Coming back from what seemed like a permanent break up at the time, Ministry are back to their old tricks – hence the album’s title, Relapse. The question is can Ministry maintain relevance in the post-Bush era considering he was the square focus of their last three albums. The answer is a resounding “Hell yes”. Opening track “Ghouldiggers” rides the repeated refrain of “I’m not dead yet” in a song that references the music industry’s knack for selling the deceased piece by piece to consumers. It is a tightly wound, furious number and that is a damned good thing considering that Ministry has always run on vitriol. You can expect wall-to-wall snarling riffs, jackhammer drums, and of course the deranged ramblings of old ‘uncle’ Al Jourgensen. Everything about this record screams “aggression” at top volume. Their bloody-knuckled assault is as blunt as it has ever been; nobody ever need accuse Ministry of going soft on us. The title-track is the album’s beating black heart, with Jourgensen crying “I’m filthy rich and I’m horny” amidst quotes from Vietnam war veterans. It is a line that is as poignant as it is plain daft. Aside from the occasional dalliance with retirement, Ministry are becoming one of the music world’s constants – that is, they are constantly pissed off. When it comes to political nihilism look no further than these industrial stalwarts and they are as agitated as ever.
Country: USA
Recommended Tracks: Ghouldiggers, Relapse
Rating: B-
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