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Friday, April 4, 2014
Music / Live Reviews Live review: Combichrist, Tremont Music Hall (4/3/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Combichrist w/ William Control, New Year's Day
Tremont Music Hall
April 3, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Combichrist
Wearing a glowing red-LED mask, Combichrist singer Andy LaPlegua took the stage en route to a brutal 16-song set, which combined industrial, electronic dance and metal elements into a swirling mass of music that took over Tremont Music Hall on April 3, 2014.
Kicking off its U.S. tour in support of the band's seventh album, We Love You, Combichrist opened with the album's first track "We Were Made to Love You" and its "Hate disorder love destroy" chorus before cruising through a mix of fan favorites and new songs.
While some fans crammed up front to get closer to the charismatic Norwegian frontman, others found plenty of room in the back to dance their asses off. Combichrist's NIN-meets-Marilyn-Manson-meets-Ministry approach wins over an eclectic fan base that splits its time jumping up and down, swirling in a mosh pit and breaking down into up-tempo dance moves.
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Combichrist
The band's lyrics also merge the lines between sexuality and brutality - something LaPlegua insists is all an onstage character - as fans shouted along to lines including "Shut Up and Swallow" and "What the Fuck is Wrong with You?" as they swigged beer passed out by the band making for one big unified performance, in a sense.
The band's sound is a throwback to the '90s style of industrial music, updated through EDM-inspired beats. The catchy rhythms and kinetic performance make for a frantic combination you can't take your eyes, or ears, off of.
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- New Year's Day
The night opened with a duo of other charismatic band leaders - a solid 30-minute set by New Year's Day, featuring singer Ashley Costello, and a dark and mysterious set by William Control, the side project of Aiden's William Francis. New Year's Day did its best to get the crowd warmed up while being pushed to the front of the equipment-packed stage. The band's sound was improved from last year's Warped Tour and made me long for more room (and under better lighting) for the band to stretch out.
Control's set was a mixture of electronic crooning that, at times, bordered on being cheesy. With no sound coming out on stage, it was tough to tell if the bass was actually adding anything to the mix or if Francis was actually singing during the choruses. He was also joined by Costello for two songs. Regardless, plenty of fans sang along and watched his every microphone-spinning move.
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Combichrist
Combichrist setlist
Intro
We Were Made To Love You
Today I Woke to the Rain of Blood
Blut Royale
Every Day Is War
Can't Control
Throat Full of Glass
Maggots at the Party
Denial
What the Fuck is Wrong with You?
No Redemption
Follow the Trail of Blood
Shut Up and Swallow
Get Your Body Beat
Love is a Razorblade
Encore
Fuck that Shit
Sent to Destroy>
We Were Made to Love You (Reprise)
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