Combichrist, ‘Making Monsters’ — New Album

Combichrist's Andy LaPlegua has created an aggro-tech monster. Of music, that is. LaPlegua says that the new album, 'Making Monsters,' is by far the most personal intimate album of his discography. "This is definitely, of all albums I've released so far, the most personal album," the singer told Noisecreep. "Not only that, it is the most diverse one. I took liberties to do exactly what I felt like without having any music styles in mind at all. I did exactly what I felt like doing."

One of the reasons why 'Making Monsters' is Combichrist's most personal to date is because a lot of the writing took place on tour. "Usually, I write the album sitting in the studio. This [album] was done on tour, and it was always at the darkest hour. It sometimes can be quite difficult to be on tour nonstop, and this was written at the darkest hour of my life in general. On the previous albums, I was going through a lot of things and cleaning out a little bit, but I found myself sitting not with answers, but all the remains of the last 10 years. It is a really dark place and this was helping me get through all of it. It was not necessarily negative. It was soul cleansing doing this record."

While LaPlegua wasn't very forthcoming about exactly what was so dark while writing and recording 'Making Monsters,' he did elucidate a little further, saying, "In general, the people who know me know what I am talking about. It was not exactly the most sober period of time for me over the last few years. Sometimes when you are around people all the time and on tour, you are the most lonely."

Also on 'Making Monsters,' Bleeding Through vocalist Brandan Schieppati lends his signature snarl to 'Follow the Trail of Dead.' The collaboration was incredibly natural, with LaPlegua saying. "We've been talking about it several times, and as with every other person that you talk to about working together, you say, 'Let's work together some day.' And it never happens, because everyone is busy doing their own thing. This fell into place. We managed to actually do something! It was natural to do that song. We both clicked on that track and it was the right time and right place."

The collaboration also differs from the modern era's way of doing things, where artists can collaborate on a song without ever being in the same room together. "We did it in the studio, which is rare in the digital age," LaPlegua admitted. "It all fell into place. He happened to play Atlanta when I was home on that rare occasion. So I picked him up and we went and spent time in the studio, and that is how it ended up."

Despite the dark place -- mentally -- that inspired 'Making Monsters,' some of the cloud has lifted for LaPlegua, who is excited to get out and play new material for the fans in the live setting. "Without the crowd, it's hard to continue! The fans are everything to us. We'll see them soon," he said.

'Making Monsters' is out Sept. 28.