Review Tuesday - On CD: Cult of Static by Static-X

CULT OF STATIC is the 6th studio album from Static-X. I was really looking forward to this release, even though it took me by surprise, because I felt that the previous recording, CANNIBAL, was almost too raw and crude. I feared the band might've taken a wrong turn. And I read that a couple songs contain his new wife's name but nothing about Otsego? What's going on here?

I ordered the special autographed edition I referenced HERE and it arrived on the release date. I like dealing with that company, they send you notifications every step of the way and they're quick. I also ordered from Amazon trying to get the special edition with extra tracks that I referenced HERE. More on these special editions later...

The second I pressed play on the CD player and Lunatic, the first track, began to play, I KNEW I liked what I was hearing. After listening to the entire album about four times I i came to the conclusion that Static-X is back of to form. The record is harder than ever, but cleaner. The production values are much improved over the previous album but keeps them down the harder, more Evil Disco path that they've been going down. This band line-up does a great job making music together and the outcome is the best album since SHADOWZONE, in my humble opinion. Same great work! It starts with a hard rocking explosion that grabs you, embraces you and won't let go until the CD is finished then you just want to start all over again!

The production values are greatly improved over CANNIBAL. All sounds and level are perfect. Being a drummer, the drum sounds are very important to me. Nick's expertise behind the double-kick bass drums really comes cuts through but doesn't overwhelm. Perfect! The guitars sound great and there are solos once again. Tony's bass is ever present and Wayne's vocals are more gravelly than ever, the way it should be.

"Cult of Static" Tracklisting:

1. Lunatic
2. Z28
3. Terminal
4. Hypure
5. Tera-Fied
6. Stingwray
7. You Am I
8. Isolaytore
9. Nocturnally
10. Skinned
11. Grind 2 Halt
12. W.F.O. [Bonus Track]
13. Looks That Kill [Bonus Track]

Now the part that annoyed me. There was a special edition of this album that was autographed. I ordered that. There was a special edition with extra tracks that you were supposed to get through Amazon. When I got order from Amazon there were no extra tracks. It turns out that one never became available, so you have to order it through Amazon's affiliate stores. There's also a Best Buy special offer that allows you to download yet ANOTHER track (Talk Dirty To Me) directly from the Static-X website. If I want to hear that track I have to buy a fourth copy of the album. I love the band, and I've been a fan since the first album came out, but really, that's taking advantage of the fans. This is how people end up bootlegging mp3s, so they don't have to buy the same CD four times!

Gripes aside, this immediately became the soundtrack of my commute and will be so for a while. It's just so good, so fun, and gets the blood pumping. Cult of Static hit stores last week on March 17th so it's available everywhere already. Go get it!