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{{Infobox album<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Wisconsin Death Trip
| Type = studio
| name = Wisconsin Death Trip
| Artist = [[Static-X]]
| type = studio
| Cover = Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip.JPG
| artist = [[Static-X]]
| cover = Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip.JPG
| Released = March 23, 1999
| alt =
| Recorded = 1998 at Grandmaster Studios in [[Hollywood, California]]
| released = {{start date|1999|3|23}}
| Genre = [[Industrial metal]], [[alternative metal]], [[nu metal]]
| Length = 43:55
| recorded = 1998
| venue =
| Label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| Producer = [[Ulrich Wild]], [[Static-X]]
| studio = Grandmaster Studios, [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]
| Last album =
| genre =
* [[Industrial metal]]
| This album = '''''Wisconsin Death Trip '''''<br/>(1999)
* [[nu metal]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-nu-metal-albums-of-all-time|title = The 50 best nu metal albums of all time|date = April 2022}}</ref>
| Next album = ''[[Machine (Static-X album)|Machine]]''<br/>(2001)
| Misc = {{Singles
| length = 43:55
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| Name = Wisconsin Death Trip
| producer = [[Ulrich Wild]]
| Type = album
| prev_title = Demo 1997
| single 1 = [[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]
| single 1 date = 1999
| prev_year = 1997
| single 2 = [[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]
| next_title = [[Machine (Static-X album)|Machine]]
| single 2 date = 1999
| next_year = 2001
| single 3 = [[Bled for Days]]
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Wisconsin Death Trip
| single 3 date = 2000
| type = album
}}
| single1 = [[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]
| single1date = June 10, 1999
| single2 = [[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]
| single2date = February 11, 2000
| single3 = [[Bled for Days]]
| single3date = April 5, 2000
}}
}}
}}
'''''Wisconsin Death Trip''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by the [[United States|American]] [[industrial metal]] band [[Static-X]]. Originating from the central region of the United States, Static X members [[Wayne Static]] (of [[Michigan]]), and [[Ken Jay]] (of [[Illinois]]), first met in Chicago at a [[Virgin Records]] store where Jay was employed at the time, after being introduced by [[Billy Corgan]] (lead singer of the [[Smashing Pumpkins]]). Soon after their encounter, both members relocated to [[California]] to recruit additional members and form what would soon be known as Static X. In California, [[Koichi Fukada]] came on as their lead guitarist, with [[Tony Campos]], another [[California]] native completing their roster. In February of 1998, they were signed to the [[Warner Bros. Records]] label, and released Wisconsin Death Trip the following year on March 23, 1999. <ref>Loehr, Josh. "Static-X." AllMusic. Rovi Corporation, 17 Oct. 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/static-x-p365757/biography>.</ref> The album was later certified platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] on August 6, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=Static-X|title=RIAA Database Search Results|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref>
'''''Wisconsin Death Trip''''' is the debut studio album by American [[industrial metal]] band [[Static-X]], released on March 23, 1999, by [[Warner Bros. Records]]. The band was formed after lead singer [[Wayne Static]] and drummer [[Ken Jay]] met at a [[Virgin Records]] store in Chicago. After being introduced by [[the Smashing Pumpkins]] lead singer [[Billy Corgan]], the two decided to head out west to California to enlist a lead guitarist and bassist. Once in California, [[Koichi Fukuda]] became guitarist, and not long after, they discovered Californian [[Tony Campos]] to complete the lineup as their bassist. Warner Bros. Records discovered the band in California and signed them in February 1998.<ref>Loehr, Josh. "Static-X." AllMusic. Rovi Corporation, October 17, 2010. Web. October 25, 2011. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/static-x-p365757/biography>.</ref>


''Wisconsin Death Trip'' peaked at number 107 on the [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]] and number one on the [[Top Heatseekers]] chart, and was [[RIAA certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=Static-X|title=RIAA Database Search Results|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref> Three singles were released from the album: "[[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]", "[[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]", and "[[Bled for Days]]".
==Album information==
The album's title was originally derived from a book by the same name published in 1973 by Michael Lesy, (see Wisconsin Death Trip - Book). This published work, responsible for capturing the imaginations of the band and inspiring the aptly dubbed "Wisconsin Death Trip" album contains a collection of photographs cataloging deceased persons previously residing in the Black River Falls region in the late 19th century. Wayne Static, when interviewed stated, “There’s not a lot of books that really interest me, I don’t read very much. There’s something about this book that’s so dark. It has such a dark feel about it. It wasn’t just some crap that somebody made up - it’s all real. I think because the photos are real it makes them that much scarier and spookier. The title of the book just has this great ring to it. It just sticks in your head. I’ve always wanted to use it for something. I wanted to name the band that originally, but we thought it was too long and too "death"." <ref>Spitler, Caren. "Static-X Interview." The Scene LA. 12 Jan. 2000. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. <http://www.thescenela.com/issue3/interviews/static.html>.</ref>. Band members contributions include: [[Wayne Static]] ([[Singing|lead vocals]], [[guitar]]s, [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Programming (music)|programming]]), [[Koichi Fukuda]] ([[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Programming (music)|programming]]), [[Tony Campos]] ([[Bass guitar|bass]], [[Backing vocalist|background vocals]]), and [[Ken Jay]] ([[Drum kit|drums]]), with production handled by [[Ulrich Wild]] ([[Music producer|producer]]).


==Background==
The album was produced by [[Ulrich Wild]] in eight weeks with a budget of $50,000; the band originally wanted [[Terry Date]] to produce, but couldn't afford him, so they opted for his assistant Wild.<ref name="InsideTheSong">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/hbbvr-Z6sc0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200614221835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbbvr-Z6sc0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbbvr-Z6sc0|title=Static-X "Push It": Inside the Song w/ Ulrich Wild - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro|website=[[YouTube]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The band wanted very "machine-like" sounding drums, but without the use of a [[drum machine]]: instead, they built their own [[Trigger (drums)|triggering system]] from pieces of plywood and piezo microphones to record the kick, snare and toms into [[Opcode Systems|Opcode Vision]]. The cymbals were then played separately on top.<ref name="InsideTheSong"/> Samples were programmed in by Static in an Alesis HR-16, while synth lines were produced by Fukuda with a [[Roland MC-303]].<ref name="InsideTheSong"/>


It features a song written by vocalist [[Wayne Static]] and drummer [[Ken Jay]]'s former band Deep Blue Dream, titled "December". The crash-landing scene from the 1968 film ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'' was sampled in the intro of "Sweat of the Bud". The intro for "Stem" was sampled from the 1989 [[experimental film|experimental]] horror film ''[[Begotten (1991 film)|Begotten]]''. A sample of dialogue from actress [[Linnea Quigley]] from the 1988 film ''[[Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama]]'' appears in the outro of "[[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]".


==Reception==
==Title==
The album's title was taken by the band from [[Michael Lesy]]'s [[Wisconsin Death Trip|1973 book of the same name]] during a stay at Static's sister Lisa's apartment during a tour when they spotted the book on her table.<ref name="ThatJustHappened">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/18ufaf82Bnk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200901024048/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ufaf82Bnk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ufaf82Bnk|title=Static-X - Live Interview|author=That Just Happened|date=November 21, 2019|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Originally, the band - at the time called "Static", which management deemed too common to be [[service mark]]ed - wanted to use the title as the band name, but the label deemed it too long.<ref name="ThatJustHappened"/>


The book, responsible for capturing the imaginations of the band and inspiring the album title, contains a collection of photographs cataloging deceased persons previously residing in the [[Black River Falls, Wisconsin|Black River Falls]] region in the late 19th century. When interviewed about the source of the title, Wayne Static explained, "[It's] actually a book title that we stole. It's been out of print for about 20 years. It's a historical book about life in this small town in Wisconsin from 1890 to 1900. And it's about everything that happened, but it focuses on people dying and how they died. And there are pictures of dead people as well as stuff about natural disasters and fires and stuff like that."<ref>St. James, Adam. "Static X - Success on a Death Trip." Guitar.com. D'Addario, February 1, 2001. Web. November 3, 2011. <http://guitar.com/articles/static-x-success-death-trip>.</ref>
===Initial Response===

{{Album ratings
==Reception==
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
{{Music ratings
|rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r398689|pure_url=yes}}|title=Wisconsin Death Trip - Static-X|publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[CDNow]]
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=AM>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r398689|pure_url=yes}}|title=Wisconsin Death Trip - Static-X|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
|rev2Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}
|rev3 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|Christgau's Consumer Guide]]''
|rev3Score = {{rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Static-X|title=CG: Static-X|publisher=[[Robert Christgau]]}}</ref>
|rev2Score = {{rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref name=RC>{{cite web|url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Static-X|title=CG: Static-X|publisher=[[Robert Christgau]]}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
|rev4 = [[Sputnik Music]]
| rev3score = 6/10<ref>{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |author-link1=Martin Popoff |title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties |publisher=[[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |year=2007 |location=[[Burlington, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |isbn=978-1-894959-62-9 |page=422}}</ref>
|rev4Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}
| rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RSAG">{{cite book|last=Harris |first=Keith |editor-last=Brackett |editor-first=Nathan |chapter=Static-X |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac |url-access=registration |year=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea0000unse/page/776 776–777]|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9780743201698 }}</ref>
}}
}}
*''[[CMJ]]'' (1/10/00, p.&nbsp;20) included the album in CMJ's "Loud Rock '99 Top 5" and in its review said: "...Static-X's industrial/metal hybrid uses a guitar sound that keeps its songs refreshingly large, loud and groovable..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1102190|title=Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip CD Album|publisher=[[CD Universe]]}}</ref>
''[[CMJ]]'' included the album in its "Loud Rock '99 Top 5" list, saying, "Static-X's industrial/metal hybrid uses a guitar sound that keeps its songs refreshingly large, loud and groovable."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1102190|title=Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip CD Album|publisher=[[CD Universe]]}}</ref> In 2018, [[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] include the album on their list of "20 Essential Nu-Metal Albums".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/20-essential-nu-metal-albums|title=20 Essential Nu-Metal Albums|date=July 26, 2018|website=Revolver}}</ref> At [[AllMusic]], Tim Sheridan called it "Fast, cheap, and out of control. This is gutbucket thrash for the most jaded of teenaged parking lot dwellers."<ref name=AM/> [[Robert Christgau]] claimed it was "Horrorshow abuse in living stereo--they mean it, man."<ref name=RC/> In 2021, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1999 by ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' magazine.<ref name="MHtop2099">{{cite web |title=The Top 20 best metal albums of 1999 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-20-best-metal-albums-of-1999/2 |website=[[Metal Hammer]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=January 21, 2021}}</ref>


==Singles==
*''[[Amazon.com]]''- 4 Stars - "Static-X skillfully blend angry staccato guitar, dark metallic noise, and mutating synthesizer washes to construct an ominous wall of sound."<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Wisconsin-Death-Trip-Version-Explicit/dp/B001PIZOUC</ref>
[[File:Wisconsin Death Trip tshirt.jpg|240px|thumb|Man wearing t-shirt promoting ''Wisconsin Death Trip'' (Poland, 2024)]]
"Push It" was the first single released from the album. The song features an array of sounds from industrial metal to the band's "evil disco" style. Mick Olszewski directed the music video for the song, using clay figures along with shots of the band.


"I'm with Stupid" was released as the second single from the album. The song kicks off with Wayne Static bellowing out the chorus and then transitions to the lead guitar riff. [[Dave Meyers (director)|David Meyers]] directed the song's music video, featuring creatures from the previous video. The video also includes Wayne Static playing a woman, and monkeys hidden throughout. This song, along with "Push It", is credited with ''Wisconsin Death Trip''{{'}}s success.
===Retrospect===
''Wisconsin Death Trip'' features a song written by vocalist [[Wayne Static]] and drummer [[Ken Jay]]'s former band Deep Blue Dream, titled "December".


"Bled for Days" was released as the final single from the album, although technically it was the first song released off the album on the ''[[Bride of Chucky]]'' soundtrack. It was the auditioning song for Nick Oshiro's enlistment into the band. The music video is composed of recordings from live shows, and the audio was spliced with the original album version.
During the 2008 season, "The Trance is the Motion" was used by AL All-Star and Cleveland Indians centerfielder [[Grady Sizemore]] as his entrance music. A remix of the song "Love Dump" appears on the 2001 [[Valentine (film)|''Valentine'']] original soundtrack.


==In popular culture==
The crash-landing scene from the 1968 film ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'' is sampled for the intro of "Sweat of the Bud". The intro for "Stem" is sampled from the 1991 experimental horror movie ''[[Begotten]]''.
"Push It" was used in the intro for the 2000 video game ''[[Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes]]'', was included in the soundtrack for the 1999 film ''[[Idle Hands]]'' and was featured in the 2004 film ''[[Torque (film)|Torque]]''. A remix of the song "Love Dump" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 film ''[[Valentine (film)|Valentine]]'', as well as the 2009 video game ''[[Brütal Legend]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brutallegend.com/home.action |title=Brutal Legend Video Game &#124; Double Fine &#124; EA |accessdate=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024123610/http://www.brutallegend.com/home.action |archivedate=October 24, 2011 }}</ref> In 2008, "Push It" was made available as downloadable content in the music game ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]''. "Otsegolation" was featured in the soundtrack for the American release of ''[[Omega Boost]]'' in 1999, and "Bled for Days" was included in the soundtrack for the films ''[[Bride of Chucky]]'' and ''[[Universal Soldier: The Return]]''.

The song "Push It" was used as the intro for the 2000 [[video game]] ''[[Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes]]''. The song "Love Dump" was used in the 2009 video game ''[[Brütal Legend]]''. "Push It" is featured in the movie ''[[Torque (film)|Torque]]''.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
All songs by [[Wayne Static]] and [[Tony Campos]].
|all_writing = Static-X
# "[[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]" – 2:34
# "[[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]" – 3:24
|title1 = [[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]
|length1 = 2:34
# "[[Bled for Days]]" – 3:45
# "[[Love Dump" (Static-X song)|Love Dump]]" – 4:19
|title2 = [[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]
|length2 = 3:24
# "I Am" – 2:47
|title3 = [[Bled for Days]]
# "Otsegolation" – 3:32
|length3 = 3:45
# "Stem" – 2:54
|title4 = Love Dump
# "Sweat of the Bud" – 3:30
|length4 = 4:19
# "Fix" – 2:49
|title5 = I Am
# "Wisconsin Death Trip" – 3:09
|length5 = 2:47
# "The Trance Is the Motion" – 4:50
|title6 = Otsegolation
# "December" – 6:17
|length6 = 3:32
|title7 = Stem
|length7 = 2:54
|title8 = Sweat of the Bud
|length8 = 3:30
|title9 = Fix
|length9 = 2:49
|title10 = Wisconsin Death Trip
|length10 = 3:09
|title11 = The Trance Is the Motion
|length11 = 4:50
|title12 = December
|length12 = 6:17
| total_length = 43:55
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Japanese edition bonus track
|title13 = Down
|length13 = 3:15
}}


==Personnel==
;Bonus tracks
Credits taken from the CD liner notes.
#<li value=13> "Down" <small>(Japanese bonus track)</small> – 3:15


==Discography==
=== Static-X ===
*[[Wayne Static]] &ndash; lead vocals, rhythm guitar, [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* [[Ken Jay]] &ndash; drums
* [[Koichi Fukuda]] &ndash; lead guitar, keyboards, programming
* [[Tony Campos]] &ndash; bass, backing vocals


=== Technical ===
*''[[Wisconsin Death Trip (album)|Wisconsin Death Trip]]'' (1999)
* [[Ulrich Wild]] &ndash; production, engineering, mixing at Master Control, Burbank, CA
*''[[Machine (Static-X album)|Machine]]'' (2001)
* [[Michael Baskette|Michael "Elvis" Baskette]] &ndash; recording assistant
*''[[Shadow Zone]]'' (2003)
* Jeff Robinson &ndash; mixing assistant
*''[[Start a War]]'' (2005)
* Tom Baker &ndash; mastering at Future Disc
*''[[Cannibal (Static-X album)|Cannibal]]'' (2007)
*''[[Cult of Static]]'' (2009)


==Charts==
{{Main|Static-X discography}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1999–2000)


==Chart positions==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Album
{|class="wikitable"
!Chart (1999)
!Peak<br>position
!Peak<br>position
|-
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|107|artist=Static-X|access-date=May 28, 2021}}
|[[Top Heatseekers]]
|-
|align="center"|1
{{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|1|artist=Static-X|access-date=May 28, 2021}}
|-
|-
|[[Billboard 200]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/album/static-x/wisconsin-death-trip/346019#/album/static-x/wisconsin-death-trip/346019|title=Wisconsin Death Trip - Static-X|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''}}</ref>
|align="center"|107
|}
|}


==Certifications==
{{col-2}}
{{Certification Table Top}}
;Singles
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Static-X|title=Wisconsin Death Trip|access-date=May 28, 2021|relyear=1999|award=Platinum}}
{|class="wikitable"
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
!Year
!Song
!Chart
!Peak<br>position
|-
|rowspan="3"|1999
|rowspan="2"|"[[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]"
|[[Mainstream Rock Tracks]]
|align="center"|20
|-
|[[Alternative Songs]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/song/static-x/push-it/1639955#/song/static-x/push-it/1639955|title=Push It - Static-X|publisher=''Billboard''}}</ref>
|align="center"|36
|-
|"[[Bled for Days]]"
|rowspan="2"|Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|36
|-
|rowspan="2"|2000
|"[[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]"
|align="center"|38
|-
|"Push It"
|[[Hot Dance Singles Sales]]
|align="center"|5
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}


==References==
==References==
Line 138: Line 139:


{{Static-X}}
{{Static-X}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wisconsin Death Trip (Album)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wisconsin Death Trip (Album)}}
[[Category:1999 albums]]
[[Category:1999 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Ulrich Wild]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Ulrich Wild]]
[[Category:Debut albums]]
[[Category:Warner Records albums]]
[[Category:Static-X albums]]
[[Category:Static-X albums]]

[[cs:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[et:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[es:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[fa:سفر مرگ ویسکانسین]]
[[fr:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[hr:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[it:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[no:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[pl:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[pt:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[ru:Wisconsin Death Trip]]
[[fi:Wisconsin Death Trip]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 13 September 2024

Wisconsin Death Trip
Studio album by
Static-X
ReleasedMarch 23, 1999 (1999-03-23)
Recorded1998
StudioGrandmaster Studios, Hollywood
Genre
Length43:55
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerUlrich Wild
Static-X chronology
Demo 1997
(1997) 		Wisconsin Death Trip
(1999) 		Machine
(2001)
Singles from Wisconsin Death Trip
  1. "Push It"
    Released: June 10, 1999
  2. "I'm with Stupid"
    Released: February 11, 2000
  3. "Bled for Days"
    Released: April 5, 2000

Wisconsin Death Trip is the debut studio album by American industrial metal band Static-X, released on March 23, 1999, by Warner Bros. Records. The band was formed after lead singer Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay met at a Virgin Records store in Chicago. After being introduced by the Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan, the two decided to head out west to California to enlist a lead guitarist and bassist. Once in California, Koichi Fukuda became guitarist, and not long after, they discovered Californian Tony Campos to complete the lineup as their bassist. Warner Bros. Records discovered the band in California and signed them in February 1998.[2]

Wisconsin Death Trip peaked at number 107 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top Heatseekers chart, and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2001.[3] Three singles were released from the album: "Push It", "I'm with Stupid", and "Bled for Days".

Background

[edit]

The album was produced by Ulrich Wild in eight weeks with a budget of $50,000; the band originally wanted Terry Date to produce, but couldn't afford him, so they opted for his assistant Wild.[4] The band wanted very "machine-like" sounding drums, but without the use of a drum machine: instead, they built their own triggering system from pieces of plywood and piezo microphones to record the kick, snare and toms into Opcode Vision. The cymbals were then played separately on top.[4] Samples were programmed in by Static in an Alesis HR-16, while synth lines were produced by Fukuda with a Roland MC-303.[4]

It features a song written by vocalist Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay's former band Deep Blue Dream, titled "December". The crash-landing scene from the 1968 film Planet of the Apes was sampled in the intro of "Sweat of the Bud". The intro for "Stem" was sampled from the 1989 experimental horror film Begotten. A sample of dialogue from actress Linnea Quigley from the 1988 film Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama appears in the outro of "I'm with Stupid".

Title

[edit]

The album's title was taken by the band from Michael Lesy's 1973 book of the same name during a stay at Static's sister Lisa's apartment during a tour when they spotted the book on her table.[5] Originally, the band - at the time called "Static", which management deemed too common to be service marked - wanted to use the title as the band name, but the label deemed it too long.[5]

The book, responsible for capturing the imaginations of the band and inspiring the album title, contains a collection of photographs cataloging deceased persons previously residing in the Black River Falls region in the late 19th century. When interviewed about the source of the title, Wayne Static explained, "[It's] actually a book title that we stole. It's been out of print for about 20 years. It's a historical book about life in this small town in Wisconsin from 1890 to 1900. And it's about everything that happened, but it focuses on people dying and how they died. And there are pictures of dead people as well as stuff about natural disasters and fires and stuff like that."[6]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(1-star Honorable Mention)[8]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal6/10[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]

CMJ included the album in its "Loud Rock '99 Top 5" list, saying, "Static-X's industrial/metal hybrid uses a guitar sound that keeps its songs refreshingly large, loud and groovable."[11] In 2018, Revolver include the album on their list of "20 Essential Nu-Metal Albums".[12] At AllMusic, Tim Sheridan called it "Fast, cheap, and out of control. This is gutbucket thrash for the most jaded of teenaged parking lot dwellers."[7] Robert Christgau claimed it was "Horrorshow abuse in living stereo--they mean it, man."[8] In 2021, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1999 by Metal Hammer magazine.[13]

Singles

[edit]
Man wearing t-shirt promoting Wisconsin Death Trip (Poland, 2024)

"Push It" was the first single released from the album. The song features an array of sounds from industrial metal to the band's "evil disco" style. Mick Olszewski directed the music video for the song, using clay figures along with shots of the band.

"I'm with Stupid" was released as the second single from the album. The song kicks off with Wayne Static bellowing out the chorus and then transitions to the lead guitar riff. David Meyers directed the song's music video, featuring creatures from the previous video. The video also includes Wayne Static playing a woman, and monkeys hidden throughout. This song, along with "Push It", is credited with Wisconsin Death Trip's success.

"Bled for Days" was released as the final single from the album, although technically it was the first song released off the album on the Bride of Chucky soundtrack. It was the auditioning song for Nick Oshiro's enlistment into the band. The music video is composed of recordings from live shows, and the audio was spliced with the original album version.

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"Push It" was used in the intro for the 2000 video game Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes, was included in the soundtrack for the 1999 film Idle Hands and was featured in the 2004 film Torque. A remix of the song "Love Dump" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 film Valentine, as well as the 2009 video game Brütal Legend.[14] In 2008, "Push It" was made available as downloadable content in the music game Rock Band. "Otsegolation" was featured in the soundtrack for the American release of Omega Boost in 1999, and "Bled for Days" was included in the soundtrack for the films Bride of Chucky and Universal Soldier: The Return.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Static-X

No.TitleLength
1."Push It"2:34
2."I'm with Stupid"3:24
3."Bled for Days"3:45
4."Love Dump"4:19
5."I Am"2:47
6."Otsegolation"3:32
7."Stem"2:54
8."Sweat of the Bud"3:30
9."Fix"2:49
10."Wisconsin Death Trip"3:09
11."The Trance Is the Motion"4:50
12."December"6:17
Total length:43:55
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Down"3:15

Personnel

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Credits taken from the CD liner notes.

Static-X

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Technical

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  • Ulrich Wild – production, engineering, mixing at Master Control, Burbank, CA
  • Michael "Elvis" Baskette – recording assistant
  • Jeff Robinson – mixing assistant
  • Tom Baker – mastering at Future Disc

Charts

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Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[15] 107
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[16] 1

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "The 50 best nu metal albums of all time". April 2022.
  2. ^ Loehr, Josh. "Static-X." AllMusic. Rovi Corporation, October 17, 2010. Web. October 25, 2011. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/static-x-p365757/biography>.
  3. ^ "RIAA Database Search Results". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. ^ a b c Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Static-X "Push It": Inside the Song w/ Ulrich Wild - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro". YouTube.
  5. ^ a b Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: That Just Happened (November 21, 2019). "Static-X - Live Interview". YouTube.
  6. ^ St. James, Adam. "Static X - Success on a Death Trip." Guitar.com. D'Addario, February 1, 2001. Web. November 3, 2011. <http://guitar.com/articles/static-x-success-death-trip>.
  7. ^ a b "Wisconsin Death Trip - Static-X". AllMusic.
  8. ^ a b "CG: Static-X". Robert Christgau.
  9. ^ Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  10. ^ Harris, Keith (2004). "Static-X". In Brackett, Nathan (ed.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 776–777. ISBN 9780743201698.
  11. ^ "Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip CD Album". CD Universe.
  12. ^ "20 Essential Nu-Metal Albums". Revolver. July 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "The Top 20 best metal albums of 1999". Metal Hammer. Future plc. January 21, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  14. ^ "Brutal Legend Video Game | Double Fine | EA". Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  15. ^ "Static-X Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "Static-X Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "American album certifications – Static-X – Wisconsin Death Trip". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
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