Interview : COMBICHRIST
par Olivier CAMUS
photos: (c) - 2005 www.
combichrist.com

:: [ english version ] ::

Current Release :
Everybody Hates You (2005-out of line/SPV)
With COMBICHRIST, are you ok to say that the sound of this project is totally new. You speak about « Techno-Body-Music ». Was it for you a kind of quest for originality among the industrial scene ? Or did you just decide to mix industrial, techno and EBM together ?
Hmm.. well, I dont try to do anything, really. I just do what I feel is right, rather focusing on industrial, noise, ebm or techno. Another thing is, nothing is really new anymore, its just a new form of the past. I am inspired by really old things, I just wrap it in new paper. Hopefully I am able to blow some life into a scene that seemed to die for years.

What is the main message behind the « Everybody Hates You » lyrics ? Must we see in it any kind of the American way of life satyric with his serial-killers allstars and the rifle for the people politics?

Its not only sarcastic to the american life. Its more about humanity all in all. Dont get me wrong, I love my friends and people as individuals, I just hate humanity. Then again, I would also like to look at the album as a horror movie vs road movie.

On the second CD (from the limited edition), we dive into another atmosphere. Why did you chose to release these ambient tracks ? What brings you to this new side of IDM ?

I kinda hinted on it on the first album, and I thought it would be a good idea to release it on a second CD, rather than the main album. It would have totally broken the concept of the main album. The first CD is more the visual storyline, wile the 2cnd CD is more the background soundtrack.

COMBICHRIST has already tryied the vinyl adventure on Bractune records (USA). Which kind of audience do you plan to reach with this music format ?

My plan is easy, its for the people who likes Combichrist. I dont try to reach any specific people, I just love the feeling of the vinyl. When I grew up, the mentality of music was way different than now. I actually appritiated collecting the releases of my favourite artists, to have a hard copy in my hands. To be able to release vinyl, reminds me of those days, when people still appritiated the original product. People just dont give a damn anymore, they download their favourite artists and dont even feel bad about it. What ever happened to the music lifestyle ?

On « Joy of Gunz », you was alone. Now, what is the current line-up of COMBICHRIST ? I believe that you was joined by an ex-FORTIFICATION 55…

I am still alone, Bjoern is just a live member and a very good friend.

Moreover, you are currently on european tour. How is the response from the fans about the show on stage and about this new sound?

It was a totally blast. We sold out show after show. People went totally mental, and that is always giving us even more energy for stage. So, yeah, it was awesome.

And what can you expect from the american fans on the coming tour in USA ?
Well, I have no idea, but if they have half the balls of the european audience from this tour, it will still be an awesome tour. Usually the american crowd got more energy than the european, but I tell you, they got a lot of catching up to du, if they even want to be close.

Your website seems to be in effervescence. Can you explain to us the concept of the "Combichrist army" and its Combicritters... ?

Well, it is kinda the same idea behind that, as the idea of having a profile on myspace.com or livejournal. It is to interact with fans on a personal level, to give somethingt back and have fun and a fucked up time together.

There’s also a COMBICHRIST comicbook in the making. Can we know more about that ?

I am doing a Combichrist comic book, based on the lyrics of the album, so you know there is a lot of degration and violence. The comic book will be done very soon and will only be available on our shows. The first people to get their hands on a copy will be the american audience.

What was the response on the PANZER AG debut album ? Did you think that it was unfortunately past a little too unperceived owing to the fact that it was the album of resumption of the activities of Accession records?

Not really, I think the album got an enourmos response. I mean, it still sells very well, which for me, is strange, since I never expected anything from this release. It was very pesonal and was only intended to be a studio project. Accession has done an ok job, they could have done more, but they did an ok job.

Any following to « This is my Battlefield » planned ?

Well, not really any plans. I got lots of ideas, but nothing concrete. If I do another album, it will be more guitars. I dont see any point in having another existing pure electronic project.

Actually, all your forces seems to be spend into COMBICHRIST, but what’s new for ICON OF COIL ? What’s doing Sebastian on his side ?

We are planning the future for the band, but it is a little difficult right now. Sebastian is still getting setteled in Edmonton, Canada and I am setteling in Atlanta. So, we need to schedule everything and start writing new material. Sebastian is also very busy working on Moonitor as well I guess. I spend all my time on Combichrist right now, because I dont like to do things half-hearted.

 

www.myspace.com/combichrist (My Space blog)
www.combichrist.com (site web)


Discographie:

Everybody Hates You (2005-out of line/SPV)

Sex, Drogen und Industrial EP (2004-out of Line/SPV)
Blut Royale - ltd 12"(2004-Bractune records)
Kiss The Blade EP (2003-Out of Line/SPV)
The Joy of Gunz (2003-Out of Line/SPV)