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October 24th — Nu-Metal legends Mudvayne stopped in Montclair, New Jersey at the historic Wellmont Theater for a sold-out celebration of twenty-five years of L.D. 50. The album was released on August 22, 2000, via Epic Records.
When most people talk about Nu Metal, there’s no question that this band from Peoria, Illinois, stands at the forefront alongside Slipknot, Korn, and System of a Down. Add the equally legendary Static-X (also celebrating 25 years of their debut album) and metal newcomers Vended, and you’ve got a night filled with blood, sweat, tears, and heavy metal.
Vended, to some, may draw extreme similarities to another metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Considering both founding members are directly related to members of that same iconic band, comparisons are inevitable. However, I draw the line there. Sure, they are the sons of Nu Metal royalty — Slipknot — but Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan have been carving their own path musically since 2018.
Vended has released singles and EPs over the years but have now come full circle with the release of their self-titled full-length debut album. Their set was raw and emotionally charged, leaving nothing behind on stage. The performance primarily featured songs from the new album but also included tracks from their earlier EP “What Is It / Kill It” and the single “Ded to Me”.
Vended Setlist
Nihilism
Ded to Me
Am I the Only One
The Far Side
Pitiful
Asylum
The venue grew cold and desolate as flickering LED boards illuminated the stage. Snow began to fall on stage, and a figure appeared, welcoming us to the Evil Disco. Static-X members Tony Campos, Ken Jay, and Koichi Fukuda took their places before a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes and fiber-optic hair — reminiscent of the legendary Wayne Static — emerged. Xero stepped into the spotlight to initiate the Static-X protocol, launching the band’s 25th-anniversary celebration of Wisconsin Death Trip in spectacular fashion with “Bled for Days”.
(With confidence, I can tell you that in 1999–2000, I completely wore out my rented copy of this album — especially that song in particular.)
The set was interwoven with songs from throughout their 25-year career, though it drew heavily from their debut album Wisconsin Death Trip, released in 1999 via Warner Records. Fans were also treated to classics such as “Cold,” “Get to the Gone,” and “Black and White” from 2001’s Machine, “Dirthouse” from Start a War, and “Terminator Oscillator” from Project Regeneration Vol. 1, which featured some of the final recorded vocals of the late Wayne Static. During “Fix”, fans were treated to an appearance by the X-bot roaming the stage (see photos below).
Static-X continues to deliver a consistent, energetic show — one that brings out long-time fans and wins over a new generation while honoring the legacy of Wayne Static.
Static-X Setlist
Bled for Days
Wisconsin Death Trip
Fix
Terminator Oscillator
Sweat of the Bud
Love Dump
I Am
The Trance Is the Motion
Black and White
Bien Venidos (Tape)
Get to the Gone
Dirthouse
Cold
I’m With Stupid
Push It
After a short pause for a set change, the chatter among fans grew quiet. An ambient noise of “Monolith” filled the air as the lights dimmed and a wash of blue illuminated the stage. Drummer Matthew McDonough appeared behind his elevated drum set to a roar from the crowd. A quick hi-hat count-in — and then it hit. One of the most recognizable bass intros in Nu Metal history: “Dig.”
As the first lyric struck the air, vocalist Chad Gray leaped onto his riser, commanding the sold-out Wellmont Theater like a general leading his army. The band immediately launched into “Internal Primates Forever”, the groove resonating through the crowd like a shockwave. Guitarist Marcus Rafferty led the charge alongside a fill-in guitarist, as original member Greg Tribbett was noticeably absent from the tour following the loss of his wife. Her photo-adorned on Tribbett’s guitar stood displayed in the corner of the stage as a heartfelt tribute.
Chad Gray warmly welcomed the New Jersey crowd, Mudvayne hadn’t performed in the state since 2022 — then, nearly a decade since prior appearances at the Starland Ballroom and the legendary Birch Hill, which hosted countless metal and Nu Metal acts during their formative years.
Gray laid across his riser to begin “-1”, while bassist Ryan Martinie delivered his usual high-energy performance, spinning and bouncing across the stage with unmatched intensity.
The band powered through most of L.D. 50 — around twelve of its fifteen tracks. A humble Chad Gray thanked fans for standing by him over the past twenty-five years, sharing how their support had saved him and expressing his hope that his music had done the same for others. After realizing he’d been speaking at length, he laughed and encouraged the crowd to chant, “Chad, shut the F up!”
As the main set concluded, Gray expressed gratitude to Static-X and commended Vended for “ Doing metal the right way”.
Mudvayne closed the night with their latest single “Sticks and Stoned”, released in September via Alchemy Records, followed by fan favorites “World So Cold” and “Not Falling” from The End of All Things to Come (2002, Sony Music Entertainment), and “Determined” and “Happy?” from Lost and Found (2005, Sony BMG Entertainment).
Mudvayne Setlist:
Monolith (Tape)
Dig
Internal Primates Forever
-1
Severed
Death Blooms
Golden Ratio (Tape)
Cradle
Under My Skin
Prod
Nothing to Gein
Dull Boy
Sticks and Stones
World So Cold
Determined
Not Falling
Happy?
A huge thank you to Mudvayne for having Ultraviolet Magazine out to celebrate 25 years of L.D. 50. We can’t wait for album six! Be sure to stay tuned for future announcements — and don’t forget to follow all the bands on their socials to keep up with what’s next.
