REGENERATING A SOUND
Metal group Static-X releasing new songs featuring the last recordings of the band’s late frontman
Wayne Static, former frontman of Static-X, died in 2014. It was an emotional moment for the metal and music world, even for the misunderstood fanbase, stereotyped as being menacing and emotionally reckless at times. It was also a reminder that everyone is capable of crying, no matter the cavity that entombs the tears.
Nearly 10 years later, Wayne Static is back. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda, drummer Ken Jay and bassist Tony Campos, the original members of Static-X, reconvened in 2018 to produce new material, featuring previously unreleased tracks with Static’s vocals.
“In a weird way it was kind of like working with Wayne again,” Campos said, “the way we worked together as a band back in the early days before we got our record contract.”
Static-X recently began its “Rise of the Machine Tour” and will make a stop at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque on Wednesday, March 8, in support of the band’s upcoming release, “Project Regeneration: Vol. 2,” which is a combination of recovered material and new songs, some featuring the final recordings of Static.
The first volume of the project was released in 2020, and it has been a tedious experience for everyone who has worked on the project — but well worth the final cut. The group found damaged tapes that consisted of Static’s vocals and some raw programming, and they essentially reverted back to splicing tape.
“We had to go in and could only read two or three seconds at a time before it started glitching out, so we had to just take little snippets and then piece it all together, Campos explained. “It was a painstaking process, but I think the results speak for themselves.”
The new album is solely made up of collaborations between the original Static-X members and the band’s new vocalist and guitarist Xer0. The unidentified frontman, who dons a mask representing Static while on stage, joined the group in 2019.
The first single released from the new album is a reimagined cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Terrible Lie” with Static’s vocals, and Campos said it’s being received well by the fanbase.
“As far as I can tell, they seem to really like what we’re doing,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s what matters to me … we’re doing this for the fans.”
Campos, who will be celebrating a birthday while in Albuquerque, said about the Duke City’s metal following, “The crowd out there, you guys are nuts. … Couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate a birthday and put on a rock show.”
“Project Regeneration: Vol. 2” was produced by Xer0 and mastered by the band’s longtime collaborator Ulrich Wild. Edsel Dope served as executive producer.
“It’s putting your trust in somebody to be able to get you the sound you’re looking for,” Campos said about the chemistry between the band and producers.