NU NOSTALGIA
Metal act Dope released another album in 2023 and is on tour with Static-X
Edsel Dope has been longrumored as Xer0, the anonymous, somewhat ominous, new frontman of Static-X. Yet, as critics and fans play detective amid the denials, Dope’s contributions to his peers go far beyond what could or could not lie underneath a mask and stems from a decades-old relationship.
“It was back in 1999 when Fear Factory, Static-X and Dope all toured together … we all became lifelong friends from that experience,” Dope said. “Static-X and Dope really cut our teeth together in front of those same audiences,” Dope said. “So 20 years later, you put that package back together … it’s awesome for us as it is for (the fans).”
Working together on Static-X’s “Project Regeneration: Vol. 2” has been fluid from a collaboration standpoint, but Dope said the production process to revive Wayne Static’s voice and music has been very demanding, from cutting tape to layering vocals to writing music over barely-salvagable programming.
“Volume one and volume two were very challenging albums to make for a multitude of reasons. Just the absolute disarray of what he had to work with … all while keeping the integrity of it being Wayne and sounding like Wayne,” Dope explained. “So it was super painstaking, but also incredibly rewarding. … It’s remarkable.”
The project has been well-received by not only fans, the group and production team, but Wayne Static’s family as well. Something Dope is incredibly proud of.
He said, “Hard work and imagination and creativity and will, a commitment to making something that unquestionably was worthy of the name Static-X and worthy of Wayne Static’s final release, that was all incredibly important to us.”
Dope and his band recently dropped an album of their own on Feb. 24, “Blood Money Part Zer0.” Don’t read too much into that title, by the way.
The collection of tracks was provided to fans free digitally and stays true to Dope’s industrial rock sound. The band expertly fuses heavy riffs and programming to craft a melodic blend of high-octane outcast anthems full of love and hate.
Dope said, “What I’m doing is writing songs that are based on whatever it is that I’m going through, or whatever message I feel like I’m trying to get out there, because that’s just naturally being an artist and not censoring myself. … I feel like ‘Blood Money Part Zer0’ is super wide.”
The music is for those fans who love the nu metal sound that started in the ’90s, and the tour is geared toward that same loyal following. With that in mind, the band always tries to stop in Albuquerque.
“I’ve been coming to Albuquerque since the beginning of my career,” Dope said. “It’s always just been a really rambunctious, rowdy, energetic … fun place.”
Dope added, “For the most part, we all understand that we’re nostalgia acts, we’re legacy acts at this point, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”
The tour still revolves around StaticX’s “Project Regeneration: Vol. 2” and the legacy of the late Wayne Static, however.
“To have the dude’s soul built into the fabric while not being here, I wish I could be a bystander because I would really praise this thing,” Dope said. “I’m just super happy with the result and grateful for the fans’ acceptance of it, and their celebration of it … and to be doing something with my friends.”