Review Summary: Not great, not terrible.
Ministry’s discography during the last decade turned out a hodgepodge of thrash and industrial metal with various experiments in between. Occasionally, Uncle Al sought inspiration from the band’s previous eras or simply toyed to oblivion with samples, programmed drums and an army of guitars. Stronger tracks were buried there, albeit less than ever at that point. He frequently sounded bored or unconvinced as to where he was musically headed with the material at hand. Plus, it often felt as if it was a chore for him to pump new music. Nevertheless, a change in personnel and interest perhaps brought back a dose of quality.
Moral Hygiene was the first album in 15 years or so that sparked joy. Jourgensen was still walking on thin ice after a round of subpar affairs, yet, it was definitely an audible improvement. While the lyrics remained as politically oriented as ever, the tunes offered diversity, catchier hooks and were even fun. The group didn’t rest on their laurels, pushing forward with touring and recording new music less than two years later.
HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES was announced last fall, “Goddamn White Trash” being dropped out of the blue. It’s pretty much a fast paced, Ministry by-the-numbers single, however, it is nothing to be ashamed of.
More compelling, though, are “New Religion” or “Just Stop Oil” whose riffs don’t sound as cramped. The former’s stomping, mid-tempo drumming is augmented by heavy, staccato guitars, whereas Al’s shouts and vocal layers add to the aggressiveness. The latter shares a cool bass groove amid another round of riffage. Jourgensen expands his lyrical content on this tune, featuring less verse repetitions. Since he’s tackling the alt-right, religion, toxic behaviors, catastrophes or current wars, some tracks needed more compelling stories or detailed context for extra kick. Meanwhile, the Jello Biafra assisted “Aryan Embarrassment” is a grower. The track boasts some punch once it sets into the main rhythm, reminiscing the vibe and energy of “The Land of Rape and Honey”. Towards the end, “Cult of Suffering” brings some alternative rock into the mix. Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Huetz sings over a sunny instrumental that reminds of KMFDM’s latest sonic ventures. Moreover, the Fad Gadget cover, “Ricky’s Hand” is quite a nice surprise, with its ‘80s sequencers in full action. The band always did a great job with other artist’s numbers and this one is another win. The remaining songs range from decent to average, which at this stage in Ministry’s career, it isn’t an offense anymore. Despite the less enticing material overall,
HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES still fares better than the previous decade’s output. The production could have been meatier, because the hard hitting riffs rarely sound scorching, whereas on moodier moments it feels rather dry. A bit more focus on expanding the sound, might have created a more encompassing atmosphere at least. So, if you want a handful of new Ministry tunes to head bang to, you can find them here. If not, maybe next time.
