Released 10 years ago
This Is Where Death Begins
Combichrist · 2016
59 min · 15 tracks · electro-industrial
Aggressive beats and distorted vocals collide with dark, atmospheric soundscapes that challenge the listener's emotional resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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We Are the Plague Start here — Opening the album with an explosive energy, this track sets the tone for the entire record through its relentless beat and aggressive lyrics about defiance and chaos.
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My Life My Rules — A rallying cry for individuality, this track combines catchy hooks with driving rhythms, embodying the album’s overarching theme of personal empowerment amidst societal oppression.
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Destroy Everything — This track highlights a raw vulnerability hidden beneath the aggressive exterior, exploring themes of destruction that resonate deeply within the context of modern life.
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Tired of Hating You — With its haunting melody and reflective lyrics, this song offers a moment of introspection amidst the chaos, showcasing Combichrist's versatility in blending harsh sounds with emotional depth.
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Black Tar Dove, Pt. 2 — Serving as a poignant closing piece, it juxtaposes somber lyrical content with haunting instrumentals, encapsulating the album's exploration of darkness and despair.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive beats with atmospheric soundscapes, creating a distinct yet challenging listening experience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a relentless tempo with aggressive beats, while the second half introduces more atmospheric elements and varied pacing.
- Vocals are heavily distorted and layered, often blending into the instrumental backdrop rather than standing out as traditional lead lines.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- aggressive beats for cathartic release
- wave-like pacing for immersive experience
- provocative soundscapes for intense focus
Maybe skip if you
- dislike aggressive musical intensity
- prefer lighthearted, upbeat sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Solid entry that showcases Combichrist's signature sound without being a primary focus.
- Career context
- This Is Where Death Begins marks Combichrist's seventh studio album, following the 2014 release of We Love You. At this point in their career, the band had established a strong presence within the electro-industrial scene, evolving from their earlier work while delving deeper into themes of aggression and societal critique. The album showcases a matured sound that balances heavy electronic elements with introspective lyrics.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Skinny Puppy· Front Line Assembly· KMFDM
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Tired of Hating You
The shift from external confrontation to internal struggle as the narrator reflects on personal pain and conflict creates a nuanced emotional landscape.
This transition illustrates a deeper complexity in the songwriting, moving beyond mere aggression to explore vulnerability and self-reflection.
Tracklist
- 1 We Are the Plague Start here 4:16
- 2 My Life My Rules 4:20
- 3 Glitchteeth 2:58
- 4 Exit Eternity 4:49
- 5 Skullcrusher 3:52
- 6 Time Again 4:30
- 7 Destroy Everything 3:57
- 8 Tired of Hating You 3:54
- 9 Don’t Care How You Feel About It 5:35
- 10 Blackened Heart 3:53
- 11 Pay to Play 3:35
- 12 Slakt 3:16
- 13 Black Tar Dove, Pt. 1 1:21
- 14 Black Tar Dove, Pt. 2 4:08
- 15 Homeward 4:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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