Static-X has shared a brand new single, “Hollow”, out now on all streaming DSPs. The song is from the highly anticipated new album, Project Regeneration, featuring the last recordings of the band’s late frontman Wayne Static, which is due on May 29. The groups founding line-up of bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay, and guitarist Koichi Fukuda will also be featured on the album and in the music videos. The track is great and it’s amazing to hear Wayne’s trademark vocals and writing style on the song. Jam it out right now!
Campos stated about “Hollow”: “This song was originally a demo from the ‘Start A War’ album, which was never completed. Wayne and I never felt like the music on the original demo was fully realized. The vocals sounded great, but some of the musical compositions from that time period felt a bit experimental. There is a reason that some of these tracks never made it on a previous Static-X album, and it certainly wasn’t because of Wayne’s vocals. The band was just going through a lot of changes at that time and, in retrospect, it felt like we were straying away from that authentic Static-X sound that had really defined us.”
Originally scheduled for release in spring of 2019, the new Static-X album was first intended to feature several guests vocalists, along with the original Wisconsin Death Trip band lineup of Campos, Jay and Fukuda.
During the recording sessions for Project Regeneration, one of Static-X’s producers uncovered several additional unreleased and unfinished tracks, many of which contained isolated vocal performances by Wayne Static. Because of this incredible find, the new Static-X album will now feature lead vocals by Wayne on virtually every song.
“It was very surreal,” said Campos. “Our producer was going through all of these old studio tapes, many of which were damaged. He called me up and told me that I needed to get down to the studio right away and listen to what he found. I jumped in my car and raced to the studio and what he shared fucking blew me away. It was Wayne singing on track after track, but there was little to no music on any of it. Most of the tapes were damaged and Wayne’s voice was virtually all that remained intact.”
“It was just crazy!!” added drummer Ken Jay. “There we were, myself, Tony and Koichi, back in the studio together, after all these years, and somehow the universe decided to surprise us with all of these lost Static-X tapes containing Wayne’s voice. I just couldn’t help thinking that this was all somehow meant to be. I couldn’t stop thinking about how happy this was going to make Wayne’s family, and all of the Static-X fans around the world.”
While this comes as amazing news for the fans, completing these additional tracks has created a lot of additional work for the band and their producers.
Jay added: “When we began working on ‘Project Regeneration’, our producers advised us to ignore all of the old demo music. We opted for the original band to re-enter the studio with nothing more than Wayne’s vocal tracks. The vocals sound really great and I think that Wayne would be really happy with what we’ve done with the music and to hear that these tracks have finally realized their full potential.”
Check out our interview with Tony Campos detailing the new album.