Hey all of you lovely gothic and not only souls B) .. it's been a while . . .
The newest production of the "industrial metal" protoplasts and survivors Ministry is called “HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES” and unquestionably, this is a fantastic and surprisingly for many people (jealous ones enough just to behave like that - fact) solid and fresh album with a strong message - as always - from Al Jourgensen included in lyrics.
The opening act and the first song on the album is titled “B.D.E.”. Mysterious name as always when artists using the shortcut which creates curiosity to figure out ‘what’s in the kitchen’. The words in the beginning are deeply placing the listener on the journey throughout this album. Basically the composition is about quite surreal turnings in the world because young people, especially big part of males are treating woman in a weird way seeing the increasing power of females in many fields of life. They’re simply angry and trying to impress doing stupid things like metaphorically ‘getting bigger penis’ or similar silly things like that. The suburbs of some social media and some mainstream fields which were not that important, are becoming now the top ones, something what in the past was treated like unacceptable or insane now is on the first place (18o degrees turnaround)… The instrumental part (as always) is produced on the sumptuous level by Al and heavy but more mature album by album sound in my opinion, listener can easily spot from the first notes of the song.
Next song called “Goddamn White Trash” is propelling the album in a well known Ministry’s flow but as always in a newer and progressive way. The massive riff after guitar intro with narration in the background, shows that Al has still something to give to the music world but not only... His way of perceiving the reality is very distinctive and lyrics shows his intellectual level of seeing the stupidity in some individuals everyday life. This song is about the lack of wisdom in the sphere of people who steers the governments, it's literally expressed in the choruses and the title of the song, everything is just about power and money. Presidents and the rest of figures on the high positions are masked and greedy ones with no values who have a really old software in their psychics which unfortunately is not promising anything good..we have to be vigilant as citizens everywhere and do something actually, vote properly, not just being reactive but primarly being proactive. Strong composition instrumentally in a rhythm almost like from the warfield.
Third song on the list is “Just Stop Oil” which is quite fast and aggressive manifest about misinforming people about what’s going on around in the world. Exploitation of the oil is so bizarre because it’s happening for years and everybody is aware of the business around this ‘big machinery’ and bad effects on the environment but nobody is doing anything about that. In the lyrics: “The documentation of facts that are given, are constantly met with a dose of derision..”, Al as always is wearing shoes of the person who’s firing up the awareness about governments and big companies tricks and he’s doing this constantly since 8o’s. This song has a very interesting construction and changes of the rhythm are just a masterful work of Jourgensen's circa forty years of experience as a producer. Some people are judging too early the work of many artists who are in the music industry long time. These people have a romantic view of the early “the best” art, but in my opinion, they missing the evolution and mentioned before experience of an artist. Very strong both instrumentaly and lyrically song, well picked as one of the representatives long before the premiere of the album.
“Aryan Embarrassment” begins with a very controversial for many people words about Jews and nazis. For some people it can be strange kind of manifestation but if the listener will dive deeper and understand the massage, everything begins to make sense, it’s kind of a farce but also a hidden message. I think that if we’ll continue to go in many weird directions as a humanity, we can evoke the past and bring evil concept of nazism and proverbial ‘replacement by the nazis instead of Jews’ is painting bad future of the leading entities who supposedly can sort out the present problems and fix at least a little bit the system which is providing quality of life for all of us. The great Jello Biafra from the band Dead Kennedys is again a guest in Ministry’s camp and as always adding intellectual spice to already intellectually established Al’s lyrics. Strong messages are always coming when these two gentlemen are collaborating. The Aryan concept is mentioned which according to the artists here, is already spreading in the high units of power and most of the people could be so blind and doesn't see that this is happening already. There’s even the word “stupid” used for describing the masses and again, nothing is in the work to prevent it by us. Music is very distinctive in this song. It begins from a kind of a slow motioned guitars and progressing with a beautiful quite static and pompatic wall of instruments.
Another version of the 'TV Song' concept, which Al continues since the “Psalm 69 (The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs)” - album from 1992. It’s a very fast paced composition with a repeating sentences which have straight forward information in Ministry's style. This is the sixth one in their discography and it’s called “TV Song 1/6 Edition”. As usually attacked and criticized by the singer - system and government’s figures - here as well from the beginning (original voice fragments of important persons like vice president) in lyrics a reminder that we still live in a similar rhythm of life being manipulated by the authority. But we have a choice: “You can be a hero or you can be a zero..”. Personally I think this is a message to a young generation, the thing is, we have to finally notice that and choose between free decisive world or being controlled as always and having no voice at all. The strength is in understanding and fighting in a smart way because we live in more open minded world, with more resources and mass surveillance but on some level - and abstractively - friendly for every mediocre person. The song, like I mentioned earlier is quite heavy and very rapid, kinda rhythm in a punk style, and thrashy riffs propelling the whole machinery in connection with lyrics, making the whole experience from listening very intense but in the same time fresh.
“New Religion” is in my opinion one of the best songs on the album. Heavy and regular strong riff with drums, like a tank opens the composition. Vocals and the way of Al’s expression is so energetic and fresh that listener can easily forget about how many albums Ministry had released and how much time passed in their career because sonically this song is very good. We can hear the band in this track with the straight forward message with the background music on the heavy and massive level. The words in this song are clearly pointing to the chaotic confusion which is like a malady everywhere now, but very dangerous. People are trapped in this new world where places like everyday jobs and any forms of bigger gatherings are treated as religious concepts. It’s paradoxically harder now when somebody’s world is falling apart and good life is turning with a blink of an eye into ruin because the choices then which has to be made by the person are complicated in terms of the type of people, corporation or institution whom will trust in eventually. We does not have easier life without the group of people we can operate with and which is supporting us on a daily basis or we are going against the grain and we can live but much harder although the benefits could be also valuable.
The song no. 7 is called “It’s Not Pretty” and is starting very interesting because of the acoustic guitar which is not something new for Ministry but rather rare. The lyrical content in this kind of apocalyptic sound which strings are emanating is, I have to say, continuation of the topic which seems to be refreshed here and put in a different perspective. The doom and gloom provided by the people who’s directing the governments and the biggest institutions is known for years but as technology progressing and we’re becoming smarter, in the same time we can with a blink of an eye destroy ourselves. The unpredictability of people on the highest levels is scary but, the very truth is that we are on the edge on some level and the proverbial Mad Max actually begun on the economical side and who gets more control from the big monarchies like China or the US in less developed countries. We live in a beautiful time but everyday we are progressing so much that our brains very often are not keeping the pace. On the musical side, like I mentioned before, after quite long but great acoustic entrance, composition is speeding up with a very pompous and rhythmic drums and solid but energetic guitars. Additional female secondary vocals in the end, nicely coronating the whole concept. In my opinion this is one of the best songs on the album. Production is so good and the twist from quite dark and slow beginning to a heavier part is very optimistic, even despite the message included.
“Cult of Suffering” is one before the last song on the LP and differentiates from the rest of the content. Beginning is very “sunny” because it starts from a nice and pleasant riff with a softer drums. It takes lyrically from the ideology of suffering, how we as a mankind still, despite progressing on so many fields, gripping to things which causing us pain and sadness, like for instance wars, present conflict on Ukraine etc. In choruses words “This is no happy place for me” speaks for itself. Despite the words, instrumentally is a very positive song, motivating in my opinion to act against evil dwelling and lurking in every corner, just waiting to unleash bad energy and create another reason for agony and malevolence. Also choral elements means - using multiply voices in refrains - employing more people to sing those parts in the song. That gives a new, fresh and splendid effect and overall result for the listener. Fairly, as a fan of Al Jourgensen’s work over the years, this is nice anthem for everyone who has any notion to change anything on this beautiful planet “Gaia” which we live on.
Closing composition on the album is a cover song by Fad Gadget from the year 198o titled “Ricky’s Hand” and it’s basically kind of way to express the concept of driving after drinking. There are many inclinations in the lyrics like “Six pints later he waved goodbye.. Slamming the door, he grasped the wheel” which pointing out what author was trying to portray through a metaphorical picture. Instrumental side is very interesting and interpreted as always by Al Jourgensen and the crew in a specific and individual way. It has a lot of 8o’s vibe because of the samples used and industrial atmosphere obviously. We can also hear very different singer’s voice but reminding of the tone of singing he had in early albums which 'die hard fans' will recognise in a second in my opinion. It’s very interesting, through all that Jourgenson have been through, drugs and other tribulations of life, on his 66 years old, he is still performing great and seems like he’s not even showing any signs to stop. I think this is a fantastic take on the song from 4o years back and amazing closing gate for this LP.
Overall experience from listening of the album, as a fan of the band, in as much as possible neutral way I would rate positively. Even for the one who is not into the “heavier” acts in music world I think will gonna find something fun for thyself. Like I mentioned before, years of recording and sacrifice of Al Jourgensen to the art of music is paying off in the big spectrum and painting great landscape, assuring enjoyable time spend exploring this LP by the listener.
Worth to try - for long term fans, but also for the beginners. Kids and adults, grab it, listen, enjoy!
Stay tuned for another review .. B) Peace and love!
No comments:
Post a Comment