I've never been a big Ministry fan. It's not that I didn't like them. It's that I did not take the time to listen to them. It was more like I was not a fan through my own omission. Although, I have to admit that in my early excursions into the music world (admittedly much later than most) I would probably not have cared for them much.
In retrospect, it is probably a good thing that I did not get into them back then. On the other side, I do have fond memories of "Jesus Built my Hot Rod." That brings me to the the latest offering from Ministry. Not only is it their latest, but it is also their last. Yes, The Last Sucker will be the last ever new album from the band that has influenced so many over the past 24 years since their debut, 1983's With Sympathy.
Something else I should admit before going further, I am not terribly politically minded. Politics is an area that I tend to steer clear of. I know my limits and I am not well armed in that arena. The reason I mention this is because The Last Sucker is an overtly political album. Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen sets his sights on President George W. Bush, and he doesn't hold his tongue. He does not care who is listening, or who is paying attention. He is intent on having his say. Bush is not the only one to be taken to task as he calls Dick Cheney Satan's emissary on Earth in "The Dick Song." With all of this out in the open, I am not going to attempt any lyrical analysis, I can't understand what he's saying half the time anyway.
The only constant factor in Ministry is Al Jourgensen. The remainder of the band has been an ever revolving door of musicians. The Last Sucker features a number of familiar faces to fans of metal. On guitar you have Tommy Victor, whom you may know from Prong and a stint with Danzig. Filling the bass duties is former Megadeth mainstay Dave Ellefson, he was the final original member (besides Dave Mustaine, of course) to leave Megadeth. He has also played with Soulfly. Another former Megadeth member takes a seat behind the drum kit on The Last Sucker, Jimmy DeGrasso.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Unfortunately,Chris, I have to disagree..
I do believe it is a fast paced album but it also has the production values that I could expect from alot of Techno acts. Poor sampling and the overkill of focus on Mr. Bush. I mean, I can appreciate his hatred but that same hatred kept his mind off the musicianship. I'm pretty sure you have just as much political knowledge as Mr. Jourgensen but, unlike him, you don't claim to be a "Know-it-all".
Honestly,I would spend your hard-earned American Dollars on the new Alchemist CD. That band has an industrial feel with a deep heavy metal influence.
2 - Chris Beaumont
I still like it. :)
Still waiting to see some of your stuff?