Mudvayne and Static X brought the heavy, theatrics and metal to celebrate the anniversary of their two albums at MGM Music Hall at Fenway.
There is no greater accomplishment for a band than to be able to go out on the road and celebrate a milestone anniversary in front of packed venues. Add to that two iconic bands, and it truly becomes something special.
Both Mudvayne and Static-X are celebrating 25-year anniversaries of their groundbreaking albums — L.D. 50 for Mudvayne and Wisconsin Death Trip for Static-X. Each record helped shape the direction of heavy music at the turn of the millennium, pioneering the fusion of nu-metal and industrial aggression while bringing a sense of art and theatrics to the live stage. These weren’t just concerts — they were full-on sensory experiences that redefined what fans expected from a show. Boston was in for exactly that as this well-oiled tour rolled into town. We caught the second-to-last night of the 30-stop run, which hit nearly every corner of the U.S.
Vended was up first, coming out swinging with gritty growls, wailing guitars, and double-kick drums ripping into “Nihilism” off their self-titled album Vended. Taylor ramped the crowd up as the final notes of the song faded, shouting, “What’s up, what the f**k is up? Let me hear you, goddammit! On this next song, I want to see insanity in the pit!” The whine of guitars led into their 2022 single “Ded To Me,” and the crowd answered his call with pure chaos.
Vended hails from Des Moines, Iowa. For those seeing them live or hearing their music for the first time, it’s easy to notice shades of the legendary nu-metal band Slipknot in their sound. Frontman Griffin Taylor’s unrelenting growls and harmonies echo those of his father, Corey Taylor, while drummer Simon Crahan is the son of Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan. But make no mistake, while the influence is undeniable, Vended has carved out their own identity, blending aggression, precision, and authenticity into something entirely their own.
The young band plowed through a 30-minute, six-track set that set the tone for the night — a relentless wave of energy that refused to let up. Between songs, Taylor paused to remind the crowd that no matter who you are or where you come from, there’s always space for you in this community. It was a moment of unity that resonated with Boston crowd. Vended ended their set with “Asylum” promising that they would be back. Vended continues to tour through early November with some headlining dates before making a stop at the final 2025 run of Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, Florida on November 14 and 15th.
VENDED SETLIST:
1 Nihilism
2 Ded To Me
3. Am I the Only One
4. The Far Side
5. Pitiful
6. Asylum
The legendary Static-X was up next. It was immediately noticeable upon entering the photo pit that something with liquid was about to happen, all the electronic gear was covered carefully in plastic. A hunch said it had to be Static-X, known for their signature “bubble snow” that drifts through the air in a flurry of icy blue tones. As the house lights dimmed and the PA music began to play, that hunch was confirmed, thousands of bubbles poured down from above, blanketing the Music Hall in a surreal, cool haze.
The video display flickered to life, revealing a dark and stormy night, lightning flashing across the backdrop as a massive jack-o’-lantern appeared center stage, illuminated in cool shades of blue, as Vincent Prices voice spoke, it began to drift around the stage, towering over the crowd.
“Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize your neighborhood
You try to run, you try to scream
but no more sun you’ll ever see
But no more sun you’ll ever see
For evil reaches from the crypt
To crush you in its icy grip
And grisly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist….
WELCOME TO EVIL DISCO”
As the colors shifted from calming blues to deep reds and fiery oranges, the massive jack-o’-lantern looming over the stage glowed to match. In a growly, Vincent Price–style voice, it welcomed the crowd to Evil Disco. For those unfamiliar, Evil Disco is the term late frontman Wayne Static coined to describe the band’s signature sound — a fusion of pounding industrial metal, mechanical grooves, and darkly danceable rhythms. It’s heavy and aggressive, yet hypnotically infectious, blending the grit of guitars with electronic undertones that make you want to move as much as headbang. In that moment, as the lights pulsed and the crowd erupted, Boston was fully inducted into the world of Evil Disco.
Static-X took the stage with the chunky industrial riff of “Bled for Days” off their 1999 album Wisconsin Death Trip , a record that helped reshape the trajectory of heavy music by blending industrial precision with nu-metal energy.
When Wisconsin Death Trip first dropped in 1999, it hit the heavy music scene like a jolt of electricity. At a time when nu-metal was beginning to dominate radio and MTV, Static-X carved their own lane, merging metal aggression with electronic pulse and machine-like rhythm. The result wasn’t just another entry in the genre’s rise; it was a blueprint for what would become the band’s unmistakable signature — fast, mechanical grooves and anthemic chaos that fans could move to.
Wisconsin Death Trip became a landmark album, bridging the gap between the industrial metal of Ministry and the nu-metal movement led by Korn and Slipknot. Tracks like “Push It,” “I’m With Stupid,” and “Bled for Days” didn’t just define an era, they reshaped the soundscape of late-’90s heavy music. Its blend of horror aesthetics, dark humor, and electronic grit pushed boundaries and inspired countless bands to follow. More than two decades later, the album remains a cornerstone for fans and musicians alike, influencing everyone from Five Finger Death Punch to Motionless in White.
We would be remiss not to speak about the late, great frontman Wayne Static, the foundation of the iconic sound that is Static-X. There was a time when many of us lived and breathed this band — blasting their records full volume in our cars, letting that mechanical pulse take over. Wayne’s vision for Evil Disco shaped a generation of heavy music fans and redefined industrial metal for the modern age.
In 2019, a new variant of that Evil Disco was born: Xer0. His appearance is instantly recognizable, a silicone mask modeled after Wayne Static, complete with the signature spiked hair, goatee, and cyber-industrial aesthetic. It’s not just a tribute to Wayne but a reflection of the robotic, futuristic energy that has always defined Static-X. Though never officially confirmed, it’s widely believed that Edsel Dope is the man behind the mask. Fans have long drawn connections from side-by-side tour schedules to analyzing photos of both frontmen and noting that whenever Dope is on the road, Static-X is often on the same bill. Still, Xer0’s true identity remains one of the enduring mysteries surrounding the band, and perhaps that’s part of the magic.
The set raged on with classics like “Wisconsin Death Trip,” “Sweat of the Bud,” and “Love Dump,” each one erupting the crowd into motion. They even dove into the post–Wayne Static era with “Terminator Oscillator” from 2020’s Project Regeneration, Vol. 1 a track that bridges past and present, proving that the spirit of Static-X continues to evolve while staying true to the Evil Disco heartbeat Wayne started.
Terminator Oscillator Video From Static X
The set couldn’t come to a close until we heard the iconic “Cold” off of the 2001 album, Machine. The song went on to become a huge hit when the movie Queen of The Damned was released in 2002. Live it features the blue cold tones and snow, while holding a tribute for the late Wayne Static on the monitors. Flipping that switch from the melodic industrial tones of “Cold” Static X finished the set with “Push It” off of Wisconsin Death Trip.
Static-X shows no signs of slowing down after a relentless 2025 tour cycle. Having shared the stage with metal heavyweights like GWAR, A Killer’s Confession, Dope, and Sevendust, the band continues to ride a powerful wave of energy. Their 2026 calendar is already filling fast with appearances at Sonic Temple in Ohio, a run of overseas summer festival dates, and a return stateside for Sick New World in October. Add to that the recent release of Project Regeneration Vol. 2 — featuring the heavy, hard-hitting track “Zombie” , and it’s clear Static-X isn’t losing steam. If anything, they’re gaining it.
FULL SETLIST:
(EVIL DISCO OPENER)
- Bled for Days
- Wisconsin Death Trip
- Fix
- Terminator Oscillator
- Sweat The Bud
- Love Dump
-
I Am
-
The Trace Is The Motion
- Bien Venidos (Played over PA)
- Get to The Gone
- Dirthouse
- Cold
- I’m With Stupid
- Push It
Last up was the heavy-hitting nu-metal powerhouse Mudvayne — pioneers of the early 2000s metal scene who redefined intensity with their debut studio album L.D. 50. Released in August 2000, the record delivered a sonic assault of precision and chaos, led by the crushing guitars, intricate drumming, and Chad Gray’s signature growls on their breakout single “Dig.” But Mudvayne didn’t just sound different, they looked different. The band brought theatricality and visual storytelling to nu-metal with elaborate makeup, costumes, and onstage personas.
It wasn’t a brand-new idea — artists like Marilyn Manson, GWAR, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, and KISS had already used shock imagery and face paint to captivate audiences, but Mudvayne made it their own. The bullet holes and streaks of blood painted across Chad Gray’s temple became instantly iconic, symbolizing both the aggression and the introspection at the core of their sound. Their blend of musicianship, mathematical precision, and raw emotion elevated them beyond gimmickry, they were a band whose look and sound were equally deliberate and unforgettable and skyrocketed them up the charts quickly.
By the time the Peoria, Illinois–based band released their 2003 album The End of All Things to Come, featuring hits like “Not Falling” and “World So Cold,” Mudvayne had begun to step away from their elaborate makeup and stage personas. The decision came after constant comparisons to fellow nu-metal giants Slipknot, who had emerged around the same time with their own mask-driven aesthetic. Growing frustrated with being seen as imitators rather than innovators, Mudvayne made it a point to prove that while the makeup enhanced the theatrical element of their live shows, their true power lay in the music itself.
They proved the naysayers wrong with hit after hit. Their layered guitar tones, complex bass lines, and intricate drumming created a sonic backbone that perfectly complemented Chad Gray’s dynamic vocal range — shifting seamlessly from guttural screams to hauntingly melodic harmonies. Tracks like “Happy?” and “Fall Into Sleep” from Lost and Found (2005), and later “Scream With Me” from their 2009 self-titled album, showcased their evolution into a band defined not just by visuals, but by technical precision, emotional depth, and undeniable musicianship.
The visual element made its long-awaited return, something Chad Gray has admitted was essential to the band’s identity. Over the years, he’s expressed that stepping away from the makeup and theatrical side of Mudvayne ultimately dulled the immersive power of their live shows. For him, it’s never been just about hearing the songs, it’s about feeling them, becoming part of an experience that engages every sense. Boston got the full experience that night.
As “Monolith” began to play over the PA, deep tones of red and blue washed across the stage. Hints of “Dig” were interwoven into the intro before the band exploded onto the stage with full force, launching into the song that started it all. The intensity was instant — crowd surfing and moshing broke out across the floor as the energy surged from the stage.
The setlist leaned heavily on L.D. 50 during the first half of the show, with “Internal Primates Forever” and “-1” highlighting the emotional and psychological weight that set Mudvayne apart from their peers. Gray often dropped to his knees on the risers, clutching his head, his body language mirroring the anguish and catharsis embedded in every lyric.
Mudvayne may appear dark and intimidating on the surface, heavy makeup, crushing riffs, guttural vocals, but beneath that intensity lies an insurmountable amount of compassion. Throughout the night, Chad Gray paused several times to reflect on the bond between the band and the heavy metal family gathered in Boston. He spoke candidly about how he is living, breathing proof that heavy metal saves lives, including his own. “That’s what we’re doing tonight,” he told the crowd. “We’re saving each other’s lives. You give everything to me, and I’ll give it right back to you. You lean on me, and I’ll lean right back on you.”
He continued, acknowledging how relentless life can be, how it’s always “in your face,” and how everyone deserves a break from the chaos. He urged the audience to forget their struggles for a few hours, to throw their middle fingers at life, live in the moment, and go absolutely crazy. The energy in the room, already at a fever pitch, soared even higher. That connection between Gray and the crowd wasn’t forced or rehearsed, it was genuine, raw, and deeply human. It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why live music matters, and why, for so many, metal is more than just sound. It’s how we stay above water.
Video From aShavedYeti
The band powered through the second half of the show, branching out from L.D. 50 to deliver a mix of fan favorites and fresh material. Highlights included “Dull Boy” from 2007’s By the People, For the People and the emotional one-two punch of “World So Cold” and “Not Falling” from their 2003 album The End of All Things to Come. They also performed their newest single, “Sticks and Stones,” released this past September — one of two recent tracks marking Mudvayne’s long-awaited return to the studio, alongside “Hurt People Hurt People.” The new music represents their first in sixteen years and serves as a clear signal that the band is far from done, if anything, they’re just ramping up.
Sticks and Stones Lyric Video from Mudvayne
As the night drew to a close, Chad Gray took a moment to thank the security team for catching the endless stream of crowd surfers and to thank the fans for their relentless energy and loyalty. Then, with a mischievous grin, he leaned into the mic and asked, “I have one question before we leave… Are you happy?” The crowd erupted as the opening riffs of “Happy?” from 2005’s Lost and Found tore through the venue. Fans swayed back and forth in the mosh pits, a sea of bodies moving in rhythm to the song’s pounding tempo. It was chaos and unity all at once, a euphoric finale to a night that perfectly balanced nostalgia, aggression, and pure connection.
The L.D. 50 Tour may have wrapped, but the momentum is far from slowing down. Each band has exciting plans on the horizon—developments that fans will definitely want to keep an eye on. With Mudvayne actively releasing new music for the first time in over a decade, things are looking bright for the nu metal scene once again.
FULL SETLIST
-
Monolith
-
Dig
- Internal Primates Forever
-
-1
-
Severed
- Death Blooms
- Golden Ratio
- Cradle
-
Under My Skin
- Prod
- Nothing To Genie
ENCORE-SWITCH TO OTHER ALBUMS - Recombinant Resurgence
- Dull Boy
- Sticks and Stones
- World So Cold
- Determined
- Not Falling
- Happy?
- Lethal Dosage
MUDVAYNE
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
STATIC X
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
VENDED
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
MGM MUSIC HALL AT FENWAY
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