Ministry truly is one of those bands made for us freaks and misfits. Their crushing sound, relentless rhythms and provocative stage theatrics have appealed to metalheads and punks (and fans of dark electronic music, of course) for over four decades. Al Jourgensen’s band is back to rant about the state of the world over a bunch of brand-new high-octane tracks. Yes, it’s a fact (no fake news here), and it’s something to be thankful for because we really need their unique brand of heavy, cathartic music to cope with today’s virulent toxicity and tomorrow’s scary forecast, right?
Plus, we all know corporations and politicians are the true boogeymen. The man that once sang (Every Day is) Halloween knows it well and always makes a point of calling out right-wing, crooked-agenda assholes like misogynist incels – as exposed in the brand-new single, “B.D.E.” (“Big Dick Energy”).
Ministry’s upcoming (16th!) record, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, is all about humankind’s worst behavior, explored through songs about pollution, racism, religion, and ignorance. In addition to Jourgensen, the record features keyboard player John Bechdel (Prong, Fear Factory, Killing Joke), guitarists Monte Pittman (Prong, Madonna) and Cesar Soto (Pissing Razors), drummer Roy Mayorga (Soulfly, Amebix, Stone Sour) and bassist Paul D’Amour (Tool), as well as a trio of special guests: Eugene Hütz (Gogol Bordello), Pepper Keenan (Down, Corrosion of Conformity) and longtime co-conspirator Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys, Lard).
HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES TRACKLIST:
- B.D.E.
- Goddamn White Trash (feat. Pepper Keenan)
- Just Stop Oil
- Aryan Embarrassment (feat. Jello Biafra)
- TV Song 1/6 Edition
- New Religion
- It’s Not Pretty
- Cult of Suffering (feat. Eugene Hütz)
- Ricky’s Hand
The album will be released on March 1st through Nuclear Blast Records on vinyl (3 color variants), CD and digital/streaming. (Keep an on the RUEMORGUE website closer to the release date for an in-depth, track-by-track review by yours truly.)
After opening for Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie last year, Ministry will hit the road on February 27 to headline a 29-date North-American tour. English new wave legend Gary Numan and Canadian industrial pioneers Front Line Assembly will also be on board.
TOUR DATES:
- February 27: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
- February 29: Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
- March 1: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
- March 2: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
- March 3: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
- March 5: Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre
- March 6: Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall
- March 8: Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
- March 9: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
- March 10: Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
- March 12: Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live
- March 13: Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater
- March 14: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
- March 16: Toronto, ON @ History
- March 17: Montreal, QC @ MTelus
- March 18: Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
- March 19: New York, NY @ Terminal 5
- March 20: Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Casino
- March 22: Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee
- March 23: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
- March 24: Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing
- March 26: Birmingham, AL @ Avondale
- March 27: Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Casino Biloxi (with Gary Numan only)
- March 29: Houston, TX @ House of Blues
- March 30: Dallas, TX @ The Factory
- March 31: Tulsa, OK @ Tulsa Theater
- April 2: Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
- April 4: Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
- April 5: Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
As many of those dates are already sold out (VIP upgrades are available here), act quickly, or else you may regret it!
