Zeromancer

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Zeromancer
Zeromancer at Zita Rock festival 2008
Zeromancer at Zita Rock festival 2008
Background information
Origin Norway
Genre(s) Industrial Rock
Years active 2000 - present
Label(s) Warner Music Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Cleopatra Records
Associated acts Seigmen
Ljungblut
Affected
Website http://www.zeromancer.com
Members
Alex Møklebust (vocals)
Lorry Kristiansen (programming)
Kim Ljung (bass guitar)
Noralf Ronthi (drums)
Dan Heide (Lead Guitar)
Former members
Chris Schleyer (guitar)
Erik Ljunggren (programming)

Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock group.

Contents

[edit] History

The core of Zeromancer met in the influential Norwegian band Seigmen. During the 1990s, Seigmen dominated the Norwegian rock scene and also made a name for themselves internationally, playing concerts abroad.

When Seigmen split in 1999, Alex Møklebust (vocals), Erik Ljunggren (programming), Kim Ljung (bass guitar) and Noralf Ronthi (drums) joined forces with Chris Schleyer (formerly of Kidneythieves) (guitar) as Zeromancer.

[edit] Music

The music of Zeromancer largely falls within the category of Industrial Rock, alongside such bands as Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Die Krupps, Oomph!, and Rammstein. Elements of Synthpop are present in some of their work, bearing similarities to that of Depeche Mode.

In the spring of 2000 'Zeromancer released their first album, Clone Your Lover. The title track was a minor hit at many clubs and venues. The album also won Zeromancer the award for the best newcomer of 2000 at the German Alternative Music Awards.

In 2001 they released the album Eurotrash, which featured a cover version of the song "Send Me an Angel" by Australian Group Real Life, the original having been a major hit in 1983.

In the spring of 2003, coinciding with the US reissue of Clone Your Lover, the band toured in the United States with the early 1990s bands Pigface and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. This tour did much to increase Zeromancer's fanbase in the United States.

In the autumn of 2003 Zeromancer released their third album, Zzyzx. The name comes from a street sign that band saw while touring in the United States. In San Bernardino County, California, there is a place named Zzyzx Springs, which was named to ensure that it would be last in the index of all US place names. Following the release, Chris Schleyer left the band, and joined A Perfect Circle as a rehearsal guitarist. As of March 2007, Chris Schleyer is promoting his new band Affected, and working with Nine Inch Nails on their current tour.

The band is currently on a temporary hiatus. Kim Ljung is active with his band, Ljungblut, Alex Møklebust has done some producing for a few Norwegian bands (such as Gåte and Don Juan Dracula) and Erik Ljunggren has lent his programming skills to a number of other artists (Satyricon, Undergod).

According to the official Zeromancer website, "ZMR promise to return fall of 2006. An early ten track demo from the Oval room is recorded." As of April 30th 2008, there has been no official word on another release, although a song named "Doppleganger I Love You" has been played in Europe, so far peaking at number 4 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts[1]. It has since been leaked to the internet. The song is rumored to be from an upcoming Zeromancer album called "Sinners International". On October 22nd, 2007, Zeromancer released their second single from their rumored upcoming album, the single titled "I'm Yours To Lose" was released on a CD single which includes a remix of "Doppleganger I Love You".

[edit] Discography

  1. Teenage Recoil
  2. Hollywood
  3. Famous Last Words
  4. Erotic Saints
  5. Idiot Music
  6. Stop the Noise!
  7. Feed You With a Kiss
  8. Lamp Halo
  9. Mosquito Coil
  10. Blood Music
  11. New Madonna
  12. Gone To Your Head

There are several different versions of this album all with different songs at the end. This is track listing for 2004 Cleopatra Records version.

All songs by Keller, Ljung, and Schröder. The last two songs are special tracks.

  1. Doctor Online
  2. Eurotrash
  3. Need You Like a Drug
  4. Chrome Bitch
  5. Wannabe
  6. Neo Geisha
  7. Cupola
  8. Send Me an Angel (Cover by band Real Life)
  9. Plasmatic
  10. Raising Hell
  11. Philharmonic
  12. Germany

All songs by Ljung, except Send me an angel by Sterry and Zatorski.

  1. Clone Your Lover
  2. Flirt (With Me)
  3. Something for the Pain
  4. Split Seconds
  5. Fade to Black
  6. God Bless the Models
  7. Opelwerk
  8. Flagellation
  9. Die of a Broken Heart
  10. Houses of Cards

All songs by Ljung.

[edit] In other media

  • An edited version of Zeromancer's song, "Chrome Bitch," was used as part of the opening bumper for the syndicated radio program Loveline.
  • "Flirt with me" was used in a Norwegian program called "Singel 24/7" on TV3.

[edit] Etymology

Zeromancer derived their name by combining the titles of the novels Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis, and Neuromancer by William Gibson.[2]

[edit] Albums

"Dr. Online (Rico remix)" appears on the Graver's Paradise album, remixed by Rico Darum. Another version of "Dr. Online" appears on Non-Stop Ride, an industrial album compiled by the band Godhead.

"Cupola" appears on Beauty in Darkness Vol. 6.

[edit] External links