Machine (Static-X album)
Machine is the second studio album from the American industrial metal band Static-X, released on May 22, 2001, and recorded at Studio 508. When compared to the band's other albums, Machine features more electronics and industrial effects, and more screamed vocals from Wayne Static. It was also the final Static-X album for eighteen years to feature drummer Ken Jay, and the last for four years to feature lead guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who, despite having already left Static-X, is credited as a keyboardist on the album.
Promotion
The song "This Is Not" provided the album's first single and music video, and later a second single would be found in "Black and White". The song "Cold" also had a video made for it, and tied in with the film Queen of the Damned. It was featured on the film's soundtrack album, as was the exclusive "Not Meant for Me", performed by Wayne Static who replaced Jonathan Davis who sings it in the movie. The song "Anything but This", a bonus track from the Japanese version, is also found on the.Reception
Critical reaction to the album was mixed, the most positive reviews came from Rolling Stone, NME and Drowned in Sound. Terry Bezer of Drowning Sound in his review stated, "It is impossible to put into words just how much Static X have progressed since their last effort. True enough, it’s not the most original of sounds but it does have all the enthusiasm of a bull charging for El Matador’s red cloth and twice the power." Fan reaction was mostly positive as well. Despite the mixed reviews, Machine sold around 500,000 copies in the USA, making it the band's second most successful album and was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 10, 2003, a month after the release of Shadow Zone.Commercial Performance
Machine debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and spent 14 weeks on the chart. While not as successful as the last album, Machine has sold around 500,000 copies in the USA, making it the band's second most successful album and was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 10, 2003, a month after the release of Shadow Zone.Production
In the unreleased Static-X DVD Where the Hell Are We and What Day Is It... This Is Static-X, it was commented that the songs for this album would have guitar solos; however, this was not the case.The opening sample of the track "A Dios Alma Perdida", a synthetic arrangement with a filtered voice speaking in what sounds at times like English, is from the 1978 film Laserblast. This sample is an abbreviated version of a conversation between the aliens in that movie.
Comic book
A comic book series was created by Chaos! Comics entitled "Static-X Machine." Only one volume was printed as Chaos! declared bankruptcy shortly after its release. The comic was packaged with a CD containing one track, "This Is Not," as well as multimedia content featuring back stage interviews with the band and a live music video of "This Is Not" from the 2002 Machine tour.Track listing
Chart positions
;AlbumChart | Peak position |
UK Albums Chart | 56 |
Billboard 200 | 11 |
;Singles
Year | Song | Chart | Peak position |
2001 | "Black and White" | UK Singles Chart | 65 |
2001 | "Black and White" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 35 |
2001 | "This Is Not" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 36 |
2002 | "Cold" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 29 |
Personnel
- Static-X
- *Wayne Static - lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
- *Tony Campos - bass, backing vocals
- *Ken Jay - drums, writing credit
- *Tripp Eisen - guitar
- Koichi Fukuda - additional keyboards on "Otsego Undead"
- Ulrich Wild - keyboards, programming