WAYNE STATIC - PIGHAMMER CD Review

ARTIST: Wayne Static
TITLE: Pighammer
YEAR: 2011
LABEL: Dirthouse
REVIEWED BY: Steve Miller

Remember the good old days of Static X? Remember when Tripp wasn't a convicted sex offender? Remember the braided beard? If the answer is "yes", I think you may actually enjoy this album.

At the risk of drawing too many parallels to Static-X (which is almost impossible considering Wayne is the core), I have to say, this is the best album Mr. Static has been involved with since Machine. Pighammer seems to be the bastard child of Wisconsin Death Trip and Cult of Static, taking the more repetive elements of Cult of Static and mixing them with the ridiculously awesome heavy riffing of songs like "I'm With Stupid, and "Otsegolation" from Wisconsin Death Trip.

As a preface, I have a specific 3 listen style of the album before I pass final judgement:

1. First, I listen with a nice pair of headphones and try to focus on everything as a whole (I might be alone in my room, or taking transit).

2. The second listen I tend to throw it on my living room system (which is badass) and go about a monotonous task (which may be cooking, cleaning, slamming folk in Call of Duty, etc).

3. The final, most awesome style of listening, I go through it under the influence of my current beverage of choice (this time being a nice bottle of Malbec, and the leftovers of "Mojo Fruits Tropicaux" from a party, judge all you want but it's tasty and came through in a pinch). Upon consumption, I like to write out a bullet-form list as I go through the album.

For example :

- It still amazes me that Wayne Static can jam 30 syllables into 4 seconds.
- A little repetitive, but then again I just saw Alcest and enjoy this more.
- Has Wayne been hanging out with Godsmack?
- I haven't heard "GO!" nearly enough times yet...
- Nope nevermind, there we "Go!". (Please delete this pun later for reader's sake).
- Thunder Invader: Heavy as balls. Must point this out. Also; WOOOO DANCE PARTY.
- The intro to Static Killer reminds me of an adult movie mixed with those early 90's Apogee computer games, until it gets heavier.
- "She" seems like a leftover from Wisconsin Death Trip. Definitely a favourite so far.
- Get it Together, kind of filler-y?
- HOLY CRAP. Chrome Machine. Fantastic. I actually had a little headbang session for the first time all album. Again with the syllables...
- Shifter is pretty monotonous again, but I do enjoy the lyrics
- Slave is a reminder that a lot of us used to listen to Disturbed. Not sure how I feel about that.
- Decent programming on Behind the Sky. Not too intricate, a little ominous, it just fits. Then begins the heavy.
- Why I have an overwhelming urge to listen to Coal Chamber now I do not know...
- I would kill for a lighter that works right now...

All in all this album left me hanging a bit. It was good, though I can almost guarantee it won't enter my regular rotation. Much like playing NES, it's novel for a little while, but inevitably you'll find yourself back on an updated platform. Though there is a fair amount of filler, the overall feel is that of an album that should have come out in the early 2000's. Yes, it was a dark time, but there's a lot of nostalgia assosciated with it. I think Mr. Wells realized this was a current trend (Yes, Wayne Static, né Wayne Wells), and put out exactly what he wanted to, with a little twist on the oldschool (Can you believe 1999 was 12 years ago?).

In the end I'd say this is a great album to throw on in the background of a party or a blitzcleaning session. It will keep you motivated, and generally you're going to enjoy it. Not the thinking man's album, but definitely a solid output.

TRACKLISTING :

01. Pighammer
02. Around the Turn
03. Assassins of Youth
04. Thunder Invader
05. Static Killer
06. She
07. Get It Together
08. Chrome Nation
09. Shifter
10. Slave
11. The Creatures are Everywhere
12. Behind the Sky