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!
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