Who knows what a potential new Static-X album would’ve sounded like. Would it have been like the more straightforward Metal album Cult Of Static was or would it have been similar to front man Wayne Static’s final (Up until now) recorded work on his solo outing, Pighammer, which tread the line between early Static-X and something else entirely.
Whatever the case, we’ll never know after the tragic loss of Static in 2014. What fans do have with Project Regeneration Vol. 1 is a celebration of Static’s unique voice and music which cements his legacy as the progenitor of “Evil Disco”. Culled from the final vocal recordings and compositions left in his wake, the original members of Static-X (Tony Campos, Ken Jay, and Koichi Fukuda) reunited to create the first volume of what is sure to be back-to-back classic Static-X albums.
From start to finish, Project Regeneration Vol. 1 captures the magic of the first two Static-X albums but made in contemporary times. Not a throwback or a retread, Project… takes the Static-X sound in a new direction to give fans a re-energized slab of ripping Electro Metal befitting the departed front man.
“Regeneration” has sampled call outs to the legendary debut within as this ethereal techno-organic atmosphere is built and segue’s nicely into “Hollow (Project Regeneration)” which goes all out with Fukuda’s crushing riffage once again at the forefront.
“Worth Dyin’ For” finds that inherent groove Static-X were synonymous with and Static adopting his low drawl a la “Bled For Days” while “Terminator Oscillator” is vicious, hearkening back to the heaviest moments of Machine as Jay switches between brutal pummeling and pulsating beats.
“All These Years” is haunting and clear as Campos’ iconic low end work induces veritable tremors in yer bones before the crunchy stomp of “Accelerate” makes its’ way into your earholes and fully realizes the Ministry feels on a track that brings the monstrous propulsion of a juggernaut like “Just One Fix” to mind.
The method of groove lives large within the Electro-charged “Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)” which is classic Static-X as this anthemic, sample-laden monster has Static taking a more melodic turn on the vox this time around bringing up moments form Shadow Zone in particular.
“My Destruction” is straight out of the B-sides/rarities collection Beneath…Between…Beyond… (“So Real” fully realized) with a gargantuan call and response from Static and Campos and an ominous sampled refrain of “The road to hell is paved with blood” echoing throughout.
“Something Of My Own (Project Regeneration)” is a massive ditty with an equally massive chorus that easily could’ve been a new Static-X live staple/mega single and later, “Follow” is a straight up shredder filled with ghostly programming leading into a devastating breakdown that’s jarring yet gels with the overall aesthetic.
The “Otsego” series on Static-X albums is one of the staples of the band’s discography and luckily, the trend continues here with “Otsego Placebo” being the most batshit insane of them all. Manic and metallic and filled with Total Recall soundbites (The good one with Arnie, obviously) cuz of course we’re in a Philip K Dick novel.
Another staple of Static-X albums is a fitting epic closer that’s more dirge than dance. Here, “Dead Souls” heeds the call with Al Jourgensen lending his legendary pipes on a song that drives along the same kind of sonic highway as Ministry’s “The Fall” coupled with Static-X’s “December” amid pained screams from Campos.
Lovingly mixed and mastered by original Static-X producer Ulrich Wild (With production from the enigmatic live vocalist, Xero), Project Regeneration Vol. 1 is not only a fitting tribute to Static but so good that it might cause even the staunchest of black-hearted metalheads to choke up. More than once.
Project Regeneration Vol. 1 comes at you through Otsego Entertainment Group on July 10h. Pre-order your copy by clicking here. For more on Static-X, including potential dates with Xero and info regarding Vol. 2 head here, here, or here.