Album Review - Ministry's AmeriKKKant

Part 2 of Industrial Metal Insanity is at it’s end fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

All throughout this month, we’ve taken a look at American icons Ministry. We started off with the classic Psalm 69, then we moved to the mid-2000s with Rio Grand Blood. Now we come to 2018, to take a look at their most recent offering, and not a moment too soon! With opinions on American politics at an all time low, and one of the most despicable people in existence is our current president, it was too easy of an opportunity for Ministry to pounce on. So far, this release has been the only good thing to come from the reign of Trump, but let us hope there’s more. So get on your war face, hold up a protest sign, and take a look at my review for AmeriKKKant. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Frontman Al Jourgensen had previously stated that From Beer to Eternity would be Ministry's final studio album, following the death of longtime guitarist Mike Scaccia, who appears posthumously on the aforementioned album. However, in an April 2016 interview with Loudwire, he stated that they would make a follow-up album "if the circumstances are right."

When asked in July 2016 whether Ministry was going to release another album after From Beer to Eternity, Jourgensen stated, "When I was asked, it was after Mikey passed and the entire media immediately starts asking me what is going to happen to Ministry. He wasn't even buried yet. I thought, 'Fuck you.' I was really pissed and really angry. I said, 'Fuck Ministry and fuck you for asking.' They want to comment on Ministry when my best friend had died. It's been more than two years now, and I got more ideas and I have done albums with Mikey and have done them without him. It's time to get another record out. I have a bunch of songs written in my head. I wanted to have time to mourn before people start asking me about touring dates. It was sick. I was bombarded and email boxes were overloaded with 'what are you going to do now?' It was kind of creepy."

By February 2017, Ministry had begun working on their fourteenth studio album, titled AmeriKKKant. It was later revealed that the album would include guest appearances from Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory, former N.W.A member Arabian Prince, DJ Swamp and Lord of the Cello. During their performance at the Blackest of the Black Fest in Silverado, California in May 2017, Ministry debuted their first song in four years, "Antifa", which, at the time, was expected to appear on AmeriKKKant.

In September 2017, it was announced that Ministry had signed to Nuclear Blast, and that the album's planned late 2017 release date had been pushed back to March 2018, due to "promotional plans and manufacturing deadlines." The album's release date, artwork and track listing were revealed on December 11, 2017.”

AmeriKKKant’s reception has been rather middling with music critics. Allmusic writer Paul Simpson gave the release 2 out of 5 stars, and said that “AmeriKKKant finds the industrial metal juggernauts railing against the alt-right, racist Internet trolls, fake news, and everything else to do with the aftermath of the 2016 election. While some of the Bush-era albums found the group reinvigorated after the lackluster Filth Pig and Dark Side of the Spoon, AmeriKKKant is just a depressing slog through and through, perfectly summed up by its Statue of Liberty faceplant cover art.”

Basic Description
Music we need.

I have to confess....my heartstrings were pulled a little when I found out that Ministry would be coming back, and this would mark their return. Considering how set Al Jourgenson was in the decision of the band no longer existing, it was quite shocking to see them return, although given that he released a solo project in 2016, the shock factor might not be as high as I think. All that aside, AmeriKKKant is the only good think to have come from Donald Trump’s presidency so far. Channeling the political rage & cynicism from their George W. Bush themed albums, the record is all the more potent when new musical elements & fresher recording/production technology are added to the mix. There is a little bit of stumbling to be had when it comes to some of the politics (More on that below), but when Uncle Al & the rest of the band get up onto their feet, they definitely deliver on the music.

Best Track
I gotta give the title of “Best Track” to Twilight Zone. The 3rd single of the album, the song gives off a serious Filth Pig vibe, and I’m not the only one that thinks this. Just check out the comment section music video: there are many people (Apart from the obvious negative ones) who have said the same thing. It’s a dark & dirty song, with one foot in the mid-90s past, and another foot in our modern time. Thanks to guest spots from Lord of the Cello (Sample here) and DJ Swamp (Who’s style of scratching records isn’t a 100% rap/hip hop style. Sample here), the end result is a sinister affair, but one that’s honest in how sinister it is. Definitely a great way to open the album!

Twilight Zone

A good 2nd track off of AmeriKKKant would go to the ode to sex & violence that is Wargasm. Feeling more like a song from Ministry’s “Bush Era” days, we have guest vocals from Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory, and while he’s only around for 2 monologs, he definitely pulls his weight. On top of that, the Thrash flavorings of the mid-2000s is still present on here, and it brought back some nostalgic feelings for me when I first heard it as the 2nd single of the album. Compared to the first single we got (More on that below), these 2 tunes have some meat on them, and I love the taste of it.

Wargasm

Worst Track
Like I said when I updated the Ministry overview, Antifa has to be the single worst song on the album. It’s not because of the instrumentation, cause it’s not half bad. It not because of Al Jourgenson’s vocal work, cause it’s good (Although it’s a little weak in some spots). No, Antifa is a horrible song because of it’s politics. As much as I can be a Democrat/Liberal at times, I in no way support these buffoons. They’ve done more harm than good, and using this track as the first single is a really stupid move. On top of that, this single song is proof that Uncle Al may have finally jumped into the political loony bin when it comes to leftist politics. To use this track as the first single is quite possibly the single biggest mistake of this release, and permanently damaged AmeriKKKant’s chances of being a classic. However, like I said in the overview, I give Antifa a weird form of respect, as it pissed off both the left & the right simultaneously when it came out. Gotta love stuff like that!

Antifa

The only other song on AmeriKKKant that’s bad would be the ode to internet insanity that is TV5/4Chan. Calling it a song is actually something of a joke, as it’s just 49 seconds of random noises & sound bits. This was 49 seconds that could have been used for any of the other tracks on this album. Even Antifa could have possibly benefitted from some extra time, but instead this waste of space was made. Do yourself a favor, and avoid this black spot.

TV5/4Chan

Apart from that, AmeriKKKant’s only real fault is how the album isn’t as subtle as Uncle Al said it was. In interviews before it was release, Al Jourgenson said he didn’t want a record that went for Trump’s throat directly, and instead wanted to criticize the circumstances that lead to his rise of power. On the surface it seems like the album indeed followed this mentality, but as you get further into it, you realize it isn’t quite as clever as Ministry makes you think it is. In a way I feel insulted by this, but at the same time.....considering who’s president....maybe subtly isn’t what we need.

Other
If you are curious about this album, then check out the link below:

AmeriKKKant

Overall Impression & Rating
AmeriKKKant.....is an album we needed. Yes, some of the politics aren’t very popular. Yes, a little bit of the music isn’t good. Yes, it’s not quite as clever as prior politically-charged Ministry releases. However, with the times we’re in, maybe something that’s a little more in your face than other protest-style records is needed. What Gods of Violence from Kreator was to last year, AmeriKKKant is to this year. If you can stomach a little bit of crazy politics, then you might want to give this album a try.

AmeriKKKant gets an 8 out of 10

So that was a look at the second return for Ministry, AmeriKKKant. It’s got some issues, and maybe a little bit of the politics goes off the deep end, but at the same time the music matches with the times. Now it’s time to take a gander at a Industrial Metal group on the other side of the world, so join me in a few days when I’ll take a look at a band that I’m surprised took me this long to do so. See you soon!

Album Review - Ministry's Rio Grande Blood

Ministry continues to grace us with it’s presence fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Unlike last month, July started off with a really strong release. Psalm 69 marks the first time that Heavy Metal & Industrial music connected, and in the process created something special. But now we comes to the mid 2000s, and Ministry never let up their releases, despite their frontman going through some tough times. However, with the arrival of George W Bush and his administration, and Uncle Al got some pep back in his step, not to mention something to focus on for new material. Today’s review is the 2nd in their trilogy of Bush-Bashing albums...and it’s the one that made me a Ministry fan for life. So sit back, get pissed at Republicans & Conservatives, and enjoy my review for Ministry’s Rio Grande Blood. Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“The album is the 2nd part of the band's anti-George W. Bush trilogy, preceded by 2004's Houses of the Molé and followed by 2007's The Last Sucker.

The title of the album is a parody of the 1972 ZZ Top album Rio Grande Mud.

Just like Houses of the Molé, Rio Grande Blood contains very political lyrics, making frequent allusions to the George W. Bush administration. The second track makes an explicit reference to Bush as Señor Peligro, which translates to "Mr. Danger" in Spanish. Some of the issues raised include the then-current Iraq War, U.S. immigration policy and U.S. military policy (particularly the US Marine Corps in the song "Gangreen"). The Halliburton corporation is also quoted and linked to the Bush administration.

The album also contains allegations of the Bush administration complicity in the 9/11 attacks in the track "Lieslieslies," which contains audio samples from the conspiracy documentary Loose Change. The song received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 49th annual Grammy Awards.

A remix of the song "The Great Satan" from Rantology appears on this album. Along with "LiesLiesLies", "The Great Satan" was also nominated for a Grammy.

Samples of genuine Bush soundbites are cut-and-pasted together at various points to satirical effect: for example, the title track begins with Bush stating "I have adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics and I'm a dangerous, dangerous man with dangerous, dangerous weapons."

The album was re-released in remixed form as Rio Grande Dub on July 10, 2007.

Jourgensen ranks Rio Grande Blood as his second most favorite Ministry album saying that not only he liked the songs but he had a good time working with Paul Raven and Tommy Victor. He was also proud that some of the songs were used in the 2008 Academy Award winning film The Hurt Locker.”

Basic Description
Oh boy.....where to begin.

Look, I’m gonna be blunt with you......I can’t find fault with anything about this album. Outside of one song (More on that below), Rio Grande Blood is a perfect album in my mind. Yes, I’m saying that mainly because of it’s connection to my Uncle Randy’s death nearly 12 years ago. Putting that aside, the album really is that good. The instrumentation is fantastic, the effects used are great, and Al Jourgenson’s vocal work is pretty damn good. What’s just as good about this record is how well Ministry uses the subject matter of Bush’s presidency. From the collaboration with various crooked companies, the flawed immigration policy, the U.S.’s presence in Iraq, nothing seemed to be left untouched. This would be carried over to the concluding Bush-bashing release, and to 12 years afterwards....but we’ll get to that in a week.

Best Track
Lies...Lies...Lies. The moment I hear these 3 words spoken together, the memories of that day in 2006 comes rushing back. The start of the track comes in with an intense wave of guitarwork & drums, while an eerie mini-speech is spoken to the crowd like it’s a segment from a T.V. show (Makes sense, considering the music video takes place in a 1950s style home). From there we get Uncle Al’s singing, which comes across like a manifesto of sorts. This happens throughout the tune...but then we get to the chorus, and those few lyrics that make me feel misty-eyed.

“Don’t listen to me, listen to your pain/Don’t listen to it each & every day”

Lies Lies Lies

Worst Track
Like I said in the Ministry overview, Yellow Cake is Rio Grande Blood’s only bad song, but if I’m being honest.....it’s not completely bad. The instrumentation is fine, and Uncle Al’s vocal work is still great....but it’s this one sound effect that they use that makes this track a complete turn off. It’s used in about 75 to 80 percent, and it’s this grating keyboard-like whining. Take it out, or at the very least heavily reduce it, and the song is far more bearable. If you can make it though this whole tune, then you’re much stronger than me.

Yellow Cake

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Rio Grande Blood

Overall Impression & Rating
Rio Grande Blood is definitely a strong second act. With Houses Of The Molé being a gimmicky but nice opening, and The Last Sucker is the closing bit, the middle album really has some nice meat on it’s bones. Even over a decade since it’s release, it’s amazing at how much staying power it really has, and it’s horrific at how relevant most of the political commentary can still connect with people. This really is one of the great protest albums out there, and if you can find it, I highly recommend that you get it.

Rio Grande Blood gets a 10 out of 10 due to emotional connections for me, but a 9 out of 10 for more practical reasons. One song can really take away a perfect score after all!

So that was my review for Rio Grande Blood. The album that made me an eternal fan of Ministry, and one that carried me though a very dark period of my life. Some of the subject matter might have stayed in the past, but it’s equal parts depressing & impressive at how relevant everything else is. Well, part 2 of Industrial Metal Insanity is almost over with, so I saved the most controversial.....and the most recent album for last. See you next week!

Convention Review - Connecticon 2018

It’s time for my annual Connecticon review fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

It seems like Connecticon has been on shaky ground in recent years. Due to new policies enacted back in 2016, it looks as if the reputation & foundation of this glorious convention is beginning to shake. Despite that, hordes of people flock every year to this kitchen sink of a con, all to celebrate geekery in it’s numerous forms. Will this year’s convention be any different? Well, sit back, and take a look at my review for Connection 2018. Let’s begin!

Good Points
Cosplay is always huge at Connecticon, and this year was no exception. What was really cool this time around (Maybe it was me) that I noticed that there was a slightly greater presence of families this time around. There were a bunch of parents in cosplay, but none caught my eye quite like the site of a father dressed up as Lando Mollari from Babylon 5. Good sir, if you happen to see this review, you brought back a big bunch of nostalgia, and I thank you for it!

Apart from that, the quality of the costume work at the con was great. From giant spectacle, to more humbling pieces, Connecticon 2018 had fantastic cosplay!

Next up is the staff, and they were exceptional. Everytime I came up to one, whether they were on the board, or just a simple volunteer, they were nice, friendly, and willing to help me out with any issue or question I had. They were especially impressive late Saturday night.....but I can’t say anything here. Regardless, when the staff of Connecticon step up their game, they definitely do.

The Dealer’s Room was a hit as usual. I did have some issues with the placement of some booths (More below), but for the most part I loved every single spot I came across. From DVD sellers, to tea peddlers, to clothing, there was literally no stone unturned when it came to goods getting sold. In a welcome yet strange move, carpeting was now place between the various dealers. It made moving around a little less loud, and things were slightly more neat because of this.

The last thing I’ll talk about are the panels. Kinda like 2016 & 2017, I didn’t go to many panels. However, with Connecticon 2018 I went to far more than I did in the previously mentioned years. From a panel about metal bands I may not have heard of (Ironically, I heard of most of what was played), to a bad fanfic reading by the Manly Battleships group, to Cosplay Deathmatch, there was a lot to go to that was fun.

Okay Points
I only have one minor complaint, and to be honest I admit it might seem childish. In prior years I was able to navigate the dealer’s room with ease. I could go from one booth to the other, and never felt like I was lost. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like booths were setup in a more haphazard manner. I had to go up & down some isles just to find 2 of the vendors I was looking for. Again this complaint seems childish, but did anybody else feel like this?

Bad Points
I admit at this point the negatives are rather predictable. Since 2016, these complaints have been getting more & more obvious, and those complaining are getting more & more vocal. It seems silly to talk about these for a 3rd time, but maybe by talking about them over & over, the convention staff might listen.

First up is the convention center closing early. Yes, going to midnight & afterwards is overtime for the convention center staff, and yes it costs more money, but those extra few hours made Connecticon feel more alive. The 18+ panels before it closed were lots of fun, but the early closing makes said panels less interesting to go to, regardless of their quality.

Next up is the amount of stuff on Sunday. Ironically, this really didn’t seem to occur prior to 2016. From 2009 to 2015, Sunday had a surprising amount of stuff to go & do (Something that Genericon at RPI seems to lack most of the time), but from 2016 & onward, Sunday looks like it’s become less & less filled with activities. Keep a bunch of stuff on Sunday, and con goers will be less likely to leave bored.

Of course I gotta talk about the conbook schedule. I don’t have a phone that can do apps. I have a tracphone. Tracphones don’t have the capabilities like I-Phones & Sprint do. It seems risky to use an app for the convention schedule, especially when the internet could go out. I admit I smiled a little when I was at the feedback panel, and the staffers there seemed like maybe it might get put back in the book. Fingers crossed that it happens!

There are other complaints I could put here, but I won’t. Again, it would just be repeating things, and I think a lot of us are tired of it.

Other
This is one thing I can’t necessarily classify in any of the above sections, but it’s something that need mention. On the 14th of July, at around a little after 9:30 (9:36 I think) there had been reports of an active shooter on the premise near the convention center. The space between the hotel & center was evacuated (There’s been dancing going on there like an impromptu rave), and those in the bottom part of the hotel, including myself (I was in the games room), were told to evacuate calmly back to our rooms. Luckily, not long after it was reported to be false, as apparently it was some idiot using illegal firecrackers in the parking garage. The individual managed to hurt himself in the process, but someone mistook it for gunfire, and the end result was as such.

If any convention staff member happens to see this.....thank you. Thank you for being calm & collected for those few minutes. Thank you for keeping us safe, and thank you for keeping order. This incident didn’t last long, but it showed how ready you were in case something actually occurred. If any staff member (Or law enforcement member) can provide me with information about the incident when it’s legal, I would greatly appreciate it.

I also had the privilege of seeing the Dealer’s Room in it’s de-constructed state. On Sunday, me and the 2 friends I was rooming with were asked by one of the booths to help tear things down & pack things away. It was pretty hard work, but it was good at the same time (I didn’t know I could carry 200 pounds on one shoulder over the course of a minute or two!). As I was taking down this booth, I saw all the others getting taken down as well, and it was a strangely awe-inspiring sight. Don’t believe me? Take a look at this picture!

Overall Impression & Rating
Connecticon 2018 was a lot of fun! If 2016 was a little disappointing, and 2017 was fun but flawed, then 2018 was something to enjoy. It still has issues to be sure, and not all of them may get fixed, but it seems like the convention staff is listening to us, and taking steps to make it a better experience. Good on you Connecticon staff!

Connecticon 2018 gets a 7.5 out of 10.

So that was my review for Connecticon 2018. It still had a few dents in it’s armor, but overall I found this year’s con to be a lot of fun. With this out of the way, Industrial Metal Insanity continues forward, so let’s take a look at what Ministry was doing in the mid 2000s. See you soon!


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If you’re curious about my take on last year’s convention, check out the link below:

Connecticon 2017 (Review)

Also, if any convention staff member can please get me the number of people that came this year, that would be swell.

Top 5 Badasses Of World War 2

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and happy Fourth of July!

On this day we celebrate the liberation of the American colonies from the rule of the English, fire up our grills for some righteous food, and we take a moment to thank the soldiers of this country for protecting us & keeping our land safe. To celebrate the occasion, I’d like to go back to World War 2, and talk about some of the most remarkable people who went through that time. Some of the most badass individuals who fought the good fight, and still inspire the new generations with their deeds & tales. Not just in the U.S., but abroad as well. So, sit back, grab a burger & a cold one, and enjoy my list of the top 5 badasses of World War 2!

5) Captain America & Agent Carter

I know it looks a little silly to start off this list with fictional characters, but hear me out on this. Even in the world of comics, Patriotism was at an all-time high. Young people get inspired by what they saw, while older readers have their beliefs in America reassured that even in the world of fiction, things are swell and their apple pie for all. Though there were many superheroes to respond the call against the forces of evil during WW2, none punched Nazis, Fascist Italians, or Imperial Japanese harder than Steve Rodgers, a.k.a. Captain America.

First appearing in his own comic on December 20, 1940 (A year before Pearl Harbor ironically), the front cover showed to the reader immediately what the captain stood for. Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness, and seeing every single Nazi or other threat to the United States get a fist to the face. Even when it came to modern times, Steve still carried his old beliefs in this new age, and continued to act as a symbol of purity & freedom to these new Americans & beyond!

However, sometimes a women is needed to complement the man, and Agent Carter is a perfect counterpart to Steve Rogers. Originally introduced as a unnamed love interested of the captain in Tales of Suspense #75 (One Panel) and #77 (May 1966), her character was eventually fleshed out until she was as detailed in personality & background as much as cappy. Whether it was in the comics, the Marvel movies, or her own T.V. show, Peggy Carter was a woman who knew herself, and knew how to dish it out if she could. I can always respect a girl or a women with that kind of attitude!

4) Rosie The Riveter

If there was an enduring symbol of female willpower & strength, it would be good ole Rosie! Based off of the real-life Naomi Parker Fraley, who was a waitress from California, and who actually passed away back in January of this year (The 20th of that month to be exact). Used as a icon of Feminism and women’s power in the economy (Most men were drafted into the war, and women stepped in to take their place), Rosie’s blue work outfit & red bandana, her intense gaze & flexing arm gave women the strength to continue working for the war effort, and to instill them with a sense of pride. Good on you Rosie!

3) Franz Stigler

Sometimes, badasses in World War 2 aren’t found on just the allied side. Sometimes, there were those among the Axis power that showed off some incredible individuals, and chief among them was Franz Stigler. A veteran Luftwaffe pilot (27 victories under his belt), his plane was being refueled & rearmed at a nearby base, when they happened upon a damaged B-17 Flying Fortress heading back to the Allies, piloted by 2nd Lt Charles "Charlie" Brown. Franz got back into his plane, and proceeded to catch up to the B-17. This was actually a risky proposition, as a 50-cal bullet was embedded in his radiator, and they was a chance that the engine would overheat.

Eventually, he did manage to catch up to the B-17, but noticed through the various holes in the airframe how injured & incapacitated the crew was. In an unusual move, Franz decided to attempt to save Charlie & his crew, with the reasoning from the Luftwaffe pilot being that it wasn’t right to take down a wounded opponent (This was due to personal experience in North Africa). At first trying to get the B-17 to land & surrender, they seeing if they could fly to neutral Sweden, eventually the Flying Fortress managed to fly away on their own. During that time both sides weren’t hostile, but there was tension. Luckily, there wasn’t a fight.......yet that’s not where the story ends.

In 1986 at a combat pilot reunion event called "Gathering of the Eagles", then retired pilot Lt. Col. Brown was asked if he had any memorable stories from WW2, then proceeded to recount the tale of the German pilot that tried to save him & his crew. Afterwards he decided it might be a good idea to seek the pilot out, and for 4 years he searched without results. In an interesting move he sent a letter to a combat pilot association newsletter, and after a few months Stigler replied to his letter (He was living in Canada at the time), stating that “I Was The One”. After talking to each other on the phone, and describing details from both perspectives, Brown got the answers he needed, and for nearly 2 decades the two became fast friends, and would die within a few months of each other in 2008. You can’t get much more remarkable & touching than that!

Also, Sabaton made a song about this incident.

No Bullets Fly

2) Witold Pilecki

From here on out, things get exceptionally personal for me, and if you know me, you won’t be surprised as to who takes the number 2 & 1 spots on this list. For starters we have one of the few men from WW2 who’s story gets me to cry, and that’s Polish soldier Witold Pilecki. If you can see me right now, I’m probably getting into tears, but let’s begin anyways.

When the Nazis took over Poland, a majority of the Polish Army was driven underground, becoming a resistance force in the process. In 1941, Witold heard through the grapevine the horrors of Auschwitz, and tried to get the exiled Polish government to take action. When they didn’t, Witold did perhaps the most bravest & foolish thing ever, and faked his way into the camp. For 2 & a half years, he endured things that would shake anyone to their very souls. After a failed attempt to get the prisoners to rebel, he managed to escape back to Allied territories, and wrote a report about his experiences (The Witold Report, which got published in English back in 2012). When the Polish government refuted Witold again, he got mad, and went back to Warsaw to liberate the city from the Third Reich.

Sadly, this story would end badly. Though the city was liberated, the Russians eventually settled in, and made an example out of Witold. Putting him on a bogus trial with made-up accusations, they eventually found him “Guilty”, and executed him. To rub salt in the wound even further, his fate would not be known until 1989.

The tale of Witold Pilecki is a remarkable one. The man’s bravery is an example we should all follow, the level of self-sacrifice is incredible, and even in the face of a corrupt system, he still carried himself with a great level of dignity. Since looking up this man, he has become one of my personal heroes, and one of my absolute favorite bands in the world dedicated a wonderful song to this man (Sabaton again), who is more than worthy of being called a badass.

Inmate 4859

1) Isabelle Krebs & Ushi Ten Kraft

Lady with the Grey Shirt, Black Pants, and Glasses

No Picture Of Ushi

Right away, you’re probably scratching your heads. Who are these two people, you’re asking yourselves. Well, these two incredible women are some of World War 2's unsung badasses, and their stories are worth the time to read & listen to.

Let me start off with someone who’s very near to my heart, Isabelle (I consider her to be my adopted Grandma). Born to American parents in the Philippines, she was a happy girl who had people who loved her very much....but tragedy struck. In 1940 has the Imperial Japanese were invading, and the island she was on said that they weren’t coming. Sadly they did, and for 3 years, she & her family, along with everybody else, were held prisoner, and led a semi-balance on their former lives. For 3 long years, Isabelle & her family were isolated from the United States, but were ultimately liberated once Douglas MacArthur came back. You want to know the cool part? She holds no ill will towards the Japanese. She does not hate them, and moved on with her life in a seemingly quick fashion. Hell, she even talks about her experience willingly to anyone who asks.

On top of that, Isabelle is one of the most unique people you’ll ever meet. She drinks a beer the moment she feels a cold, she liked learning about nerdy things, has seen some anime with me, and even has a slight taste for Heavy Metal (Her favorite song is Sabaton’s Blood of Bannockburn). Isabelle is always willing to talk, and her hugs are awesome. If that’s not a badass, then I don’t know what is!

Of course, there’s another badass in the rafters that’s just as cool & badass as my dear Isabelle, and that’s my friend Ushi. Though she’s no longer on this earth (Died back in 2007), she has a story that’s worth telling. I sadly did not know her long: I only knew her from July of 2005 to May of 2007 when she passed, but that short amount of time, she told me her past: born in Berlin, she bore witness to the rise of the Third Reich, and the propaganda of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. In an act of incredible bravery, she saved the life of a Jewish Family who were her neighbors by destroying their papers (They were getting sent to one of the camps)....and actually succeeded. Once the war was over with (If I’m remembering right), she escaped to the United States with her husband, and lived here for the rest of her days.

Sadly, it wasn’t a perfect life. Ushi would suffer from what I can only describe as a mix of PTSD & Paranoia. She kept her experiences to herself, and only told a select few. Hell, she didn’t even tell her daughter until the 1970s, and even then closed all the blinds in her house cause she thought the Nazis were still looking for her (From what I was told, her daughter was frantically telling her that they weren’t looking for her). If I’m understanding things correctly, I was the last person she ever told her experiences to. She was uncomfortable to be sure (I could tell in hindsight she was picking & choosing what she was saying), but she also knew that, as a young person (I was 18 when I first met her), I was interested in that era of history, and wanted to know her tail. When she passed away, I felt (And still feel to this day) that a piece of history was permanently lost to the sands of time. A badass that will always stay in my heart as well as my mind.

So that was my list of the top 5 Badasses of World War 2. Again, the Fourth of July is a nice day with family & friends, but let us not forget those that helped us obtain this bliss. Anyways, Industrial Metal Insanity part 2 marches on, as we take a look at the Ministry release that made me into a lifelong fan. See you after next week!




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If you’re curious about Naomi Parker Fraley, Franz Stigler, or Witold Pilecki, check out their stories below:

Naomi Parker Fraley (The New York Times)

Charlie Brown/Franz Stigler Incident (Wikipedia)

Witold Pilecki (Wikipedia)

Album Review: Ministry's Psalm 69 - The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs

Welcome to part 2 of Industrial Metal Insanity fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I confess I wasn’t exactly subtle in the conclusion of my Pretty Hate Machine review of who was going to be next, although to be honest Ministry isn’t known for subtly. Since the early 80s, this classic Industrial Metal group has produced some of the most iconic albums in the genre. Not only that, but they seem to be the first band to actually mix both sides together to form a unique whole, and today’s review is that glorious storm. So sit back, get a little sinful, and enjoy my review for Psalm 69. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“In March 1991, following the conclusion of the year-long tour in support of Revolting Cocks album Beers, Steers, and Queers, Al Jourgensen returned with his bandmates at Chicago Trax! studios, to work on Ministry's next major release. Jourgensen claimed that the record company Warner Bros. Records (to which Ministry were signed via their subsidiary, Sire Records) initially gave the band an enormous budget expecting The Mind...' follow-up to become a big hit compared with Michael Jackson's album Thriller; actually, Jourgensen, as he claimed in 2013, with his then-wife Patty (neé Marsh) and guitarist Mike Scaccia spent most of budget on drugs, paying $1,000 per day. Meanwhile, the first Lollapalooza tour had arrived in Chicago in early August 1991. Jourgensen went backstage attending a show by the band Butthole Surfers. After the gig, he had invited Butthole Surfers' singer Gibby Haynes at Chicago Trax! to record what became the vocals and spoken word parts for the song “Jesus Built My Hotrod”. While finishing “Jesus Built My Hotrod”, Jourgensen was contacted by Sire/Warner Bros. executives, who asked if he had any completed material. Jourgensen sent them “Jesus Built My Hotrod” since it was the only song recorded by this time. While the label was not happy with just having “Jesus Built My Hotrod”, Jourgensen told them either to give another advance for further work or sign the band off. The label was doubtful if the band would record anything else, but decided to release “Jesus Built My Hotrod”; following its success, they gave the band necessary budget, with the condition that the band would eventually finish the record.

Besides drug problems, there was also growing animosity between the band's members, divided into two groups: while one group included Jourgensen and Scaccia, another—dubbed “the Book Club” by Jourgensen—included bassist Paul Barker, drummer Bill Rieflin and guest/live singer Chris Connelly. Jourgensen claimed that he and Scaccia added their parts separately from Barker, Rieflin and Connelly; once Jourgensen and Scaccia would come in, they erased about 80 percent of what the Book Club associates did.”

Also taken from Wikipedia:
“"N.W.O." was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1993, but lost to Nine Inch Nails' "Wish". Psalm 69 was ranked #80 on the Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time” list, with author Suzy Exposito concluding that "the result of the album was a manic drag race into a swampy hellmouth of thrash Americana – and it worked". Psalm 69 went platinum and peaked at Number 27 on the Billboard 200, allowing other industrial acts passage into the charts, including Marilyn Manson, Rammstein and Orgy". The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.”

Basic Description
Essential 90s Industrial.

If there’s one thing that I give 90s Industrial music credit over Industrial music from the 70s & 80s, it would be that it’s aged well. There were definitely releases that didn’t age well (*cough* 90s Rammstein Releases *cough*), but overall much of the material from the decade still sounds great. Psalm 69 is definitely in the good sounding portion of 90s Industrial: Instrumentation is raw but badass, the effects are eerie but strangely not massively dated, and Al Jourgenson’s voice is pretty damn good. He switches between crooning, yelling, and traditional metal vocals at the drop of a hate in each & ever song. He would keep this style of singing throughout the rest of the 90s, all the way to 2018.

Best Track
I think for most people, the title track is the best thing on the album. The ironic thing about the song is that it’s mostly instrumentation & effects, with only two portions of actual vocals. However, it actually works pretty well: the instrumentations feels like an industrial equivalent of church music, while the effects sound like a darkened choir. When Al’s singing comes in, it comes across like a blasphemous priest, preaching about things that no sane religious person would.........AWESOME!!!!!!!

Psalm 69

Worst Track
Like I mentioned in my overview, Psalm 69's only crime is that it set the bar too high for Ministry. If it wasn’t received as well as it did, it’s possible that fans wouldn’t compare future albums so strongly to it. Instead, the band crafted such an awesome album, that everything past it (Awesome to Mildly Good) hasn’t been able to compete with it.

Other
If you’re curious about this album, then click on the link below:

Psalm 69

Overall Impression & Rating
Psalm 69 is important piece of music history. For the first time ever, Heavy Metal and Industrial music would be combined into a unique whole. From the first note to the last, you know you’re listening to something incredible. Sure it may have raised the stakes a little too high.....but perhaps there was a reason why.

Psalm 69 gets a 9 out of 10.

So that was a look at Ministry’s first release of the 90s, Psalm 69. Simultaneously a game-changer yet maybe booking the band into a corner, the music on the album is a milestone not just for Heavy Metal, but for Industrial music in general. It’s certainly a record to seek out, whether you’re a metalhead, an Industrial fan, or a mix of both (Like me). Well, Fourth of July is in 2 days, and I got something special coming out that day, so stay tuned.



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I know that the full title is Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs, but it would have been stupid to type that a bunch of times.