MACHINES vs Monsters
Review: Will Thompson
Photography: Lynn Doby
The thought of machines and monsters coexisting might sound a little far-fetched, but June 15, 2025, proved otherwise. The Monsters and Machines tour, featuring co-headlining acts Static-X and GWAR, tore through The Ritz in Raleigh, North Carolina, leaving in its wake a path of blood, destruction, and industrial mayhem. But they didn’t do it alone—opening acts Dope and A Killer’s Confession helped turn this tour into one for the ages, leaving attendees soaked to the bone and eager for its return.
As the concert began, the crowd was treated to a performance by one of the most overlooked bands in the scene today: A Killer’s Confession. Composed of former Mushroomhead members—vocalist Waylon Reavis, keyboardist Richard “Stitch” Thomas, and drummer Daniel “Lil Dan” Fox—the quintet delivered a visceral performance that set the tone for the night. I’ve been fortunate to see them twice over the years, but tonight was, hands down, their best show yet. From Waylon’s striking presence and hard-hitting energy, to Stitch’s haunting synths, and the tight rhythm section of guitarist Steve Watson and bassist JP Cross, every member was firing on all cylinders.
The setlist drew heavily from their latest release, Victim 1, and included additional singles like “Hollow” and “Facts.” The band gave everything to the audience—and the crowd gave it right back. You might be wondering: with three former Mushroomhead members, did they cover any of that material? The answer was a resounding YES! As their set drew to a close, the band launched into a cover of the classic “Qwerty.” With both Stitch and Waylon on vocals, the crowd devoured it. They finished with “Kill or Be Killed,” perfectly setting the stage for what was to follow.
After the performance, Waylon left the stage with a powerful message that has represented the band since its inception: “Save a kid, kill a pedophile.” The crowd erupted in approval. He also announced he’d be at the merch table to meet fans and sign memorabilia. I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with him and get my Victim 1 vinyl signed. It speaks volumes when an artist takes the time to personally engage with fans—and it was incredible to have that experience.
This intensity was matched by one of nu-metal’s most underrated acts: Dope. As the venue darkened and the theme song from The Sopranos began to play, anticipation surged through the crowd. You could feel the energy about to explode. When the band hit the stage and lead singer Edsel greeted the audience, they launched straight into “Blood Money,” igniting mosh pits throughout the venue. But the energy didn’t stop there—those not in the pit were bouncing and thrashing all around the room.
Though brief, the setlist was packed with hype-inducing tracks like “Bring It On,” “Bitch,” and a medley of “Die MF Die,” “I’m Back,” “Sick,” and “Burn.” How do you follow that up? Simple—you close with a cover of the Dead or Alive classic, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).” By then, the crowd had shifted from moshing to spinning one another in circles. Bodies flew into pit walls in wild, joyful chaos—a perfect, over-the-top ending to a relentless set.
On a side note, I want to personally shout out both Daniel Fox of A Killer’s Confession/Dope and Waylon’s wife, Julie. On this tour, these two were handling multiple duties day and night—Daniel playing for both opening bands back to back and serving as sound tech for Static-X, while Julie was managing merch for both groups. While touring offers many benefits, it can also be stressful and time-consuming. These two set a standard for others to follow on future tours!
Now that the appetizers had been served, it was time for the first of two entrées: GWAR. These legends need no introduction. Fans come to the shows knowing what to expect—and GWAR delivers on every single one of those expectations. The band took the stage around 8:15 PM and wasted no time getting straight to business. With the sight of Elon Musk being decapitated during the opening track, “Fuck This Place,” the audience was immediately soaked in blood raining down from the stage. And it didn’t stop there—other victims included President Donald Trump, slaughtered during “El Presidente,” and, most notably, Taylor Swift, who was “given an abortion” during “Womb With a View.”
One unique moment that stood out was lead guitarist Grodius Maximus jumping onto the barricade during the classic “Immortal Corrupter,” shredding away as the crowd ate it up. Another highlight was the return of fan-favorite character Gor-Gor, who appeared during the band’s performance of the track before the spectacle concluded with their anthem “Sick of You.” The crowd was left stunned and drenched—but little did they know what was still to come.
At exactly 9:40 PM, the lights dimmed in The Ritz, and the stage transformed into a loading screen for about a minute. With the opening of “Regeneration Complete,” Static-X exploded onto the stage with “I Want to Fucking Break It.” The band wasted no time settling into a groove that lasted the rest of the set. The setlist included fan favorites from their classic albums Wisconsin Death Trip, Machine, Cannibal, and Shadow Zone, along with selections from their newer releases, Project Regeneration Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
With the masked entity known as Xer0 leading in place of the late Wayne Static, alongside the three original members, the performance was both a tribute and a continuation of the band’s legacy. Songs like “Love Dump,” “Black and White,” “Bled for Days,” and “I’m With Stupid” lit up the mosh pits. They also paid tribute to their fallen frontman by dedicating “Cold” to Wayne.
Now you might be thinking, Something feels missing from this set… what is it? If you were cautiously wondering whether the classic “Push It” was played—rest assured! The anthem closed out the night in epic fashion. As the crowd chanted “YEAH, you push it!” and the momentum in the pit reached its peak, Static-X etched their name into the history of The Ritz Raleigh.
With such a bizarre mashup, no one really knew what to expect. But this tour proved to be one for the ages and served as a reminder to embrace the weird. With theatrical veterans like GWAR and Static-X, audiences already know what to expect—but pairing them with seasoned performers like Dope and rising forces like A Killer’s Confession created an unforgettable experience. The Monsters and Machines tour proved that if machines and monsters can coexist, maybe the rest of us can too.
