Norway native Andy LaPlegua, founder of the electronic band Icon of Coil, formed Combichrist in the early 2000s as a side project. However, the new group quickly distinguished themselves as formidable heirs to Wax Trax-style industrial and pile-driving ’90s techno-metal. LaPlegua’s scalding lead vocals propel both distortion-fuelled digital aggression (“Never Surrender”) and booming dance-floor stomps (“Get Your Body Beat”). Combichrist developed enduring appeal among goth, electro and metal communities thanks to skilful sonic mash-ups—as heard on “Maggots At the Party”, a slab of synth-punk with harsh electric guitars.