Ministry

Al Jourgensen is a lucky man. Few artists get to be successful without compromising their music or their message. Enlisting guitarist Mike Scaccia, bassist John Moore and drummer Mark Baker, an Al Jourgensen-lead Ministry returns with a balls-out political statement. From the desecrated American dollar bill cover art, to an endless barrage of disparaging sound bytes, the album carries one simple concept: get George W. Bush out of the White House. Theirs is hardly a unique position though, and the band’s take on promoting an anti-Bush America is not fully compelling (even David Letterman has presented edgier Bush clips). It is satisfying however that Ministry is tackling familiar sounds on the release. "Waiting” is aptly reminiscent of "Thieves” or "NOW.” "WTV” hammers industrialised thrash-metal over various television sound-bytes, and proves that Ministry still represents a sense of humour in a mostly humourless genre. Aside from "Worm,” an introspective track embracing goth-styled vocals, this album is built on guitar-driven fury and political sampling. The songs are fast and heavy and the vocals command attention. Houses of the Molé may not change the way you feel about music, or even American politics, but Ministry fans will be satisfied.