Wayne Static -
Guitar, Vocals, Programming, Keyboard
Koichi Fukuda- Guitar
Nick Oshiro - Drums
Tony Campos - Bass
Static-X can't be stopped. On their sixth studio release, Cult
of Static, the Los Angeles industrial metal quartet engages
sensory destruction. Released March 17, 2009 via Reprise/Warner
Bros. Records, Cult of Static is loaded with songs that explode
on impact. The cybernetic stomp of "Hypure" and "You Am I"
bludgeon, bruise and break with precise grooves. Elsewhere, the
staccato riffs on "Terminal" crush through an unmistakable
guitar tone. Guitarist Koichi Fuduka blazes through incendiary
solos, while Tony Campos bolts down demonic bass lines and Nick
Oshiro pounds out deadly rhythms. Frontman Wayne Static riffs
pure violence and screams out his soul. Static-X venture into
dark thematic territory, crafting more expansive, epic tracks
than ever before. "Grind 2 Halt" take listeners through a
trancey, sonic wasteland of synths and swirling electronic
textures buttressed up against a wall of distortion. Wayne and
Co. descend into aural oblivion, and they're bringing heavy
metal with them. Get ready to join the cult.
Following 2007's massively successful Cannibal, Cult of Static
is a statement. Wayne describes the album best. "Our sound is
always evolving. This record has a lot more depth to it. On
Cannibal, I tried to simplify things more, and on this album, I
didn't worry about that so much. I went back to layering the
music and making it moodier. It's just as heavy as the last
record is, but it's bigger. It's got very epic moments. There
are extremely heavy parts, but this is also the kind of record
you can chill out to with headphones on. For me, it was about
having a balance between fast, driving songs and dreamy,
electronic passages. You can completely escape with it." It's
easy to drift off into delirium during the six-minute "Tera-fied."
The song proves to be a haunting ride that shifts from vampiric
trance to brooding metal, complete with foreboding samples. It's
all driven by Wayne's trademark hypnotic howl.
Since their breakthrough debut, Wisconsin Death Trip, Static-X
have sold over three million records, and they've completed
numerous successful world tours. Cult of Static is the
culmination of over a decade of destruction. "Lunatic" is Cult
of Static's opening call-to-arms. Included on the Punisher: War
Zone soundtrack (available November 25), Static-X offer up a
taste of what's to come with "Lunatic." Relentless and raw, the
song brandishes a ripping groove and an impenetrable barrier of
guitars. The version on the soundtrack certainly kills, but the
album cut features a solo by legendary Megadeth frontman Dave
Mustaine. "I've been a huge Megadeth fan for years, and we've
toured with them twice. Dave and I really hit it off on the
road. His lead style is one of the most distinctive styles out
there. There's something amazing about it. When you hear him
solo, you know it's him."
Beyond working with Mustaine, Wayne co-produced Cult of Static
with John Travis [Kid Rock, Buckcherry, Social Distortion].
However, this time, they recorded at Wayne's new home studio.
"Recording at home gave me the freedom to work any time. I could
write at my own pace, and it was much more comfortable. Most of
this record was written between midnight and six in the morning.
This whole album is an experiment." First single "Z28" captures
that immediacy and raw emotion. It possesses a rock n' roll
vibrancy forged to Static-X's electronic sensibility.
Once again, Wayne has followed his creative impulses to the
fullest. "This record is definitely the most personal for me.
Since I got married last year, there have been lots of emotions.
Music is always going to reflect where you're at. It's been a
really inspiring time. The last year of my life has been the
greatest. Doing OZZfest 2007, Gigantour and the two headline
tours made it the best, but I'm still a workaholic. It all comes
down to hard work. I don't take vacations. I'm writing the next
record now, and that's what it takes."
There are no days off in heavy metal. While recording Cult of
Static, Static-X also dropped a live CD/DVD compilation entitled
Cannibal Killers in October 2008. The collection showcases the
band decimating a sold out crowd, and it captures their frenetic
energy. "I'm a big believer in entertainment," exclaims Wayne.
"Our shows have a party atmosphere. We have a good time, and we
invite the crowd to have a good time with us. I want people to
forget about everything for the hour we're onstage." That's why
the fans still pack houses all over the world for Static-X on
every tour. No doubt, 2009 will see the band on the road
continuously again.
The title says it all. "Our fans are so loyal. I'm jokingly
calling it a cult, but our fans have that kind of loyalty. We've
been putting out records and touring for ten years now, and I
think we can get away with this title. We have this massive
group of diehard followers. We're one of the biggest underground
bands ever." However, on Cult of Static, the band resonates far
past the underground.
In the end, Static-X are here to stay. "We're one of the bands
that you either love or hate," concludes Wayne. "There's really
no in-between. The fans are going to love this new album. It
makes you want to drive fast. It makes you want to fuck. It
makes you want to fight. It makes you want to feel." It'll make
you want to join the Cult of Static and never look back. – Rick
Florino
Show dates:
Jun 12 2009
8:00P Rabarock Festival
Tallinn
Jun 13 2009 8:00P Download Festival
Derby
Jun 14 2009 8:00P Cathouse
Glasgow
Jun 15 2009 8:00P Limelight (with Down) Belfast
Jun 16 2009 8:00P Academy (with Down) Dublin
Jun 18 2009 8:00P Corporation
Sheffield
Jun 19 2009 8:00P Islington Academy
London
Jun 21 2009 8:00P Nova Rock Nickelsdorf
Jun 22 2009 8:00P Abart
Zurich
Jun 23 2009 8:00P
59:1
Munich
Jun 25 2009 8:00P Underground
Koln
Jun 26 2009 8:00P Graspop
Dessel
Jun 27 2009 8:00P Serengeti Open Air Bielefeld
Jun 28 2009 8:00P Gods of Metal
Monza
Jun 30 2009 8:00P Colos Saal
Aschaffenberg
Jul 1 2009 8:00P Bibelot
Dordrecht
Jul 3 2009 8:00P With Full Force Festival Flughafen Roitschjora
Jul 4 2009 8:00P Rock for People
Hradec Kralove
Aug 6 2009 8:00P The Machine Shop Flint, Michigan
Aug 7 2009 8:00P iWireless Center Moline, Illinois
Aug 8 2009 8:00P Rockford Metro Center Rockford
Aug 9 2009 8:00P Willow Island Madison, Wisconsin
Aug 11 2009 8:00P Landon Arena Topeka, Kansas
Aug 12 2009 8:00P Alltel Arena Mankato, Minnesota
Aug 14 2009 2:00P Westfair Amphitheater Omaha, Nebraska
Aug 18 2009 8:00P Napa Idaho Amphitheater Boise, Idaho
Aug 19 2009 8:00P Ryan Creek Meadows Missoula, Montana
Aug 25 2009 8:00P Cubhert Amphitheater Eugene, Oregon
Aug 26 2009 8:00P Events Center Reno, Nevada
Aug 28 2009 8:00P San Jose Civic Center San Jose, California
Aug 29 2009 8:00P Rabobank Arena Bakersfield, California
Sep 1 2009 8:00P Sports Arena San Diego, California
Sep 2 2009 8:00P Mesa Amphitheatre Mesa, Arizona
Sep 4 2009 8:00P Concrete Street Pavilion Corpus Christi,
Texas
Sep 5 2009 8:00P Sunken Gardens San Antonio, Texas
Sep 6 2009 8:00P Lonestar Amphitheatre Lubbock, Texas
Sep 9 2009 8:00P Zoo Amphitheater Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sep 10 2009 7:00P Minglewood Hall Memphis, Tennessee
Sep 12 2009 8:00P Headliners Toledo, Ohio
Sep 14 2009 7:00P The Blue Note Columbia, Missouri
Sep 15 2009 7:00P Beaumont Club Kansas City, Missouri
Sep 16 2009 7:00P Black Sheep Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sep 17 2009 8:00P Sunshine Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sep 19 2009 8:00P Gators Farmington, New Mexico
Sep 19 2009 8:00P Gators Farmington, New Mexico
Sep 19 2009 8:00P Rialto Tucson, Arizona
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