When historically speaking of the all time great punk rock records from the golden 1977-1980 era, some names automatically and instantly are blurted out as they have been so ingrained in the annals of our collective rock conscience. You know, the classics: Never Mind The Bollocks, Rocket To Russia, Raw Power, London Calling, Young Loud & Snotty, Machine Gun Etiquette, and so on. But what about Static Age? Static Age... At first the name doesn't resound along with the aforementioned classic punk rock titles in the mind of your average music scholar. Yes, Static Age by The Misfits! Oh right, The Misfits, of course that rings a bell. Lodi New Jersey's own favorite ghoul punks, mostly recognized today for pro-wrestling, a merchandising empire that would make Gene Simmons proud, and their ex-singer getting his ass kicked by some fat dude on Youtube. And Metallica covered some of their songs too, didn't they? Sure, you know the Misfits.
But did you that their 1978 debut LP "Static Age" is perhaps the greatest punk rock record of all time? Well maybe not the greatest of all time but certainly just as good if not better than any of the above mentioned classic albums by the genre's most celebrated punk rock royalty.
Let's look at the Sex Pistols legendary "Never Mind The Bollocks.." tis likely the most famous, some say best punk record of all time. Next to Static Age it just doesn't compete! Seriously, after you get done with "God Save The Queen" and "Anarchy In The UK" you are left with a handful of decent but pretty mediocre rock 'n' roll songs, while every single track on Static Age is an infectious powerhouse of an anthem loaded with insanely catchy hooks, incredible pop sensibility, and instantly memorable melodies and choruses that are just so fun to sing along to.
It is uncanny how songs like "Last Caress" and "Attitude" seem to stick with you forever, permanently recognizable and unforgettable. These songs don't grow on you, they are immediately gratifying and addictive right out of the gate - The hallmark of a truly great pop song! And yes I am using the term "Pop song" There is no doubt about it, songs like "Angelf*ck" and "Teenagers From Mars" are indeed perfectly crafted pop songs complete with sing-a-long choruses and ultra catchy hooks (just try to resist singing along with the bouncing chorus of "Hollywood Babylon" It is as simplistic and as natural feeling from your lips as the songs you sung in school as a kid)
However this isn't some Blink 182/AFI watered down, corporate manufactured,cutesy, pop punk with songs about getting your heart broken at a rock show, or proclaiming your love for all things goth, not at all. This is the real deal! These are violent and nihilistic overtures for annihilating the human race. Auto-biographical accounts of paint huffing recluses sitting in their own filth. Grisly H.G. Lewis inspired horror stories about hacking up girls in your bathtub with power tools. Literal odes to Patty Hearst, 1960's B horror and sci-fi flicks, and a totally graphic and demented history lesson by the name of "Bullet" regarding JFK getting his brains blown out while Jackie O' becomes addicted to semen (that's much more punk and anti-establishment than any Clash song I ever heard!) And check out the outrageous lyrics to "Last Caress" with it's lyrics about rape and child murder. Pretty heavy and shocking subject matter for the time. Truly awesome is the manner in which singer and front man Glenn Danzig croons the outrageously offensive lyrics with a voice of pure silk which adds an eerily seductive contrast for maximum effect.
It must be said that it is in no small part due to the trademark vocals of Herr Danzig that produce these songs so magical and intriguing. Like Jim Morrison from the grave, or an "Evil Elvis" (as he has since been monikered) Danzig's 1950s styled rock 'n' roll croon is truly mezmorizing, possessing a style that's equally ghoulish as it is sexy. Hands down Glenn Danzig has one of the most instantly recognizable and powerful voices in punk rock.

With their hyperkinetic sonic mastery and fiendishly stylish appeal, The Misfits were a true legendary cult band and while all of the Misfits material (1977-1983) is excellent, arguably Static Age is their finest hour.
Every song here is a hit (or should have been) Static Age is one of those rare albums where there just does not exist one bad or even sub par track. There is absolutely no filler whatsoever to be found here.

So you've been going on and on about this Static Age album, if Static Age is so great then why isn't it held in as high regard as the other classic punk rock albums of the time, you might ask?
Well the answer to that question is a bit long and confusing, but to give you the short of it, unfortunately Static Age was never officially released in it's complete and unabridged form until 1997, almost 15 years after the band split up (As tragic as it may be, the irony of how fitting it is that the band's quintessential recording was released post mortem must be noted)
For almost 20 years no one had even heard the album except for some of the tracks taken from the Static Age recording sessions being released on various singles that went out of print very quickly in the early 1980's, as well as overpriced and horrible sounding bootlegs. Danzig himself even went back long after The Misfits disbanded and over dubbed and re-recorded several low quality versions of some of the songs that later appeared on shoddy compilation and best of albums.
Due to record label politics and fighting among the ex-members of the band the world simply was deprived of Static Age until almost two decades after the fact. Which I find to be tragic. For if Static Age had been released back in 1978 in it's complete and correct form you can bet your life that it would now be hailed as one of the best punk rock records of all times. Taking it's place along side the prime works of the classic punk records that due to unfortunate circumstance now overshadow it but no way near equal it.
One of my all time favorite albums. Timeless and classic.

(Note: When writing this review I did not factor in or reference the existence of The Traveling Jerry Only Geriatric Punk Rock Allstar band a.k.a the reformed "New-Misfits" As in my humble opinion they are of little consequence to the real Misfits and serve only to tarnish their legacy)