Machine - Static-X > Reviews > STATIC-X Machine is big and fast

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	a good starter for new static x fans
Disadvantages:	unheard of mainly in the uk

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I like to try new music when i can afford it, and so decided to plop for this one, just mainly i liked the cover and the HAIR...

It starts with a tiny intro of some fanfare which is off the wall soon as the drums thrash at your speakers and all hell breaks loose.
Its not going to be for you if you like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Iron Maiden etc. This groups is much heavier, much faster, buch bigger sound than all those put together.
Some synth work is obvious in this album, but not a lot, so it sould calm you that some samples mid song are there, but not too much to kill thee songs at all.

The single _Black And White, starts with a Cure type intro, guitars building up a rhythm, then drums joining in. You also get a audiable lyric and chorus and possibly the slowest song compared to the rest of the album, but still fast enough to have a good jig about with.

then it all kicks off again, _This Is Not puts it all back into top gear again with heavy guitars, big sounds, big lyrics and head banging quality. And it stays there till till track 7 (_Cold) which the synth has a bit of a airing. the vocals are Marilyn Mansonesque. Chilling and low, slow and harsh chorus, quite a lot of songs have used that technique and it has not failed anyone yet.

_Burn To Burn is another synth intro track, which is not a bad thing, it just divides the songs up better but not enough to made the album sound the same all the way through.
I also have to add, the main singer Wayne, does sing enough so you can understand him, there is hardly "any of the scream of the top your voice and hope it works routine" placed here.

To end the album you have a atmospheric intro _A Dios Alma Perdida, (5:58) joined by slow drums and long wailing guitars and a touch of piano (yup a piano) very much the Hero track in some ways and a step away from what the main theme of all the other songs are like. And there is a nice long bass sound at the end just to get inside your head.

I have not heard anything after this album yet so i cant say this is the new style or just an experiment on their behalf, but in general, it is an album to associate the likes of Fear Factory.