Ministry released Rio Grande Blood on May 2, 2006. A follow on from 2004’s Houses of the Mole, main man Al Jourgensen and his crew continue their assault on the Bush administration in an album that many say is the best Ministry album since 1992’s Psalm 69.
Ministry is well known for their industrial metal sound, but Rio Grande Blood marks a change of direction. The electronic programming is significantly stripped down in order to make room for the brutality of the drums and guitars, which will most probably make you deaf after the 50 minutes is up.
There are two things that may not sit right with some Ministry fans. First, Jourgensen really, really does not like George Bush. Jourgensen doesn’t care that it’s 2006 now, not 2003. He is persistent on assaulting and insulting the President through his music. Nevertheless, everyone else seems to be over the musical Bush-Bashing already. You almost want to tell him, “Everyone knows Bush is a liar and a bad President. You don’t have to keep telling the world about it!” The recent general music releases doing so much Bush-Bashing is getting old for me. Some fans may feel alienated by Ministry’s continued walk down the path of political mayhem, while others have always regarded Ministry as a political band. Rio Grande Blood even has George Bush on the cover. It depicts him as a stoned looking Jesus Christ, with a crown of thorns, a look on his face that seems like he’s “tripping balls,” and Bush giving the Devil sign. In the background, war planes are flying over oil rigs.
Second, many fans may miss the signature electronic sounds and drums that make up "classic Ministry." Rio Grande Blood is an angry album, and the music suits it well. Maybe there was no room for heavy electronic sounds on this album; instead, a stripped down and raw sound do the lyrics more justice.
The album opens with the title track, as a mutilated George Bush speech claims: “I am an asshole. I want your money.” You immediately get hit in the face with the raw power of the song. The fast pace of guitars and drums form the perfect backdrop to this angry song. Jourgensen makes no apologies as he sings from the viewpoint of George Bush, and ridicules him by screaming “And all I gotta say is yippee-eye-ay!” This song sets up the rest of the album perfectly.
Article comments
1 - shannon.
I agree, I love this album! It's awesome. It's sad that Ministry will be ending after the next album though.
2 - Aaron Fleming
Damn, it seems like only last week that Houses of the Mole was released. I wasn't even aware of this new album, but after reading your fantastic review I think I will check it out.
What interests me is the whole anti-Bush sanctimony, which don't get me wrong I have nothing against and would certainly agree with. But there's been activity on Blogcritics recently debating about assorted musicians criticing the government and being castigated for it. People like the Dixie Chicks, Neil Young etc. But old Jourgensen and his mechanical riffs garner little to no attention. I suppose it's not surprising, there's no connotations of wholesomeness connected to Ministry.
3 - Yep
So what about the song called "Palestina"? Did you leave it out on purpose? just wondering..
4 - Jessa
Good point. The review is kind of long and I didn't write it in one sitting. I think I just forgot to talk about it. Either way, it's just like any other song on this record - awesome.
5 - wsympathyfan
They need to make a record like With Sympathy again instead of just making thrash metal records over and over.
6 - Mick
Well it's now 2007 and there are many others who arn't OVER the bush administation and their Masonic puppet masters... People continue to die, but should we just say "OK, that's old news now, lets talk about something new". I don't think Ministry are merely "Bush-bashers". Yeah, he is the face or patsy on the artwork, but the symbolism says it all. But, hey, if it's all too heavy, just dimiss it as "conspiracy theory" like the rest of the programmed population...