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Static-X
Machine


2.5
average

Review

by taylormemer USER (92 Reviews)
December 6th, 2005 | 56 replies


Release Date: 2001 | Tracklist


Imagine yourself, hacking into an FBI computer network, enclosed inside a small dark apartment where nothing more than moonlight to highlight the keyboard shines, then this is the setting that would best suit the sample driven group Static-X.

Making a brief introduction in 1999 with the album Wisconsin Death Trip the band didn't make much impact musically. Since that prelude the band have produced and recorded four albums to follow, the latest being the recent release Start a War, {2005}. During this period of just over six years fronted by Wayne Static, Static-X have developed a quite individual sound, blending fast techno rhythm with a industrial nuance in a metalcore theatrical make-up, which can either have you pondering or thrown back.

While making some success in their early stages, the band found themselves in many moments of loosing members and regaining them, which tossed them around constantly. This effect probably assisted the quartet into falling behind the barrage of metal and not keeping into appropriate technical rhythm with other success stories at the time with groups such as Slipknot (with a similar sound in their first two albums), Korn, and a few groups that were making immediate success while coming out of the darkened closet like Chimaira, Shadows Fall and finally Trivium. With all these success stories circling Static-X, their reputation became minuscule and a hardcore fan base small. The band has still never made to ultimate achievement in the now enormous world of American metal.

The album Machine, {2001} follows on from Wisconsin Death Trip and is an assortment of everything that is Static-X. From its foregoing album, which featured the guitarist Koichi Fukada (who would later return on their latest studio recording), this album features Tripp Eisen, former Dope guitarist who also recorded with the Murderdolls. He would later leave weak ties with Static-X after being jailed for child molestation and kidnapping after only residing with the band for two years.

Machine's roller coaster begins with "Bien Vendios" and is purely a bizarre circus recording which holds little emotion or style and can be shunted off immediately. After its brief disappointing precursor the album quickly turns into what most people recognize as Static-X; fast techno metal. "Get to the Gone" remains as one of the album's few highlights and begins with Static churning out an inhuman growl backed by bouncing hi-hats and rhythm guitar, which most of the album is composed of. While this sound is somewhat matchless and may even bring the occasional 360° loop to its grinding course, it wont leave most people's heads turned, on the other hand if you are a fan then you should quite enjoy its overall composition and will certainly be taken on for the ride.

Unfortunately after even just the third track, no progression musically is shown and you're left searching the rest of your playlist for something more to your liking. It becomes difficult to string out the album into its individual parts because it simply feels like one complete piece that lasts 42 minutes, with only the occasional off-throw movement. The differentiation between tracks like "Permanence," "Cold" and "This Is Not" is insignificant and can drag the album into its lower points quickly. The roller coaster at this point turns quickly into a continuous helix, catching little more then a few random catchy interludes and breakdowns like in the song "Burn to Burn", another highlight for the album. If by this time you haven't become jaded into monotony you will hear the final two tracks that conclude the album, "Machine" nothing more the a final filler track to only concern diehard fans, showing everything that has already been done in the albums first few turns and a conclusive instrumental "A Dios Alma Perdida" that simply slows the tempo, and mills the coaster to a measured ending, only to be finally completed with low frequency clamor.

Following up the Machine is "Shadow Zone", {2003}[/u] and "Beneath, Between, Beyond", {2004}. These two albums reference many movements of Korn-like rhythms and arrangements while also dividing the equation with hints of Slipknot and Ministry. Overall their composition is merely a unity of these bands, showing a slight unique style, but nothing to marvel on. Machine for many can be interpreted in a similar way, and it would be being rational to describe this particular work as an average production from a band that is still struggling to start. The songwriting is simple, yet on the occasion quite effective, the lyrics aren't relevant to begin description towards because they follow a standard teen-angst style, and finally the drums and guitar are programmed to blast out a sonic driven course that can only on the rare instance gouge the surface of whatever they are trying to create.

(Machine was also released as a Japanese import with two untitled bonus tracks, adding little to it's already average composition).



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user ratings (493)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
wikuk
December 6th 2005


1110 Comments


nice review, i'm voting!!

Ace_of_Bass2112
December 6th 2005


257 Comments


that was a very nice review. I like Wisconsin Death Trip better though but this had some nice songs on it

sj_2150
December 7th 2005


251 Comments


i only liked tracks 1,2 and 4

Shattered_Future
December 7th 2005


1632 Comments


Good review.

About half this album is good, and the rest is generic. Get To The Gone, Permenance, Black And White, Ostego Undead, and Cold i rather like. The rest I could care less about.

Clown Factory
December 19th 2005


16 Comments


Some of it is good, but it's not their best

RunAmokRampant
December 20th 2005


228 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I liked this one the best. I don't listen to Static-X anymore but I remember that I enjoyed this album the most. Very well written review.

Shaun of the Dead
January 18th 2006


30 Comments


is this like start a war?

f_u_c_t
May 1st 2006


1406 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

ah, retaliation, or however you spell it.

Hellequin
June 3rd 2006


1 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

well this is my first static X album but I have heard afew of their songs around the place (originally from Queen of the damned) and I though it was pretty decent. Anyway it was a great review taylormemer, good for general knowledge about the band and for info about the album

BallsToTheWall
September 18th 2007


51592 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Cold is my anthem. It is a great song on a great cd.

Digging: Fulci - Tropical Sun

Burn2Burn
July 26th 2008


2374 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Burn to Burn is seriously great, and makes for a nifty name gank.



Suprised you didn't talk about Black and White, though, seeing as how it's the best song on the album.

taylormemer
July 26th 2008


4964 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

It's weird looking back at this from so long ago.

Burn2Burn
July 26th 2008


2374 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Nothing like reviving a 2.5 year old review

taylormemer
July 26th 2008


4964 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I've looked back at a few of my art critiques from back then to be shocked by how bad they were, to then read this and be pleasantly surprised by how much better I seemed to approach music.

fireaboveicebelow
July 26th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I still enjoy this

Relinquished
March 10th 2009


48973 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This did not do much for me. I did enjoy Permanence, Burn To Burn, Black and White, and Cold.

BallsToTheWall
March 10th 2009


51592 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Yah, Cold is the jam of jams.

Burn2Burn
January 15th 2010


2374 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Album still rules face.

Jebull
October 26th 2010


1439 Comments


Cold is their best song

Curse.
October 26th 2010


8079 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

wrong, The Trance Is The Motion is their best song



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