Review MINISTRY ‘HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES’

In a world where everything we are used to is being turned upside down and political extremes are on the rise, a melange of rage and anger is emerging. In such an environment, it’s musicians like Al Jourgensen who are at their best, and so it’s no surprise that ‘HOPIUMFORTHEMASSSES’ is one of the strongest Ministry albums the band has ever released.

A healthy and fit Al Jourgensen is clearly still capable of writing great songs, as each of these new tracks has the potential to become timeless masterpieces in the band’s history. From the very first listen to the album, you’re reminded of the ‘Psalm 69’ days without feeling like Ministry are covering themselves.

Rather, it’s the dynamics of the songs and the cumulative power of the riffs that make an immediate impact. And while the opener ‘B.D.E.’ still comes out of the speakers in a more restrained manner, it is the following ‘Goddamn White Trash’ that instantly kicks in. In terms of content, Jourgensen once again works his way through the political right and racists, manifested by songs like ‘Goddamn White Trash’ which is about the storming of the Capitol and the title clearly states what Jourgensen thinks of these people. The song is also a warning against people’s gullibility.

The throbbing ‘Just Stop Oil’ is another highlight on this album and it is the global coolists who are the subject here. What follows is no light fare either. Uncle Al has teamed up with none other than Jelly Biafra for ‘Aryan Embarrassment’ and lyrics like “We won’t stop till we find a way to deworm your fucking mind” speak for themselves.

One of the best songs, however, is ‘TV Song’. With an almost rabid tempo, the song is reminiscent of ‘Jesus Built My Hotrod’ in its ferocity and yet sounds different. Ministry pack all of their energy into these songs in just over three minutes and anyone who might still have doubts of Al Jourgensen being really angry will be proven wrong here.

Anyone who thinks that the disc slows down in the second half should be well aware that the following four songs are also in a class of their own. There’s the all-crushing ‘New Religion’, followed by the vicious ‘It’s Not Pretty’. Even if the song gains in heaviness towards the second half, it is a dystopian vibe that runs through this track from start to finish.

‘Cult of Suffering’, on the other hand, is surprisingly laid-back. The song impresses with its catchiness and sounds very rocking. It is one of the most danceable song on the entire album and, despite its individuality, fits very well into the context of this record. Finally, ‘Ricky’s Hand’ is a song that also shows another side of Ministry. Anarchic and at the same time featuring a lot of EBM, ‘Ricky’s hand’ unfolds its own atmosphere and guarantees a very danceable finale.

‘HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES’ has become one of the best Ministry albums due to its brilliant songs and a healthy Al Jourgensen. Everything just fits together and it’s the live drumming that gives this industrial album an extra dynamic and vividness.