Combichrist Unleash Aggrotech Fury At The Underworld

Combichrist opened The Underworld like they stepped out of a nightmare future. Frontman Andy LaPlegua stalked onto stage, opening Planet Doom with his signature malicious gravitas, roaring a challenge to the crowd in his declaration, “This is my battleground.”

Combichrist – Ray Noir – Martial Autist

The Underworld, Camden

Words: Theo A-Mullis

Photography: Steve Ritchie

Each of the five-man group was daubed in war-paint and dressed for the end of the world. Combichrist would not have looked out of place screaming for death on a war-rig in a Mad Max movie.

It was brutal from the outset. After that introduction LaPlegua growled into Wolves Eating Wolves and grinned as he delivered the snarling chorus which the crowd barked back. 

Compliance is a long-standing fan favourite, released years before the rest of the album. It was immediately recognised and got the crowd fist-pumping in time, with LaPlegua marching to the beat, which continued into the chugging and barbaric Children Of Violence.

The pit formed for Not My Enemy. I cannot turn down a good pit, especially at a venue as intimate as The Underworld. The audience certainly came together for it and it stayed open for the rest of the set.

Electrohead is almost a sure thing at a Combichrist gig. It is an anthemic statement of intent for the band and its fans and got the audience response it deserves. It is telling that it was the first song played that does not appear on the new album, one of four in a sixteen-song set.

Throat Full Of Glass is another older song and one of my favourites. It is a slow and nihilistic track to break up the set and give those in the pit a bit of a breather.

Of course, it’s aggrotech and no one is there to slow dance. Modern Demon and Heads Off dropkicked the crowd into motion again, especially in the pit. I took a few dings and scrapes in the sweaty, strobe-filled anarchy.

It did not let up into two-parter Violence Solves Everything and the final track, Never Surrender, which got the pit going truly insane and at least one (brave) crowdsurfer up. The encore was boiling. Band members jumped into the pit for party track My Life My Rules and closer D is for Demonic.

When all was said and done, I was in pain, I was drenched, and I loved it. 

Combichrist are an evolving project, never afraid to experiment and take risks. This setlist was certainly a gamble with 12 songs from their new album CMBCRST.

It misses classics like Sent To Destroy, Blut Royale and Get Your Body Beat. Luckily, it pays off. It showed that the band refuses to sit on their laurels and play the same old stuff, even if they are sure crowd pleasers.

Their bravery and willingness to push the envelope and challenge their audience does the band credit.

If you’re going to be hitting Bloodstock this weekend, they are playing Saturday on the Sophie Lancaster stage. If you do not know them, you are in for a hell of a ride. If you do, then the new album is fire.

Martial Autist

It is always difficult to be the opener for a night, even more so when you are on your own, but Martial Autist stepped up to the mark. The name is a reference to the solo artist’s neurodiversity and love of kickboxing.

He brings chunky EBM/Industrial beats with vocals that oscillated between early Gallows and modern Bring Me The Horizon. He had energy, great crowd interaction and importantly, he was having a great time.

Covering Aesthetic Perfection’s Fix was a perfect way to bring the show to a close. It was a joy to meet Martial Autist in the pit for Combichrist.

Ray Noir

Ray Noir mixes moody goth vocals reminiscent of Type-0 Negative with electro-Metal, Nine Inch Nails vibes. The set started with Pity Party and Scorpio, both from their 2024 mixtape of the same name.

This was my first time seeing Ray Noir live and he did not disappoint. He has great stage presence and skillfully worked the crowd with regular interaction, keeping everyone involved and building their energy.  

Standout for me was the yearning, pounding Latency. A surprise cover of Tears for Fears Shout was an immediate singalong hit. The set closed with a raucous collab with doom trap pioneer Mimi Barks for YMATD and the first pit of the evening. 

I certainly plan to see Ray Noir again. 

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