Up on the Chopping Block is the band Ministry and I really don’t know much about them other than the couple times I’ve seen them live. I feel like they’re one of those bands that if I had been familiar with their music, I might have enjoyed them more. I do know that front man Al Jourgensen is a pretty iconic figure in music so let’s take a look…………..
With Sympathy- based on a few songs that I had heard from this band, I honestly was not expecting this album to sound the way it did. It’s definitely a synth pop album as well as a new wave album and I actually really enjoyed this album. Interestingly, Al Jourgensen hated the recording experience and even going so far as describing the album as a “sonic abortion.” he also claims that the record label prevented him from using certain songs (eventually those would be used on another album). All that aside though this is definitely a fun record and I’m going to give it 9/10.
Standouts: Effigy, Here We Go, Say You’re Sorry
Twitch- this one moves away from the synth pop, and goes for more of a darker sound. There’s still some new wave on this record and you can hear the influence this record would have on bands like Nine Inch Nails. Fun fact, the director for the music video “Over The Shoulder,” hired two kids to steal a car and then film it. The band then asked to film in a store and when the owner said no, the same kids trashed the store. When the band asked again, this time the owner agreed due to needing money for the cleanup. According to Jorgensen, everything in that video was criminal. As far as the album goes, it’s an interesting follow up and I’ll give it 8.5/10
Standouts: Just Like You, We Believe, The Angel
The Land Of Rape And Honey- when I think of Ministry, this is one of those albums that comes to mind. This is what I would call one of their quintessential records and now we’re going full on heavy metal and industrial. Oddly enough, the record title came from the slogan of Tisdale, Saskatchewan whose motto was “the land of rape and honey” which refers to the agricultural products rape seed oil and honey. The band saw this on a souvenir mug and used it as the album title. After listening to this record, I can see why this would be considered one of their classic albums and I have no choice but to give it 10/10.
Standouts: The Missing, Deity, I Prefer
The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste- this one seems to take more of a guitar driven album. It’s still very much within the industrial meets metal side of things and according to Jourgensen, a lot of that was because he was influenced by bands like S.O.D. and Rigor Mortis. The production was more chaotic which allowed the band to have more creative freedom. And according to Jourgensen, this one isn’t real this favorite because of the amount of drugs that was being done as well as the relationship that the band had with one another. Still, though you cannot deny that this is another fantastic record and a fan favorite. I’m giving this one another 10/10.
Standouts: Test, Thieves, Burning Inside
Psalm 69- of all the albums so far, this one (and Houses Of The Molè) is probably the one that I’m most familiar with. If I remember correctly, someone lent me a copy of it and going back to it now I think I have a greater appreciation for it. Originally this album was going to be called The Tapes Of Wrath but was changed to Psalm 69 which was derived from Aleister Crowley’s The Book Of Lies. The album itself adds in elements of psycho and rockabilly as well as speed metal. This is also one of those albums where pretty much everybody hated each other due to the amount of drugs that were being consumed. Sometimes though the best albums are made as a result of that and again another classic Ministry album that absolutely gets 10/10
Standouts: Scare Crow, Grace, Hero
Filth Pig- this one definitely takes a much different approach and goes for more of a heavier slower sound. According to Jourgensen, this was done on purpose because so many critics were demanding a “Psalm 70 and I wanted to do the opposite.” I did find myself getting bored with this one, but I do respect the fact that they wanted to go in a different direction. Anyway, I’m giving this album 7/10.
Standouts: Lava, Dead Guy, The Fall
Dark Side Of The Spoon- this one is a slight step up and it’s not as slow as the previous record. According to Al Jourgensen, he wanted to step away from the drug infused albums. The album’s name is a wordplay on two things the first being Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon and the second one having to do with cooking heroin on a spoon. I would say that much like the last album. I just thought this one was OK. I do like that there are more guitars and it’s maybe slightly faster than the previous record but I probably wouldn’t revisit this one. I”ll give it 7/10.
Standouts: Supermanic Soul, Kaif, Eureka Pile
Animositisomina- first of all this is quite the record name and it’s a palindrome of the word animosity spelled without the final letter and both forward and backward. The album’s name was also done out of boredom. Al Jourgensen states that this was his least favorite album to make due to him quitting drugs, cold turkey and it shows. It’s not that I don’t think this is a bad record it’s just boring. The songs all sort of sound the same and they all just sort of run together. I’ll give this one 6/10
Standouts: Lockbox, Piss, Stolen
Houses Of The Molè- this album probably has one of my all-time favorite Ministry songs that being “No W.” In fact it was that song that introduced me to this band in the first place. This is the first record of what would be dubbed the anti-Bush trilogy due Al Jourgensen’s dislike of George’s Bush. This album was released prior to the 2004 presidential election and it’s also described as a rebirth album which I absolutely agree with. This definitely feels like a return to form and absolutely picks up where Psalm 69 left off. I’m giving this record 9.5/10
Standouts: No W, WKYJ, Waiting
Riot Grande Blood- this is a full on thrash metal record and I was absolutely not expecting them to go in this direction. I never realized how political this band is and wow this was made to protest George Bush, you could honestly apply these songs to any political time period. There are parts of George Bush’s speeches interspersed with the songs and it honestly makes for a really cool record. This is definitely one of their more aggressive records and I will absolutely give this 10/10.
Standouts: Señor Peligro, Palestina, Yellow Cake
The Last Sucker- this is the last part of the anti-Bush trilogy and I would say it’s good just maybe not as strong as the other two albums. It does sort of remind me of records like Filth Pig but better. When asked about this album, Al has said he writes ” shittier music when a democrat is in office versus when a republican is an office.” I don’t want to say that this album is like that, but it’s maybe not as memorable as the other two. Out of the three in this trilogy, I would say this is one to skip, but it’s still worth a listen. I’m gonna give this 7.5/10.
Standouts: Let’s Go, Roadhouse Blues, Die In A Crash
Relapse- I don’t wanna say that this is a reunion album because after the last album was made, the band broke up for about five years which isn’t really a breakup, but more of just a long break. It doesn’t pick up where the previous album left off and does have some thrash metal elements back in as well as being tighter and slightly more cohesive. Musically this should’ve been the third album in the anti-Bush trilogy and I’m going to give this 9/10
Standouts: Double Tap, Relapse, Bloodlust
From Beer To Eternity- this is one of those homes that I had to listen to a couple of times to really appreciate it. First listen I thought it was just OK but after listening to it the second time I actually think this is quite a solid record. It does have something for everybody, and this was supposed to be the final album due to the death of guitarist Mike Scaccia (who appears posthumously). While nothing mind blowing or game changing, it’s a solid record and I’m giving it 7/10
Standouts: Fairly Unbalanced, Lesson Unlearned, The Horror
Amerikkkant- so much like the anti-Bush albums, this one is an anti-Trump album. I would say it’s not really thrashy like the anti-Bush albums and it just goes for a straight on industrial almost noise rock kind of sound. It’s not a bad album, but it’s just OK. I’m going to give this 6/10.
Standouts: We’re Tired Of It, Antifa
Moral Hygiene- this one does remind me a lot of the previous record and again much like that one this is just an OK record. It’s nothing special and it’s a little bit on the derivative side. I don’t really know what else I could say about this other than if you’re a hard-core fan of this band you might like it a little more than the previous record. I’m gonna give this 5/10.
Standouts: Sabotage Is Sex
HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES- again this reminds me of the last two records. I do like the sort of spoken words mixed with the music but as a whole again, this album is just OK. And yet again this is an album I probably won’t go back to however it is their latest record (at the time of writing this) so at least give it a listen. I will give this record 5/10.
Standouts:
I’m really glad I checked out these records because there are some really really solid albums in this catalog. I can see why someone like Al Jourgensen is considered a legend and without him or Ministry, you wouldn’t have bands like Nine Inch Nails. I think had I been more familiar with this band’s music I would’ve enjoyed the two times that I had seen them a lot more. Definitely check out some of these records because there are some really great albums.
Final Grade: A-
Album Rankings:
- Psalm 69
- The Land Of Rape And Honey
- Rio Grande Blood
- The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste
- Houses Of The Molè
- With Sympathy
- The Last Sucker
- Relapse
- Twitch
- Dark Side Of The Spoon
- Filth Pig
- From Beer To Eternity
- Animositisomina
- Amerikkkant
- Moral Hygiene
- HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Sinister Reviews 