the distorted choppiness. Manufactura's mix is also worth a mention; it's thick, dark and evil, so in other words it sounds an awful lot like a Manufactura track, but that's definitely a good thing. Laplegua also throws in a couple of exclusive tracks. "Products" hints at Atari Teenage Riot influences with its female screaming and arguably anti-commercial message, while "What The Fcuk" is a typical but fun Combichrist offering, complete with some self-deprecating samples, and sees Laplegua taking perverse pride in his reputation for offensiveness. Finishing off the CD is "DNA AM," a weird ambient piece reminiscent of the bonus tracks from the import version of Combichrist's last album, Everybody Hates You. All in all, a solid offering; Combichrist fans should definitely pick this up, and even casual listeners can expect to hear plenty of these tracks in the clubs this year.

Enlist in the Combichrist Army at www.combichrist.com and line up for your beating.