Static X
Starting a group can be difficult but it helps to know where to look for talent. Musicians get together through ads, meet at parties or at a record store. The latter happened to vocalist/guitarist Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay. Static, who grew up in Michigan, lit out for Chicago. Jay also landed in the Second City and got a job in a record store where he was introduced to Static by none other than the Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. Static and Jay hit it off and decided to move to California and start a band. Once in the land of sunshine, surf and palm trees, the two ran an ad and recruited Osaka-native Koichi Fukada as guitarist/programmer. Bassist Tony Campos, an actual real-life Californian, joined shortly thereafter. Static X's aggressive Metal/Industrial sound got them signed by Warner Brothers. Their '99 release "Wisconsin Death Trip" went gold.
Some groups disintegrate due to personnel changes while others, oddly enough, seem to do just fine. Static X was one of those groups. Each album spawned a departure. First, Fukada left with Tripp Eisen taking his place for '01 release "Machine." Two years later, after "Shadow Zone" dropped Jay departed. The following year Eisen was out due to personal problems. That prompted Fukada's return with Nick Oshiro, formerly of Seether, serving as touring drummer. Oshiro was eventually made a full-time member. The group released "Start A War" in June of '05.
It's a deadly world and Static X takes it on. They weren't joking when they called one of their albums "Start A War." Opening track, "The Enemy" is hostile and fierce. The line "kill or be killed" comes up repeatedly. The title track, among others, features distorted guitars and dark vocals lashed to a slaughterhouse beat. There's nothing more to say. But there is a lot more to listen to.
Static X makes their roaring appearance with "Wisconsin Death Trip," featuring "Push It." It's the best of their three earlier efforts. There is some debate whether "Machine" or "Shadow Zone" is better. But truth be told there isn't much difference between the two or even their debut for that matter. It's hard charging, defiant, brutal Rock built around songs titled "I'm With Stupid, "Bleed For Days" ("Wisconsin Death Trip"), "Destroy All," "Dead Zone," "Kill Your Idols" ("Shadow Zone"), "Black And White," "Ostego Undead" and "Burn To Burn" ("Machine").
Static X's use of electronic noise led some to doubt the group is "real" Metal. The argument is moot. They have more than enough power and drive, not to mention Static's howls and wails, to satisfy any headbanger.