Mephisto Odyssey founder Mikael Johnston has released a 2026 remaster of his “Crucified Dub” version of Static-X‘s “Push It,” timed to mark the track’s RIAA Gold certification on April 21, 2026. The Crucified Dub originally appeared on the official “Push It” maxi-single in 1999 and was the first creative collaboration between Johnston and the late Static-X frontman Wayne Static. The remaster was handled by Johnston at Pop Twist Studios and is accompanied by a new video with visuals by Matt Zane.

The original Crucified Dub was created in 1999 for the “Push It” maxi-single, which was drawn from Static-X’s debut album “Wisconsin Death Trip.” Wayne Static was directly involved during the production of the mix. “This was the first thing Wayne Static and I ever collaborated on,” Johnston says. “He actually gave input on this version as it was being created and he loved it! Which makes this release especially important because it sparked our future collaborations including CRASH, my remix of Cold among many others.”

“Wisconsin Death Trip” was certified platinum by the RIAA. The “Push It” single received its RIAA Gold certification on April 21, 2026, more than two decades after its original release.

About Mephisto Odyssey and Static-X

Mephisto Odyssey is a West Coast industrial and electronic music project founded by Mikael Johnston in 1993 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Johnston operates as producer and audio engineer under the project name and is also part of the duo Dresden And Johnston.

The project became active in the mid-1990s and built a catalog of official remixes for acts including Static-X and Jane’s Addiction. Mephisto Odyssey’s first collaboration with Wayne Static, the “Crucified Dub” version of Static-X’s “Push It,” appeared on the official “Push It” maxi-single in 1999. The working relationship with Static continued with the co-written track “CRASH,” placed on the “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” soundtrack and accompanied by a Len Wiseman-directed video featuring both Wayne Static and Johnston. A Mephisto Odyssey remix of Static-X’s “Cold” was also produced during this period.

The project secured a major-label release through Warner Bros. and contributed music to the “Hostel” film soundtrack. Johnston has continued to operate Pop Twist Studios as his production and engineering base.

Wayne Static died on November 1, 2014. Static-X reformed in 2018 with original members Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda, and Ken Jay, and has continued releasing material since, including “All These Years” and the “Project Regeneration Volume 1” single “Dead Souls,” both featuring archival Wayne Static vocals.

In 2026, Mephisto Odyssey launched a catalog revival campaign. The 2026 remaster of the “Push It” Crucified Dub is the first confirmed release of that campaign, issued to coincide with the RIAA Gold certification of Static-X’s “Push It” single on April 21, 2026. Additional Mephisto Odyssey vault material and new recordings are scheduled for release throughout 2026.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The San Francisco-based industrial rock / electronic act Mephisto Odyssey will release “CRASH: Reborn” on December 31, 2025 as a rebuilt 25th-anniversary version of their 2000 track “Crash,” first known from the “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” soundtrack. The new edition uses previously unreleased vocal stems by the late Wayne Static (Static-X) and adds new guitar parts by Brad Gillis, known for his work with Night Ranger and Ozzy Osbourne.

Rather than a remix, Johnston reconstructed the entire song, retaining Static’s original performance while steering the track into heavier industrial and electronic territory. The single arrives with a new 4K video that expands the Batman/Joker visual lineage through a mix of noir, dystopian, and comic-influenced imagery.

Mephisto Odyssey’s “CRASH: Reborn” will be available first on Bandcamp, alongside the video premiere, with wider digital distribution to follow in early 2026. Here is a teaser for the new video.

About Mephisto Odyssey

Mephisto Odyssey formed in San Francisco in the early 1990s as an electronic and industrial crossover project led by Mikael Johnston. The group developed an early presence in the Bay Area electronic scene before signing to City of Angels and later to Warner Bros. Records.

During the Warner period, the band produced “Crash,” which got included on the “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” soundtrack through a Humble Brothers remix used in promotional materials. Over the years, Mephisto Odyssey’s catalogue has spanned electronica, industrial rock, and soundtrack-focused work. Johnston remains the driving force behind the current output and oversees production, mixing, and conceptual direction.

About Static-X

Static-X, the American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, was formed in 1994 by Wayne Static and original drummer Ken Jay. They rose to fame with their 1999 debut album “Wisconsin Death Trip” featuring a heavy industrial metal sound.

The band released five more albums over the course of the next decade: “Machine” in 2001, “Shadow Zone” in 2003, “Start a War” in 2005, “Cannibal” in 2007, and “Cult of Static” in 2009. The band entered a hiatus while Static worked on his solo album, “Pighammer”, in 2011. Static briefly reformed Static-X in 2012, using only members of his solo album’s touring band, before officially breaking up in June 2013.

On November 1, 2014, Wayne Static died at the age of 48.

That could have meant the end of the band, but the rest of the original Static-X lineup – bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay – announced on October 23, 2018 that they were reforming the band in Static’s honor, and would release their first studio album in eleven years in 2020.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Wayne Static was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the industrial metal band Static-X. Tragically, Wayne Static passed away on November 1, 2014. But now the lost track “CRASH Reborn” is being released.

Musically it blends live drums with techno-infused percussion, detuned guitars, and Wayne Static on vocals.

Originally written to promote a Batman film, this alternate version remained hidden—until now. The recording features Mephisto Odyssey, Koichi Fukuda of Static-X, and Brad Gillis of Ozzy Osbourne. It’s not the first time new material surfaces with the late singer ion vocals. In 2020 “All These Years”, the second single off of the Static-X album, “Project Regeneration Vol. 1”, was released. The song features lead vocals by the legendary late front-man Wayne Static.

The upcoming video for “CRASH Reborn” was co-directed by Len Wiseman (“Underworld”) and William Instone (“Butcher’s Bluff”) on 35mm film. Slated for release on Rhino/Warner Music later this year, “CRASH Reborn”, clearly references to Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, and Ministry. Below is a teaser.

About Static-X

Static-X, the American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, was formed in 1994 by Wayne Static and original drummer Ken Jay. They rose to fame with their 1999 debut album “Wisconsin Death Trip” featuring a heavy industrial metal sound.

The band released five more albums over the course of the next decade: “Machine” in 2001, “Shadow Zone” in 2003, “Start a War” in 2005, “Cannibal” in 2007, and “Cult of Static” in 2009. The band entered a hiatus while Static worked on his solo album, “Pighammer”, in 2011. Static briefly reformed Static-X in 2012, using only members of his solo album’s touring band, before officially breaking up in June 2013.

On November 1, 2014, Wayne Static died at the age of 48.

That could have meant the end of the band, but the rest of the original Static-X lineup – bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay – announced on October 23, 2018 that they were reforming the band in Static’s honor, and would release their first studio album in eleven years in 2020.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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In the past week, several acts have canceled upcoming shows in Russia. While some artists point towards the war in Russia for canceling their concerts, others just removed the dates from their agenda without any explanation, such as The Pixies. Nick Cave for instance has canceled his summer tour dates in Russia and Ukraine, while praising the “brave people of Ukraine.”

Other bands like Laibach, Godflesh, Static-X, Till Lindemann, Lebanon Hanover, She Past Away, Oscar & the Wolf, Disclosure, Lacrimas Profundere, Tricky, Morcheeba, Fatboy Slim, Bjork, My Chemical Romance, Behemoth and Slipknot are still scheduled to play though this can change anytime as we pulled this info from ticket vendor websites who still offer tickets.

At the same time Live Nation Entertainment has announced that it will cease all business activity with Russia.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Static-X have released a new music video for the song “Dead Souls” taken from their 7th studio album, “Project Regeneration Volume 1”, out now. The video was directed by Wombatfire and the song features guest vocals from Ministry’s Al Jorgensen but also the late Wayne Static. You can watch the video below.

Tony Campos: “This song has become one of my favorite tracks on the record. We had no intention on doing a video for it initially, but it came out so good, we had to do it. I’m so grateful to Al Jourgensen for singing on the track with Wayne. Ministry was a big influence on us, and I know Wayne would’ve been just as stoked as I am to have Al sing on one of our records. I think the video fits the song really well. It’s dark, creepy, with just a touch of humor.”

Static died in his sleep on November 1, 2014 in Landers, California, three days before his 49th birthday. An autopsy later confirmed that Static had died of multiple prescription drug toxicity, consisting of the painkillers oxycodone, hydromorphone, and the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam combined with alcohol, though the report also noted that years of past “chronic prescription drug and alcohol abuse” was a contributing factor.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Static-X, the American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, is back. Formed in 1994 by Wayne Static and original drummer Ken Jay, they rose to fame with their 1999 debut album “Wisconsin Death Trip” featuring a heavy industrial metal sound. The band released five more albums over the course of the next decade: “Machine” in 2001, “Shadow Zone” in 2003, “Start a War” in 2005, “Cannibal” in 2007, and “Cult of Static” in 2009. The band entered a hiatus while Static worked on his solo album, “Pighammer”, in 2011. Static briefly reformed Static-X in 2012, using only members of his solo album’s touring band, before officially breaking up in June 2013. On November 1, 2014, Wayne Static died at the age of 48.

That could have meant the end of the band, but the rest of the original Static-X lineup – bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay – announced on October 23, 2018 that they were reforming the band in Static’s honor, and would release their first studio album in eleven years in 2020.

Out now is the official music video for “All These Years”, the second single off of their upcoming album, “Project Regeneration Vol. 1”. The song features lead vocals by the legendary late front-man Wayne Static and was directed by Xer0 and co-directed by Matt Zane.

Tour dates rescheduled

The 2020 tour dates for the band have been rescheduled in Russia and Eastern Europe due to the coronavirus shutdowns.

Tour Dates:

• 09/12 Machine Shop – Flint, MI
• 09/18 Blue Ridge Rock Festival – Appomattox Park, VA
• 11/23 Glavclub – Moscow, RU
• 11/24 Cosmonavt – Saint Petersburg, RU
• 11/26 Arena Hall – Krasnodar, RU
• 11/28 Zvezda – Samara, RU
• 11/30 Tele Club – Yekaterinburg, RU
• 12/02 Podzemka – Novosibirsk, RU
• 12/04 Palladium – Riga, LV
• 12/05 Helitehas – Tallinn, EE

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Today the American industrial-metal pioneers Ministry released their authorized 248 pages book ‘Ministry – Prescripture: The Visual History’ via Melodic Virtue. It is a collection of rare and unseen photos from the very beginning in 1981 until today, behind the scene pictures of Al Jourgensen’s personal collection and stuff coming from past and present members of the band.

The author of the book is Aaron Tanner (who also created a visual history for Pixies) and features artwork from Brian Shanley and Paul Elledge. The book opens with an introduction by Jello Biafra. Many exclusive quotes are featured from members of Smashing Pumpkins, ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, NWA, Ramones, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Megadeth, AFI, Slayer, Jane’s Addiction, Rammstein, The Flaming Lips, Devo, Butthole Surfers, Static-X, Anthrax, White Zombie, Death Grips, Bauhaus, Killing Joke, High on Fire, GWAR, Einstürzende Neubauten, Revolting Cocks, and many more!

This exclusive book is limited to 2000 copies and also has a deluxe edition (500 copies only) including a t-shirt and vinyl single. Definitely a must have for the fans! You can order the book here. Read the review of ‘Prescripture: The Visual History’.