Combichrist

Who: Based off album titles like “Everybody Hates You” and “What the F--- is Wrong With You People?”, it’s a good guess that Combichrist frontman Andy LaPlegua is an angry man. After making minor waves with the more synth-based Icon of Coil earlier in the decade, LaPlegua (originally from Norway) upped the aggro for Combichrist, mixing in some old-school industrial beats, distorted vocals and heavy metal guitars. Recently, the band’s “Frost” EP hit the Billboard Top Ten singles and dance sales charts; their latest full-length, “Today We Are All Demons,” comes out Jan. 20.

What: KMFDM, Ministry, Skinny Puppy…the spirit of those industrial rockers lives on in Combichrist, who strip out the nu-metal excesses (hi, Static-X!) and self-flagellating worldview (hi, Trent Reznor!) that doomed the genre. They do, however, keep the dancefloor beats and finger-pointing anger, while adding some ambient tones and Depeche Mode–style keyboards—most successfully on “Kickstart the Fight,” a duet with S&M rockers the Genitorturers.

Most likely to blow up: Nothing here screams radio hit, but the more synth-flavored “I Want Your Blood” has a demonic vibe that Marilyn Manson should copy, pronto.—KM