In 2003 Andy LaPlegua of "Icon of Coil" wrote a few power noise/techno cross over tracks under the name of "D.R.I.V.E.". This was changed to "Combichrist" when the debut album, "The Joy of Gunz" was set to be released on Out Of Line. The name Combichrist originates from a hardcore fanzine LaPlegua made during the late 90s, with "JR Ewing" guitarist Håkon Mella.
The follow up EPs, and the clamour for live shows, sent Combichrist out on the road where they would become known for their strong and energetic performances.
Their second EP, "Sex, Drogen und Industrial", spent 7 weeks at number one in the DAC charts.
In March of 2007 they released their third album "What The Fuck Is Wrong With You People?". "Today We Are All Demons", was released on January 20th, 2009.
The band had been selected to support industrial metal band "Rammstein" for their 2009 European tour and continued to support them during the 2010 part of the tour.
August 2010 saw the release of "Making Monsters", which had full tracks available for streaming on the website, each track being rolled out for a new one. Combichrist undertook a tour in support of the new album in late 2010, with "Aesthetic Perfection" and "iVardensphere" as the support bands.
Their most recent album, "No Redemption", was released in January of 2013 in both single and 2CD versions. This album was the official soundtrack album for the video game "Devil May Cry". The limited edition bonus CD was essentially a greatest hits compilation.
March 2014 will see the release of a new album titled "We Love You", with an accompanying tour of North America starting in April. "William Control" and "New Years Day" have been announced as the support bands.
Combichrist have had much more success than many of the other acts emerging from the electronic underground and the band have become one of the dark electro scene's most popular live acts.
The roster of live members is currently Joe Letz (ex "Genitorturers"), Mr Petersen, Z_Marr (ex "Hell Trash"), Kourtney Klein (who also played drums for the reformed "Nitzer Ebb") and Trevor Friedrich who was the drummer for "Eighteen Visions" and "Imperative Reaction". Past live members include Håkon Mella, Bjoern Petersen, Syn M, Shaun Frandsen & Jon H.
The band's website is at: www.combichrist.com
Master Control
Combichrist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's some spooky stuff going on on a dollar bill, man
I mean, and it's green too
Ready, master control?
Ready, switch over
Ready, master control?
Ready, switch over
The lyrics to Combichrist's song "Master Control" open with a reference to a dollar bill and the "spooky stuff" contained within it. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the power of money and the hidden forces that control our lives. The repeated lines of "Ready, master control? Ready, switch over" suggest a willingness to submit to these forces, perhaps out of fear or a desire for security.
The use of the term "master control" also implies a loss of autonomy or free will. It could be argued that the song is a criticism of our increasing reliance on technology and the systems that govern our daily lives. The repetition of the phrase "ready, switch over" reinforces this idea, as if we are all just cogs in a machine, blindly following instructions without questioning their impact.
Overall, "Master Control" offers a bleak portrayal of a society that is controlled by external forces, where individual agency is diminished and conformity is the norm. It is a reflection on the ways in which we are all complicit in our own subjugation.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever look at a dollar bill, man?
Have you ever closely examined a dollar bill and noticed some unsettling images or symbols?
There's some spooky stuff going on on a dollar bill, man
There are various eerie and mysterious symbols embedded on the dollar bill.
I mean, and it's green too
It's ironic that the currency, which represents wealth, is colored in green, which commonly represents envy.
Ready, master control?
Are you fully prepared for the master control to initiate?
Ready, switch over
Are you ready to transition and hand over control to the master?
Contributed by Lucas S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.