Ministry [reviews]
Updated by Draconina on 05/19/2012 23:11
The Last Sucker |13th Planet, 2007|

01. Let's Go, 02. Watch Yourself, 03. Life is Good, 04. The Dick Song, 05. The Last Sucker, 06. No Glory, 07. Death & Destruction, 08. Roadhouse Blues, 09. Die in A Crash, 10. End of Days (Pt. 1), 11. End of Days (Pt. 2)

Tight, angry and unstoppable. It's about the newest Ministry album, the band which has been standing for American industrial metal music genre for over 20 years. There is nothing like graduated reaching the best songs hidden somewhere in the middle of the CD. Nah, we get punched at once. Let's go? OK, we're coming!

Watch Yourself with a rapid rhythm, dense drums and guitars by Tommy Victor (Prong), rhythmic bass by Paul Raven (died recently in France, ex bass player of Killing Joke and Prong) and also so typical for Al Jourgensen half angry, half mechanical vocal parts. Next, Life is Good, meltdown to me. Unisono of guitar riffs and bass divides, then Jourgensen comes out and makes a remarkable impression, as usually. The Dick Song contains layered guitar riffs and dialogues, of course putting down on the USA President George W. Bush, but it's been a standard feature of Ministry music for the last few years.

The title song The Last Sucker isn't the best song on the album, sounds a bit too monotone, lacks madness, but a following track No Glory belongs to those Ministry songs you can fall into and lose yourself, thanx to this rapid rhythm. Death and Destruction sounds even faster, I don't know what happens to the public at Ministry shows but it sounds like a background for some serious orgy ;) Roadhouse Blues is a mixture of hard rock and industrial metal, original song recorded by The Doors and kept in a rock'n'blues style. I loved that part with harmonica Al played on. Die in a Crash sounds a bit punk with industrial samples, feels like a spirit of The Clash and Sex Pistols.

The CD ends up with The End of Days Part 1 i Part 2, a masterpiece of power, and rebel of Part 1 and a beautiful, melody performance of Part 2, not deprived of a claw tho. Fuck, this song makes me almost cry, so beautiful it is! Part 2 is more about a music theme, would be cool if used for the ending part in a documentary movie about Ministry sometime soon as The Last Sucker was announced the last Ministry album at all. While watching you'll be thinking - 'and such a band quit their career!' I would name this documentary movie: "Ministry - Industrial Complex" (2007 (C) by NINa!). Sadly there is no connection between the last and the first songs on the CD.

Al's vision for Ministry has been firm and unvarying for years, but there is Ministry's strength in it. The band had came across many line up changes through years and it was expected Ministry sound would change after Paul Barker left the band. Ministry found their new way into more metal or trash metal vibe afterwards, they sounded less industrial in comparison to earlier albums and to me new albums sounded like if the musicians wanted to release their stress. They sounded like in a lack of some deep background to me. The Last Sucker is kind of a different one, however brings traces and memories of all previous releases except With Sympathy and Twitch. Besides Victor and Raven there are other musicians credited on the CD - Sin Quirin (Revolting Cocks) i Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory, AotW).

The Last Sucker is the fourth of the best Ministry albums to me, to be placed somewhere among Psalm 69, The Land of Rape and Honey and The Mind Is a Terrible Thing To Taste, and which I recommend for a listening. It's also said to be the last Ministry album, tho it's hard to believe as later came out news about Al working on a cover versions CD. I doubt if someone who spent almost 30 years on the stage with bands, admired and thought provoking decides to quit the band and take less exposed status of music producer and owner of his own business (13th Planet record label, where Prong has been signed amongst all). The only one thing is real to me - when Al has a vision he follows it persistently. We'll hear about the consequences of that vision soon.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Proofreading: Scott M. Owens. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Rio Grande Dub |13th Planet, 2007|

1. Rio Grande Blood (Rio Grande Dubya Mix),2. Seńor Peligro (La Zona Peligrosa Mix),3. Gangreen (Kiss Me Goodnight Mix),4. Fear Is Big Business (Weapons Of Mass Deception Mix),5. Lieslieslies (Cognitive Dissonance Mix),6. The Great Satan (What Would Satan Do Mix),7. Yellow Cake (Hexafluoride Mix),8. Palestina (72nd Virgin Mix),9. Ass Clown (Osama Mcdonald Mix),10. Khyber Pass (Tx Bush Ranch Mix),11. Lieslieslies (Known Unknown Lies Mix)

It was said that Ministry was about to release the last album after Rio Grande Dub. I guess the idea behind RGD was to put out a CD with a content they had never attached before in such a wide range – eleven remixes. The idea of remixes is boring to me on general tho there are sometimes very talented musicians who really know what to do to make an original song sound even more interesting.

In case of these remixes, they were made by Clayton Worbeck (Revolting Cocks, Stayte) or John Bechdel (Fear Factory, Prong, Ministry, False Icons) but actually the result gives me an idea of „a CD for Ministry’s albums collectors”. However it’s not that bad, the remixes are done professionally, worked out tasteful and there are a few really cool which made my my blood pressure rise up like both versions of Lies Lies Lies, and Khyber Pass (TX Bush Ranch Mix), to me the best track on the album, with Arabic songs sampled in and this helicopter-like background sound which give me quite clear associations to the USA/Iraq war. But besides that, this album doesn’t change Ministry image in any - either good or bad way but it also didn't impress me that much.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Proofreading: Scott M. Owens. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Rio Grande Blood |13th Planet Records, 2006|

Rio Grande Blood , Seńor Peligro , Gangreen (Featuring Sgt. Major) , Fear (Is Big Business) , Lieslieslies , The Great Satan Remix (Grammy Nominated Track) , Yellow Cake , Palestina , Ass Clown (Featuring Jello Biafra), Khyber Pass, Bonus

The newest Ministry album is full of metal guitar riffs. There is almost inaudible, so much accented Paul Barker's bass guitar which gave the dynamics to Ministry music. Not to mention there is no Barker in Ministry already.

A different band line-up gave the songs more rock style vibe and metal-like guitar riffs. I think this album was released too fast and the newest Ministry sound is based mostly on new musicians influence. There are Tommy Victor (from PRONG and ex-DANZIG guitarist), Paul Raven (bass, Killing Joke) and the drummer Mark Baker, plus a special guest named Sgt. Major and Jello Biafra (ex-Dead Kennedy's) whom Jourgensen played in Lard previously with.

If you got to know Ministry since Psalm 69 or Twitch you may not like Rio Grande Blood. It's music similar to Houses of the Molé and Animositisomina ventures.

As for the lyrics, there are lots of words concerning Bush and the USA politics again so it's a way boring. The worst song - there is any. The best song - neither. There is only Yellow Cake what sounds a bit typical for Ministry so it would be even difficult to not to recognize its author.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Dark Side Of The Spoon |Warner Bros, 1999|

Supermaniac Soul, Whip and Chain, Bad Blood, Eureka Pile, Step, Nursing Home, Kaif, Vex & Silence, 10/10

Al Jourgensen (known as Hypo Luxa, Buck Satan lub Alien) who is the founder of Ministry band released his first album in 1983. The 80's were the great time for the dance music that's why With Sympathy has a dancey vibe too. Al has never been satisfied with this album so the next releases recorded with Paul Barker (aka Hermes Pan) contained more complex, sharpen and guitar driven music. Filth Pig released in 1996 was described by Al as "the slowest and the most aggressive album he has ever released so far".

The Dark Side of a Spoon contains songs with a complex body structure and a dense vibe. After two, much aggressive compositions there comes a song from Matrix 1 soundtrack called Bad Blood. The rhythm layer in Eureka Pile reminds me White Zombie ventures with their simple, groovy tempo and a deep repeating bassline. Al's voice recalls the Monster Magnet vibe in Step song

There are lots of trance, guitar driven and aggressive sounds on The Dark Side of... mingled with those complexed electronic compositions. After a heavy and gloomy Kaif recalling those toughest Joy Division songs, there is same stifling Vex & Silence with a bit more softer leading guitar riff. Instrumental suit called 10/10 is full of sound King Crimson-like with add-ons creating a bit chaotic atmosphere. I think it's the first time when Ministry used such instruments like ...saxophone and banjo.

Maybe Filth Pig is the slowest and the most aggressive album but The Dark Side of.. is the heaviest one with its stifling vibe which is present also at The Cure 'Pornography'. There is also lots of chaos similar to Discipline by King Crimson.

This album should be listen a few times to, because it's not a catchy release for sure. Those who got accustom to the previous Ministry music can feel disappointed. In a fact there is always something to discover on this album.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Twitch |Sire, 1986|

Just Like You, We Believe, All Day Remix, The Angel, Over The Shoulder, My Possession, Where Are You At Now/Crash and Burn_Twitch (ver. II), Over the shoulder 12" ver., Isle of Man (ver. II)

There are lots of nice pieces suitable for dancing on Twitch record. There is also an industrial composition like Where Are You At Now which sounds like a factory fusion of noises and chaotic mixture of sounds with the complex body song. King Crimson band likes to make a sound mess and find ways out of it. Ministry makes it contrary-wise - they complex all with simple samples. It's hard to forget songs like: The Angel, Over The Shoulder and Isle of Man. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
Twitched |Radioactive, 2003|

Just Like You, We Believe, The Angel, Isle Of Man Ver (Ver 1), Over The Shoulder, Possession, Abortive, Twich (Part 1), The Angel (Short Version), Over The Shoulder (Extended Version), Isle Of Man (Ver 2), Twitch (Ver 2)

Well... I'm afraid about the Ministry future. It happened to other bands to release the Best of, live albums, the singles collection, remixes or boxes with T-Shirts and other stuff in case of lack any new ideas. Then they quit. Will it happen to Ministry as well? We got live CD, we got The Best of, Twitch re-edition and next Ministry announced their new album for April-May 2004... As for the Twitched - the tracklisting is almost the same, but they were remixed, made longer, made shorter, mingled at every side. It's great there are songs like Over The Shoulder, The Angel, Abortive and Isle of Man. Remixes didn't spoil them. Listening to Twitched we can recall the beginning of industrial rock genre waiting for the newest Ministry album in the meantime. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
12 Inch Singles |Wax Trax!, 1985|

(Everyday Is) Halloween, The Nature Of Love, All Day, Cold Life, Halloween Remix, Nature Of Love (Cruelty Mix B), All Day (Remix B), Cold Life Dub

I was killed by the debut song of Ministry, a single song released over 20 years ago! Cold Life it's a song with a strong slapping bassline, reminds me some of A Certain Ratio vibes from the 80's but it was a trend to use funky then ;) ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste |Sire-Warner Bros, 1989|

Thieves, Burning Inside, Never Believe, Cannibal Song, Breathe, So What, Test, Faith Collapsing, Dream Song

It's an album which will not get old. My personal no. 1 of all Ministry discography, much more than so promoted Psalm 69. There is nothing to pin to. It contains predatory guitar riffs, sound distortions, natural bass guitar vibe. Severe 'Faith Collapsing', fiery 'Burning Inside'. Ignorant 'So What'. 'Oriental' Dream Song. Quick 'Thieves'. Trance 'Cannibal Song'. All equally balanced. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

The Land Of Rape And Honey |Sire, 1988|

Stigmata, Missing, Deity, Golden Dawn, Destruction, Hizbollah, Land of Rape and Honey, You Know What You Are, I Prefer, Flashback, Abortive

The Land... contains aggressive music but there are also such songs like Golden Dawn kept in slower tempo with the Ministry classical guitar riffs and the bassline. There is Hizbollah, the perfect song with the Orient vibe, I get back to it very often. It's another perfect album of Ministry and another brick in the industrial rock/metal wall. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Psalm 69: A Way To Succeed And A Way To Suck Eggs |Sire, 1992|

N.W.O., Just One Fix, TV II, Hero, Jesus Built My Hotrod, Scarecrow, Psalm 69, Corrosion, Grace

Ministry evolves what is seen on the last six records and on Psalm 69 as well.
Most of bands influenced by Ministry music mention this album as the most favourite. Just One Fix stuck in my memory a lot, the same with NWO and Psalm 69. The minus is the band made a lot of songs which could be remembered easily. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
Filth Pig |Warner Bros, 1996|

Reload, Filthpig, Lava, Crumbs, Useless, Dead Guy, Gameshow, The Fall, Lay Lady Lay, Brick Window

Filth Pig starts a new era in Ministry evolution. Music became heavier and stuffier. Lay Lady Lay it's a single top shit and the cover version of Bob Dylan's song as well.
The album neither knocks out nor disappoints. I would leave only Lava, Brick Window and Lay Lady Lay in the playlist. If someone of you collects Ministry albums should have this one too just to see the contrast to the earlier releases. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
With Sympathy |Arista, 1983|

Effigy (I'm not an), Revenge, I Wanted To tell Her, Work For Love, Here We Go, What He Say, Say You're Sorry, Should Have Known Better, She's Got A Cause,

Well, it's a music suitable for sorta "The 80's collection" which could contain songs of such bands like Wham, Pet Shop Boys, Falco, Thompson Twins, Human League, Kajagoogoo... It seems like another story but the story is finished once for all, altho the music sounds pretty well as for the 80's. I was wondering how this album could sound like, because I've heard lots of weird descriptions about With Sympathy... I though nothing could surprise me after Twitch, but those silly title songs and the knowledge that THIS Jourgensen sang serenades with a high voice in Revenge, Say You're Sorry or She's Got A Cause made me astonished. It's incredible somehow but it's a disco music :) ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
The Greates Fits |Warner Bros, 2001|

What About Us?, Stigmata, The Land Of Rape And Honey, Thieves, So What (Live), N.W.O., Just One Fix, Jesus Built My Hotrod, Reload 12", Lay Lady Lay, Supermanic Soul, Bad Blood, Supernaut

Scary. Ministry, the cult band playing industrial rock/metal music releases .. the best of their songs. A collection! Seems like a way to disband or a way to earn more money to put out a new release...

The collection contains songs recorded between 1989 a 2000r. plus What About Us, a song for the movie "A.I" by Steven Spielberg, and 1000 Homo DJs' "Supernaut" song. It's a pleasure there are so well known and liked songs kind of Stigmata, So What, Just One Fix, Lay Lady Lay and a Matrix pearl - Bad Blood. The pity is there is no Brick Window song.

It's an album for a newbie who wants to get to know Ministry music and a collector to have something to put on the CD shelf. But on the whole it's not enough to buy a record for one new song, 12" version of Reload, Supernaut and a live version of So What. ( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

Animositisomina |Sanctuary Records, 2003|

Animosity, Unsung, Piss, Lockbox, Broken, The Light Pours Out Of Me, Shove, Impossible, Stolen, Leper (instrumental)

Besides the title it's a way cool record made in that old style, heavy and stiff Ministry vibe. It connects music appeared before Filth Pig album and that sound what came with The Dark Side of the Spoon.

Layered and disturbed vocals, metal guitar riffs, feedbacks... There is this insanity, which I lack on the albums released after 1996 and which dragged a lot of people to Ministry music. It's radical that after The Best Of and a live record we got such a good album. It's the first time Ministry included the lyrics in the booklet.

We got 10 predatory songs where I found two the best: The Light Pours Out Of Me related to the punk spirit and the cold wave music from the 80's plus some additional Hendrix-like guitar solo plays. It's not a mistake because The Light Pours Out Of Me it's a cover version of the song made by Magazine band in the 80's. It's not a surprise either because Jourgensen and Barker were listening to lots of new wave and punk rock music earlier.
The second kicking ass song is 'Shove' where simple sounds generated by bass guitar meet gloomy voices. It should be also mentioned that Ministry changed a record label to Sanctuary Records where Pitchshifter released a record as well.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
Houses Of The Mole |Sanctuary Records, 2004|

No "W", Waiting, Worthless, Wrong, Warp City, WTV, World, WKYJ, Worm, Psalm 23 (Bonus Track), Walrus (Bonus Track)

Great! After a few soul-torturing records Ministry released an album reminding their earlier music which let them stay the pioneers of aggressive industrial rock/metal genre. The same atmosphere is present on Houses of The Mole. Just listen to No W, Waiting, Worthless or Wrong. 99% of the song titles begin with W, but ironically the first is 'No W' :D
There are also less predatory tracks like World or Worm. To sum up = lots of anti George W. Bush irony.( Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
Rantology |Sanctuary Records, 2005|

No W (Redux), The Great Satan, Wrong (Update Mix), N.W.O. (Update Mix), Stigmata (Update Mix), Waiting, Warp City (Alternate Mix), Jesus Built My Hotrod (Update Mix), Bad Blood (Alternate Mix), Animosity, Unsung (Alternate Mix), Bloodlines, Psalm 69 (Live in Paris), Thieves (Live in Seattle), The Fall (Live in London)

No worries, there are a few changes to the rest of Ministry music only.
Rantology it's a record with remixes as well as a collection of the songs Ministry released during 25 years of their music activity. Punk spirit mingled with guitar riffs and industrial ventures. There are no music related to either With Sympathy or Twitch releases tho. There is even no connection to The Land of Rape and Honey but... there are two new songs like 'Great Satan' which will be included into the forthcoming album and 'Bloodlines', recorded in 2004 for the purpose of Bloodlines RPG game.

There is an interesting accent as the live version of The Fall was re-arranged. Maybe the song doesn't fit to all Rantology stuff but as for the comparisons to the original songs, the changes are clearly hearable there.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
Relapse |13th Planet/AFM Rec., 2012|

01. Ghouldiggers, 02. Double Tap, 03. FreeFall, 04. Kleptocracy, 05. United Forces, 06. 99 Percenters, 07. Relapse, 08. Weekend Warrior, 09. Git Up Get Out 'n Vote, 10. Bloodlust, 11. Relapse (Defibrillator Mix)

There's was a 70's Polish comedy called "Man – Woman Wanted" where an actor was referring to sugar, and whose description of "not enough sugar in sugar" became one of the most famous Polish movie quotes. To paraphrase it, there's "not enough Ministry in Ministry" on the Relapse album - from disappointing artwork to musical content.

This release sounds clean with exceptional mastering and has been well produced. However, Relapse is missing a spine, concept and plot along with very few intriguing arrangements. The compositions are divested of depth and any spiritual involvement. The songs don't invigorate the grey cells either, compared to the levels they did on recent Ministry albums. Continuous criticism expressed towards American conservatives on prior works was compelling listeners to look up the resources utilized in the song construction. This included aspects such as quotes or video content which helped to prove their points and exacerbate the bloopers of the Republican party that was led by G.W. Bush at the time. Instead, the band came up with melodies, ditties and "la-la-la" anthems on the Relapse album which are hushed with repetitive, yet hyperactive speed metal guitar riffs.

Impeccable solos played by previous Ministry collaborators such as Mike Scaccia (Rigor Mortis) and Tommy Victor (Prong) intertwine with bass lines by Tony Campos (Static-X), drumbeats by Aaron Rossi (Prong) and infrequent synths by John Bechdel (Fear Factory). However, in the songs "United Forces", "Relapse" and "Git Up Get Out 'n Vote" these phenomenal musicians still do not compensate for the infirmity of the compositions. The musicians comprising the current line-up adjusted to the expectations of Al Jourgensen, which can be witnessed by watching their recording studio session webizodes that were randomly published on YouTube during the recording process.
On the other hand, animated combat tension was brought forth by former Ministry and present American Head Charge guitarist Sin Quirin on the track "Double Tap". Still, this composition doesn't differ much from the unattractive schemes utilized throughout the entire Relapse album.

Moreover, a promotional "99 Percenters" song touches upon The Occupy movement, which has been expressing protests of the American society against banks growing wealthy and Wall Street market manipulations as well as the rising poverty of the middle class. Support of The Occupy movement attracts a lot of artists, some of whom want to prostitute the message of the protesters merely to attract new listeners. However, most musicians give their music away as free digital downloads to the people the message resonates with. In contrast, Ministry recorded and sold a song for commercial reasons while The Occupy movement was still boiling hot. How does this support the protest against rich multi-national corporations while leaving the protestors to grow poor in their endeavors?

Other than that, the song "Bloodlust" sounds interesting since you can decipher each separate instrument that was utilized in the song. The tempo is slow and the composition itself sounds as solid and as well prepared as previous works by Ministry, regardless its melodic aspects.
“Relapse” has a feel that is nearest to the previous sound of Ministry, but the vocals are little too aggressively forced and unconvincing. Unfortunately, the brains behind the band, the once charismatic Al Jourgensen turned up to perform dimly. He reminds me of a provoked puppet forced to wear a silly smile like Ozzy Osbourne, both of whom seem to be severely damaged by the perpetual overdose of drugs. It really feels as if Al isn't into playing heavy, aggressive music anymore (see: a Christmas song AD 2009*), but rather wants to joke around. However, while he seems to have fun by acting like a clown, fans continue to draft their fascination towards other metal bands, which act as serious as they sound and who stay in direct contact with their listeners.

Ministry rarely welcomes 'alien' musicians into their circle. This album however does include a guest appearance by Samuel D'Ambruoso who performs vocals in a quite interesting track named "Weekend Warrior". He has collaborated with the band earlier in his career as a sound engineer on the Every Day Is Halloween - Greatest Tricks album as well as on the song "It's Always Christmas Time".
Additional female, 'tech-communicative' spoken words were recorded by Al's wife - Angelina.

The best Ministry music was always based on smart repetitions, while deliberate missing melodies in songs like "So What", "N.W.O." and "Just One Fix" were utilized as creative nuances in previous compositions that raised interest in the message of the songs. "Kleptocracy", regardless of tight and heavy intros as well as repetitive guitar parts is cheapened by choruses that just seem to blur into... pop melodies.
A bowl of bitterness is spilled by the completely unnecessary and super-long "Relapse (Defibrillator Mix)" which is based entirely on un-invigorating and mind numbing electro beats.

Endless repetitions and needlessly extended arrangements appear in every song. This format may cause the listener to feel as if returning to this set of eleven songs later on again is cruel and unusual punishment. So why is it that Ministry felt the need to return? I believe this is merely because the fans wanted them back. Also, in part due to the fact that the director of FIX: The Ministry Movie heavily promotes the work of Al's life and music festivals pay well just to have the band name on posters while Al collects money to add to his retirement. It could just as well simply be that well known musicians wanted to have one more entry to add to their resumes by taking part in the creation of one more addition to the potent discography of Ministry before Al drinks himself to death (look up a story about his health scare, ulcers, bloody vomits and hospitalization in 2010 as well as having a big toe cut off). This is a qualification towards the sad truth that these ulterior reasons may be assumed to be true.

At one time in their career Ministry brought hard hitting, creative ideas into fruition. This was attractive to both fans and media. However, forcing the franchise to draw attention in todays industry climate produces music that is missing primal, real and controlled anger.
Indeed, we the fans as well as the music industry wanted the return of Ministry, but we expected the one we've known from some of their best albums that have spanned decades. Extensive use of the slogan "the fathers of industrial metal" in terms of the Relapse album is quite a stretch. This is exactly the same kind of promotional trick Filter used when they advertised their most recent and weakest album Inevitable Relapse (sic!) by comparing it to their most famous album Shortbus (which includes the hit song “Hey Man, Nice Shot").
Ministry has clearly forgotten how to make industrial metal music since this album sounds like a slop job of both pop and speed metal. They should have retired when they had the chance instead of returning with such an unoriginal and impotent album in comparison to their previous releases.

It has also become quite noticeable that the bands who were responsible for bringing industrial rock and industrial metal out of the underground and into the realm of MTV in the 90s, meaning Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, seem to inevitably ruin their elite identities by switching to far less ambitious music. If they wish to change their style, they should establish new bands with different names so they can keep the history of their past discography pure.

Fast doesn't mean efficient. Relapse feels like a few seconds of fireworks or a 5 minute fuck that is judged in the eyes of a partner who wants more because of recent playthings. Unfortunately, this album doesn't heal the current state of industrial metal at all.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Magazine, 29/03/2012. Proofreading: Scott M. Owens. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)

*It's Always Christmas Time on YouTube

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