Start a War is the fourth studio album by Static-X, released in June 14, 2005. A special version was shipped with an additional DVD titled X-Rated. It is the last album for 15 years to feature Ulrich Wild as a producer and/or a mixer, until Project: Regeneration Vol. 1 in 2020. This is the first studio album with drumming provided by Nick Oshiro, and the second and last album that guitarist Tripp Eisen wrote and performed on. The album marks the return of former guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who helped with the programming, and according to Static-X‘s online forums, Fukuda completed additional guitar parts in three songs left unfinished by Eisen. The album continues the change in sound found on Shadow Zone but many of the songs featured on Start a War are heavier and feature a lot more screaming and aggressive lyrics. The whole tone of the album is more aggressive than Shadow Zone.
The song “Pieces” features a guitar solo, a feature not found in earlier albums, but playing a larger role in the following album, Cannibal. When asked about the album, Wayne Static said “We wanted to try to recreate the fun spirit of Wisconsin Death Trip; having Koichi back, with his flavor, helped.” The song “Start a War” was featured on the WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 video game soundtrack, and later on in Project Gotham Racing 3. “Skinnyman” was featured on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, though in a censored version. “I’m the One” was featured in Greg Hastings’ Tournament Paintball, both the original version and the “Wayne Static’s Destroyer Remix”. The album debuted at #29 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,416 copies in its first week.
Tracklist:
- The Enemy
- I’m the One
- Start a War
- Pieces
- Dirthouse
- Skinnyman
- Just in Case
- Set It Off
- I Want to Fucking Break It
- Night Terrors
- Otsego Amigo
- My Damnation
- Brainfog (includes a cappella version of “Otsego Amigo” as hidden track)
- Get to the Gone (Live) Japanese edition bonus track
Static-X
Wayne Static: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Tony Campos: bass, backing vocals
Tripp Eisen: lead guitar
Nick Oshiro: drums
Koichi Fukuda: programming, lead guitar
Technical personnel
Wayne Static: production
Tony Campos: production
Ulrich Wild: production, engineering, mixing, programming
Tom Whalley: production
Daniel Wild: percussion
Steven Gilmore: artwork
Jason Freedman: sound effects
P. R. Brown: photography
Filmmakers: Troy Wallace, Matt Eidson, Richie Riot, Andy “Matahaji” Sandoval, John Toler
Tom Baker: mastering
Wayne Richard Wells (November 4, 1965 – November 1, 2014)
