Sebastian Komor
Encyclopedia
Sebastian R. Komor is a Polish born, Norwegian raised EBM
/Industrial
musician, best known for his collaborative work in Icon of Coil
and Zombie Girl
. A prolific artist, Komor has also released electronic music under a variety of solo projects and aliases since the late 1990s.
, where an EBM/industrial scene was flourishing under the influence of local bands such as Apoptygma Berzerk
. Komor recorded and toured under various band names during that time, starting with Melt and continuing with Area51, Sector9 (which he also used as a remixer alias), and Moonitor. Fellow Fredrikstad musician Andy LaPlegua
played keyboards for early Sector9 and Melt shows, and it was this collaboration that led to the formation of Icon of Coil in 1997, with the roles reversed - LaPlegua as primary creative member and Komor came in as a full member during the production of the first single "Shallow Nation". Icon of Coil released their debut single, Shallow Nation, in 2000, at which point Komor became a full-fledged member of the band. Komor and LaPlegua went on to release three full-length albums as IoC: Serenity is the Devil
(2000), The Soul Is In The Software
(2002), and Machines Are Us
(2004). Icon of Coil garnered a fair amount of popularity within the scene, having their albums distributed worldwide and playing a variety of large festivals. During this same time period, Komor and Richard Bjørklund formed the synthpop/EBM band Monofader
and released the album Frost in 2004. Sebastian also did drum, sampling and synth programming on an EP titled Fenris for an industrial black metal band called Helheim (note: not the Norwegian black/Viking metal band Helheim).
In 2004, however, Komor relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and activity within Icon of Coil and Monofader has been sparse since, with the geographical distance between Komor and his band mates being cited as a roadblock to completing significant amounts of additional music. Komor has stated that newer Monofader material exists, with a speculative title of Everything Changes but the Sea, but that the project is not a priority right now.
In 2005 Komor started Zombie Girl with Renee Cooper. They released an EP in 2006 and a full album in 2007 through Alfa Matrix and Metropolis. Komor was also signed to electronic rock label FiXT
in 2008 for his solo hard techno/trance/industrial project Squarehead. Two advance Squarehead singles featuring guest vocals were released in 2008 and 2009 with a full-length album, Voltage Controlled Body Music, released in March 2010. Sebastian's long time work-in-progress Moonitor, which he describes as techno/tribal, has now also been signed to FiXT and released an album titled To The Past From The Future In The Present. It appears that both Squarehead and Moonitor were one-off projects with no additional albums currently planned, as Komor has stated that he is now fully focused on another of his oldest projects, Melt. Komor has released production music geared towards film, television, and video game soundtracks through FiXT's sister company Position Music. Yet another active side project of Seb's is Komor Kommando, his dark techno/EBM/aggrotech club-oriented DJ alias. One EP has thus far been released on Alfa Matrix, with a full-length album imminent. Additional solo work has been released through Rasputin Records under his real name.
The aforementioned Melt, now rejuvenated after years of being kept on hold by commitments to Icon of Coil, was initially to see an EP called Parasites released in early 2009, but is as of yet still a work in progress, with Seb stating "I just dont want to hurry a release, this is a very personal album, and I just feel it needs to feel right and complete before its ready to be unleashed". Though the name has carried over from work done as early as 1994, all of the current songs being worked on are brand new.
Sebastian does production work as Xenomorph Productions. He produced the album Hearts For Bullets
by Ayria
in 2008. Komor mastered the Depeche Mode tribute album Alfa Matrix Re:Covered in 2009, which included two covers by Komor Kommando. That same year he also mastered fellow Canadian electro-industrial act iVardensphere
's debut album Scatterface. In February 2010 Komor released a collection of over 400 audio samples from his studio, some from his released projects and some unused. A second volume followed in June of that same year.
Komor is also a visual artist, and designs the artwork for his own releases.
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
/Industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
musician, best known for his collaborative work in Icon of Coil
Icon of Coil
Icon of Coil is a Norwegian electronic music band. The band was established as a solo project in 1997 by Andy LaPlegua who was joined by former Sector 9 bandmate Sebastian Komor to perform live. With the release of Shallow Nation, the band's first single, Komor joined full-time. In 2000, Christian...
and Zombie Girl
Zombie Girl
Zombie Girl is a Canadian electro-industrial/industrial rock project, initially composed of Renee Cooper, the eponymous Zombie Girl and formerly Sebastian Komor her exproducer. She is now however a solo act who uses various live musicians and writing new Zombie girl tracks without Komor. Started in...
. A prolific artist, Komor has also released electronic music under a variety of solo projects and aliases since the late 1990s.
Bio
Sebastian Komor was born in Zabrze, Poland in 1976 and moved to Norway in 1981, where he would remain for over twenty years. He first acquired a keyboard in his late teens and released his first music demo in 1992. Throughout the mid- to late-90s Komor created music in FredrikstadFredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
, where an EBM/industrial scene was flourishing under the influence of local bands such as Apoptygma Berzerk
Apoptygma Berzerk
Apoptygma Berzerk is a Norwegian musical group. They have achieved success with a brand of synthpop, and ballads backed with electronic rhythms, commonly known within the scene and referring to themselves as "futurepop". Apop has won awards and top-10 spots in Germany and Scandinavia...
. Komor recorded and toured under various band names during that time, starting with Melt and continuing with Area51, Sector9 (which he also used as a remixer alias), and Moonitor. Fellow Fredrikstad musician Andy LaPlegua
Andy LaPlegua
Andy LaPleguaa, born September 15, 1975 in Fredrikstad, Norway, is a musician originally known for being founder and lead vocalist of the futurepop band Icon of Coil...
played keyboards for early Sector9 and Melt shows, and it was this collaboration that led to the formation of Icon of Coil in 1997, with the roles reversed - LaPlegua as primary creative member and Komor came in as a full member during the production of the first single "Shallow Nation". Icon of Coil released their debut single, Shallow Nation, in 2000, at which point Komor became a full-fledged member of the band. Komor and LaPlegua went on to release three full-length albums as IoC: Serenity is the Devil
Serenity is the Devil
Serenity is the Devil is the first studio album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2000.-Track listing:# "Activate" - 5:26# "Regret" - 5:04# "Shallow Nation" - 4:46# "Down on Me" - 4:05# "Former Self" - 4:51# "Everlasting" - 5:22...
(2000), The Soul Is In The Software
The Soul Is in the Software
The Soul is in the Software is the second full-length album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2002.-Track listing:# "Comment" - 0:27# "Thrillcapsule" - 6:03# "Violations" - 4:32# "In Absence" - 5:02# "Access And Amplify" - 4:59...
(2002), and Machines Are Us
Machines Are Us
Machines Are Us is the third feature-length album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2004. "Android" was released prior to Machines Are Us, and an Ep for "Shelter" was included in the limited edition version of Uploaded And Remixed....
(2004). Icon of Coil garnered a fair amount of popularity within the scene, having their albums distributed worldwide and playing a variety of large festivals. During this same time period, Komor and Richard Bjørklund formed the synthpop/EBM band Monofader
Monofader
The band's debut album Frost, was released on 18 May 2004 through Infacted Recordings for Europe, Metropolis Records for the United States, and on Art Music Group for the USSR.-Track listing:- External links :*...
and released the album Frost in 2004. Sebastian also did drum, sampling and synth programming on an EP titled Fenris for an industrial black metal band called Helheim (note: not the Norwegian black/Viking metal band Helheim).
In 2004, however, Komor relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and activity within Icon of Coil and Monofader has been sparse since, with the geographical distance between Komor and his band mates being cited as a roadblock to completing significant amounts of additional music. Komor has stated that newer Monofader material exists, with a speculative title of Everything Changes but the Sea, but that the project is not a priority right now.
In 2005 Komor started Zombie Girl with Renee Cooper. They released an EP in 2006 and a full album in 2007 through Alfa Matrix and Metropolis. Komor was also signed to electronic rock label FiXT
FiXT Music
FiXT is an American independent media company with several divisions including a record label, an online music store, a film/TV/video game music licensing arm, and a remix contest site and community...
in 2008 for his solo hard techno/trance/industrial project Squarehead. Two advance Squarehead singles featuring guest vocals were released in 2008 and 2009 with a full-length album, Voltage Controlled Body Music, released in March 2010. Sebastian's long time work-in-progress Moonitor, which he describes as techno/tribal, has now also been signed to FiXT and released an album titled To The Past From The Future In The Present. It appears that both Squarehead and Moonitor were one-off projects with no additional albums currently planned, as Komor has stated that he is now fully focused on another of his oldest projects, Melt. Komor has released production music geared towards film, television, and video game soundtracks through FiXT's sister company Position Music. Yet another active side project of Seb's is Komor Kommando, his dark techno/EBM/aggrotech club-oriented DJ alias. One EP has thus far been released on Alfa Matrix, with a full-length album imminent. Additional solo work has been released through Rasputin Records under his real name.
The aforementioned Melt, now rejuvenated after years of being kept on hold by commitments to Icon of Coil, was initially to see an EP called Parasites released in early 2009, but is as of yet still a work in progress, with Seb stating "I just dont want to hurry a release, this is a very personal album, and I just feel it needs to feel right and complete before its ready to be unleashed". Though the name has carried over from work done as early as 1994, all of the current songs being worked on are brand new.
Sebastian does production work as Xenomorph Productions. He produced the album Hearts For Bullets
Hearts For Bullets
Hearts for Bullets is the fifth album by Jennifer Parkin's project Ayria, released in 2008 on the Alfa Matrix label. As with the previous albums, it was also released as a deluxe edition with a bonus disc, although this time, instead of remixes, it featured covers and material by other bands...
by Ayria
Ayria
Ayria, pronounced area, is a Canadian futurepop/synthpop musical project formed in early 2003 by Toronto's Jennifer Parkin following her departure from Epsilon Minus.-Biography:The first Ayria album, Debris, was released on Alfa Matrix in 2003....
in 2008. Komor mastered the Depeche Mode tribute album Alfa Matrix Re:Covered in 2009, which included two covers by Komor Kommando. That same year he also mastered fellow Canadian electro-industrial act iVardensphere
IVardensphere
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, iVardensphere is a band that plays a mixture of tribal-tinged industrial, EBM and power noise music.On June 16, 2009 via Synthetic Sounds the band released their full length album entitled Scatterface across Canada. And in Early 2010, released Scatterface V2 on...
's debut album Scatterface. In February 2010 Komor released a collection of over 400 audio samples from his studio, some from his released projects and some unused. A second volume followed in June of that same year.
Komor is also a visual artist, and designs the artwork for his own releases.
with Icon of Coil
- Shallow Nation (MCD) (2000)
- One Nation Under Beat (MCD) (2000)
- Serenity is the DevilSerenity is the DevilSerenity is the Devil is the first studio album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2000.-Track listing:# "Activate" - 5:26# "Regret" - 5:04# "Shallow Nation" - 4:46# "Down on Me" - 4:05# "Former Self" - 4:51# "Everlasting" - 5:22...
(2000) - Seren EP (2001)
- Access and Amplify (MCD) (2002)
- The Soul is in the SoftwareThe Soul Is in the SoftwareThe Soul is in the Software is the second full-length album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2002.-Track listing:# "Comment" - 0:27# "Thrillcapsule" - 6:03# "Violations" - 4:32# "In Absence" - 5:02# "Access And Amplify" - 4:59...
(2002) - Android (MCD) (2003)
- Machines Are UsMachines Are UsMachines Are Us is the third feature-length album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2004. "Android" was released prior to Machines Are Us, and an Ep for "Shelter" was included in the limited edition version of Uploaded And Remixed....
(2004) - Machines Are Us (2CD) Limited edition (2004)
- Uploaded And RemixedUploadedAndRemixedUploaded and Remixed is a remix album by Icon of Coil; it was released in 2004. It was released as a 2 CD special edition, with the Shelter EP. The Uploaded and Remixed CD featured tracks from the first 2 albums, Serenity is the Devil', 'The Soul is in the Software...
(2004) - Uploaded And Remixed / Shelter Ep (2CD) Limited edition (2004)
- I-II-IIIIcon of Coil - I-II-IIII-II-III are three albums released by Icon of Coil in 2006. Each released separately as re-issues of their first 3 albums , 2 singles and Ep , which were all either out of print, or hard to find.-I: Serenity is the Devil / Shallow...
(2006)
with Zombie Girl
- Back from the DeadBack from the Dead (Zombie Girl album)Back from the Dead is the first EP of the band Zombie Girl. It was released in 2006.- Track listing :#"Creepy Crawler" – 3:58#"We Are the Ones" – 4:24#"Bleeder" – 4:28#"I Want It" – 4:20#"Creepy Crawler " – 3:38...
(2006 Alfa MatrixAlfa MatrixAlfa Matrix is a Belgian record label. Founded in 2001, the label releases various musical styles including aggrotech, dark elektro, synthpop and electronica....
/Metropolis RecordsMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
) - Blood, Brains and Rock 'N' RollBlood, Brains and Rock 'N' RollBlood, Brains and Rock 'N' Roll is the first full length album of the band Zombie Girl. It was released in 2007.- Track listing :#"Blood, Brains & Rock 'N' Roll" – 4:27#"Jesus Was A Zombie" – 4:11#"Creature of the Night" – 4:27...
(2007 Alfa Matrix/Metropolis Records) - Halloween EP (2010)
as Squarehead
- Rockin' (featuring Zombie Girl) single (2008 FiXT)
- Stop, Drop & Roll (featuring XINA) single (2008 FiXT)
- Stop, Drop & Roll remix EP (2009 FiXT)
- Voltage Controlled Body Music (2010 FiXT)
as Komor Kommando
- Das EP (Alfa Matrix 2009)
- "John the Revelator (feat. JL De Meyer of Front 242Front 242Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
)" and "Personal Jesus" on Alfa Matrix Re:Covered - A Tribute To Depeche Mode (Alfa Matrix 2009) - Oil-Steel & Rhythm (Alfa Matrix 2011)
as Sebastian R. Komor
- Elephant/Buzzr single RASP004 (Rasputin Recordings 2007) (both tracks reappear on the debut Squarehead album)
- "Electro Body Music" on Fuck The Mainstream Volume 1 compilation (Alfa Matrix 2007) (reappears on the debut Squarehead album)
- "Das Oontz" on the Endzeit BunkertracksEndzeit BunkertracksEndzeit Bunkertracks is an aggrotech/electro-industrial compilation album series featuring exclusive, deleted and/or hard-to-find tracks. The first volume, or "act", consists of 60 tracks, 50 of them being exclusive...
: Act III Damage Session, (Alfa Matrix 2008) - Production Music Series Vol. 32 - Electronic (2008 Position Music) - 4 tracks
- Production Music Series Vol. 39 - Electronic (2008 Position Music) - all 22 tracks
- From the Vault Vol. 1: Industrial - Crunchy Beats and FX Noisy Synths and Bizarre Ambiance (2010 Xenomorph Productions)
- The Voyage Vol. 1 (2011 FiXT)