Machine
Static-X and their 1999 debut,Wisconsin Death Trip, seemed to garner more interest for singer Wayne Static's gravity-defying hairstyle than for the L.A.-based lineup's genre-defying music. The aptly titled sophomore outing,Machine, is the worthy, if expected, follow-up. The intense, mechanized, futuristic metal found here comes across as a thrash version ofOrgy, with a dollop ofMinistryand a dash ofPowerman 500tossed in for extra punch. The intense, short bursts that are "Get to the Gone" and "This Is Not" are forceful and demanding, thanks to Static's growl-scream and the rhythmic power of the music. The spooky "Cold" and epic album closer, "A Dios Alma Perdida," would be suitable for a horror-movie soundtrack, while "Otsego Undead" kicks off with a welcome organic drum sound, though the song never really goes anywhere--a problem that resurfaces throughoutMachine. Indeed, the album's revved-up vibe, monster riffs, and irresistible energy are all ultimately held down by a dearth of memorable songs.--Katherine Turman