Static-X - Machine ♠♠♠♠Static-X - Shadow Zone ♠♠♠♠
Static-X - Beneath... Between... Beyond... ♠♠
S.O.D. - Speak English or Die ♠♠♠♠♠
Suffocation - Human Waste EP ♠♠♠
Suffocation - Souls to Deny ♠♠♠♠
Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown ♠♠♠♠
Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies ♠♠♠♠♠
Yes, I'm in the "S's" and, yes, there is a new Dragonforce album in this list. I had it with me yesterday but didn't crack it open after 2 weeks until today. More later.
Static-X is, without a doubt, the most under-rated band to come out big during the 1998 - 2002 period when metal was mired in nu-metal copycats. Static-X was lumped into that mix, despite owing more to Ministry and Metallica than Korn and Public Enemy. Their brand of industrial and metal was a welcome relief and a great counter-point to the ultra-sleek and shiny veneer of late-90's synth-pop.
Despite the fame they did achieve, many critics have held the band, and their albums, in negative views. I, on other hand, no longer do that. Yes, until 2004, I was in the "Static-X Sucks" camp, although it's hard to know why. Most likely it was because of the timing, but still, the band was great. Machine was a great follow-up to Wisconsin Death Trip, and Shadow Zone was panned MUCH harsher than it should have. There's a lot of good songs on this album as it blends their ferocity with a bit of a more mellow edge.
Although, without a doubt, BBB (to be short) was not good. Not even close. A collection of B-Sides and Rarities (and it makes sense after 3 albums; they had done a LOT of soundtracks), the album fails for one simple reason; It's not a cohesive piece. Static-X works best as a machine; each track on an album is like a piece of that machine and each element, each tiny piece, works perfectly in sync with the others. When you have a B-Side collection, your basically taking assorted pieces and seeing what happens. Instead of building a killing machine... you've got some insane contraption made to fix your breakfast like in Back to the Future... only it doesn't work.
The new Dragonforce album, "Ultra Beatdown", is a good solid album, but not one worth noting much. Preaching to the converted more than anything, really. Meanwhile, SOD's landmark album, "Speak English or Die" still holds well, the first album to introduce crossover AND blipcore!
Finally, Suicidal Tendencies self-titled debut.... without a doubt, in terms of an album that can speak to nearly ANYONE, this is THE most important album to ever be released! At least, in terms of lyrics. It's hard not to relate to lyrics about suicide and a horrible life, isn't it?
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