Search - Ministry :: The Last Sucker

Best Ministry album to date

M. | Mass. | 05/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion this is a better album than Rio Grande Blood, which for some reason most people seem to like a bit more. I think this is a little more diverse than Rio Grande while still keeping the industrial/thrash sound they are known for. The beats-per-mintute are toned down just a bit, but there are more layers to the music-weaving guitars, layered samples ans some really interesting drum programming. There is an appearance from Burton C. Bell (from Fear Factory) on a couple of the later tracks, and even a cover of the Doors song "Roadhouse Blues". Sadly this is supposed to be Ministrys' last album but I'm not sure if I believe that (or want to). Highly recommended."

Going out with a bang

Scott Hedegard | Fayetteville, AR USA | 05/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If "The Last Sucker" is indeed Ministry's swan song, what a way to go. Al Jourgenson, one of the pioneers of industrial/metal, has always been socially conscious, and especially loathing of organized religion ("Psalm 69") and the Bush era, both senior and junior.

Not that the evil deeds of W. aren't worth this scathing wrath Jourgenson delivers. Without trying to get too political myself, which, given the last three Ministry's lyrical contents is not easy, it's a glorious insightful exercise of the 1st Amendment, set to punishing brutal riffs and samples that make your skin crawl, since many of those are from the Bush man himself.

What makes latter day Ministry particularly powerful is the inclusion of Prong genius Tommy Victor as a full musical writing partner and guitarist extraordinaire. Few can pummel your cranium into soggy grits like Victor can, and his attack is as brutal as the crimes Jourgenson laments on "The Last Sucker".

Favorite cuts include the title track, the Cheney slam piece "The Dick Song", which is funnier than hell, and the closer "End Of Days Pts. 1 and 2". What makes these interesting is the inclusion of the prophetic and chilling final speech Dwight Eisenhower gave on national television before turning the office over to JFK. In it, Eisenhower warned the public of the danger he saw emerging of the military industrial complex getting mixed up with profiteering and tipping the balance between rightful defense needs and outright military corruption. Talk about hitting the nail on the head.

We should thank Jourgenson for including all of that speech as an album closer, as he obviously wants to share a chilling moment in history with his listeners, and good for him for trying to educate us.

But whether you agree with his politics or not, it's great for the music, too. Prong and Ministry are a match made in metal heaven, or hell, whichever they prefer."