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!


***
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!




***
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.



***
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.

Album Review: Nine Inch Nails's Pretty Hate Machine

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, the beginning month of Industrial Metal Insanity has certainly been interesting. The first review showed potential, but ultimately fell flat due to quality & ego. The second review was a big improvement, and has aged far better, yet it didn’t quite have that metallic punch that Industrial Metal would eventually be known for. Today’s review fixes that for the most part. I think many of us are familiar with Trent Reznor & his Industrial project, Nine Inch Nails. Since 1989, the man has produced some of the world’s most recognizable Industrial music, and of it is still being spoken about to this day. Today’s review goes back to the very beginning of his career when he was just a small fry, but little did he know that it would spark off a path to stardom. So doll your face up, and take a look at my review for the first ever Nine Inch Nails album, Pretty Hate Machine. Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“During working nights as a handyman and janitor at the Right Track Studio in Cleveland, Ohio, Reznor used studio "down-time" to record and develop his own music. Playing most of the keyboards, drum machines, guitars, and samplers himself, he recorded a demo. The sequencing was done on a Macintosh Plus.

With the help of manager John Malm, Jr., he sent the demo to various record labels. Reznor received contract offers from many of the labels, but eventually signed with TVT Records, who were known mainly for releasing novelty and television jingle records. Pretty Hate Machine was recorded in various studios with Reznor collaborating with some of his most idolized producers: Flood, Keith LeBlanc, Adrian Sherwood, and John Fryer. Much like his recorded demo, Reznor refused to record the album with a conventional band, recording Pretty Hate Machine mostly by himself.

"A lot of it sounds immature to me now," he stated in 1991 of the recordings that were then two years old. "At first it totally sucked. I became completely withdrawn. I couldn't function in society very well. And the LP became a product of that. It's quite small scale, introverted, claustrophobic – that's the feel I went for."

After the album was released, a recording known as Purest Feeling surfaced. The bootleg album contains the original demo recordings of most of the tracks featured on Pretty Hate Machine, as well as a couple that were not used ("Purest Feeling", "Maybe Just Once" and an instrumental introduction to "Sanctified" called "Slate").”

Basic Description
Industrial Metal at last!

Okay, that’s not completely accurate. While Pretty Hate Machine is easily the most metallic offering of the 3 albums I’ve looked at in June (Massively more so that The First Annual Report, and mildly more than Opus Dei), it’s technically not an Industrial Metal album. The album, at least on Wikipedia, is classified as Synth-Pop, Industrial Dance, Electronic Rock, and Industrial Rock. Even with all of that said, PHM is one of the heaviest Industrial releases of the 80s period. Trent gave the typical techno/electronic stylings of the 1980s a dirtier & heavier feel that many current (At the time) and future Industrial artists just ran with.

Best Track
Even if you’re not a Nine Inch Nails fan, or a casual metal fan in general, you’re probably familiar with the single Head Like A Hole. The first of 3 singles, this track has become a staple of NiN’s live shows, and it’s pretty easy to see why. A steady but thunderous beat, a metallic vibe that electronic & grimy, and Reznor’s voice is putting in a damn good amount of work. You can play this song, and you can a guarantee number of people to get up & move around to this. A classing song!

Head Like A Hole

The other good thing about Pretty Hate Machine is that it’s aged incredibly well. The First Annual Report sounds like an absolute mess, and Opus Dei, while a strong album in 2018, still has some datedness to it. With this album? We finally get an Industrial album from the 80s that sounds remarkably crisp & fresh. A little bit here and there has dated sounds (More on that in a moment), but it’s a testament to Trent Reznor & his crew as musicians & producers that they can make an Industrial album that’s stood the test of time for nearly 30 years, and I can always respect that.

Worst Track
Like I stated above, Pretty Hate Machine has aged incredibly well for an 80s Industrial. While many others sound like they come from an earlier time, Nine Inch Nails’s inaugural release comes across as a mostly modern album. That being said, when it shows it’s age, it shows it’s age. Unfortunately, it’s a little too obvious when it shows what decade it comes from. There are moments in some of the songs where they almost come across as mid 80s rather than early 80s, but they’re not as common as you think.

Other
If you’re interested in listening to this album, then check out the link below:

Pretty Hate Machine

Overall Impression & Rating
Pretty Hate Machine definitely deserves a hell of a lot of the good things said about it. As with the previous 2 review it shows it’s age, but compared to those two it’s the album that has aged the best. You can put this album in a sound system, and from the first few beats many people will recognize what you’re playing. Definitely an album to pick & listen to....especially if you like the history of Industrial music.

Pretty Hate Machine gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10.

And that was Pretty Hate Machine. . So with that, we close out part 1 of Industrial Metal Insanity. I’m taking a week off to get ready for part 2, when we’ll be taking a look at American icons Ministry & some of their contributions to Industrial Metal. Also, I got Connecticon coming up in the middle of July, so I’m beginning to get ready for that. See you soon!




***
If you want a more detailed look at Pretty Hate Machine & it’s history, check out the link below:

Pretty Hate Machine (Wikipedia)

Album Review: Type-O Negative's Life Is Killing Me

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and happy Father’s Day!

Today is something of an odd anniversary. Coming on the day where we revere (For those of us who do) the paternal figure in the household, today also marks 15 years since the release of Type-O Negative’s first album in the 2000s. Second if you count The Least Worst Of compilation from 2000. Yep, today is the 15th birthday of Life Is Killing Me. An album that saw a reinvigoration in Type-O Negative, and an album that saw new life come back to the beleaguered Pete Steele. So, let us all raise a glass to our fathers, and enjoy a review for Life Is Killing Me. Let’s begin.

Background
The late 90s & early 2000s were not the best time for the beleaguered Pete Steele. Releasing what was perhaps the darkest record of his career, only to be followed up by a compilation album due to writers block, really kept the green man away from being creative & energetic with his music. On top of that, Type-O Negative wasn’t the only big band in Roadrunner’s payroll. With newer bands like Slipknot around, the group’s importance diminished a little, but that didn’t stop the band from continuing to make new music. After hitting bottom, Pete managed to get back up on his feet, and climbed all the way out of the pit to reach the top. Once he got back out, he regrouped the rest of boys, and set out to create a comeback album of sorts. After getting down to the recording studio & jamming out as hard as they could, and on June 17, 2003, Life Is Killing Me was released to the public.

Originally titled The Dream Is Dead (Name for the final track of the album), the name for the album changed because Type-O Negative & Roadrunner Records didn’t want to give fans the impression that the band was breaking up. As far as reception was concerned, fans definitely enjoyed the newly reinvigorated music (More on that below), and appreciated the frontman’s renewed lease on life. Life Is Killing Me managed to tie World Coming Down in terms of the Billboard 200, as both albums reached the 39th spot (Miles ahead The Least Worst Of, which was at the 99th spot).

Basic Description
In a word.......bipolar?

I’m actually somewhat conflicted with saying that. When I said that in my review for Korn’s 2002 release Untouchables (Which you can read here), I stated that it was bipolar because they were a Nu Metal band that was trying to keep their 90s feel, while at the same time not completely sounding like themselves. With Life Is Killing me, you have a consistent sound across the board, and the quality is fantastic.....but the album doesn’t know what it wants to be in terms of tone & feel. Does the album want to be a more lighthearted release that has moments of seriousness, or is it a serious record that’s got moments of hilarity strewn about. Life Is Killing Me really isn’t consistent in this regard, as it goes from one side to the other in a seemingly random fashion, and it’s because of this randomness that I don’t consider it one of my favorites.

Does this mean the music is bad? Hell no! Life Is Killing Me was & still is an incredibly refreshing album not just for me & the rest of the Type-O Negative fans out there, but for Pete Steele as well. It had been 4 years since the incredibly depressing World Coming Down, and just 3 years since the writers block release that was The Least Worst Of (Which you can read my review here). You can tell that Pete was reinvigorated on this album, as much of his passion & drive came back to the forefront, and while he still wasn’t clean off of drugs, he knew by this point that he had a drug problem. While this album will never be one of the first records I play when I’m in the mood for Type-O Negative, I certainly won’t complain about it when somebody else puts it on.

Best Track
I’ve always kind of liked the ode to classic television women in the form of How Could She. Pete was always a fan of old-school television, and this was his chance to show of his love for these iconic female characters. The song is also slightly cynical as well, as it talks about how said female characters don’t judge the man watching them when women in real life judge him all the time. It’s that hint of cynicism that somehow makes the whole package work for me, and makes it the best song on Life Is Killing Me.

How Could She

Some highly honorable mentions go to the two tracks that Pete dedicated to his folks, Todd’s Ship Gods (Above All Things) & Nettie. The former was dedicated to his father, who had been deceased for almost a decade by the time the album came out. Peter really managed to emulate the stoic & powerful personality of his dad, not to mention his strong work effort. Nettie, on the other hand, was dedicated to his mother. Still alive by this point (But would pass away in 2005), there’s a more gentle approach to the song. Almost as if there’s an air of feminine spirit about the track. Together, these two tunes show just how much Pete Steele loved his family, and how devoted he was to people that were close to him in general.

Todd’s Ship Gods (Above All Things)

Nettie

Worst Track
Again, Life Is Killing Me’s biggest issue is it’s tone & personality. There’s consistency in terms of quality, but the album can’t seem to pick a personality & stick with it. If this was intentional (Given how Pete Steele was at the time, it might be possible), then perhaps I’m complaining over nothing. If this wasn’t done on purpose, then I can only contribute it to the fact that Pete simply had no idea how Life Is Killing Me was suppose to feel, and if that’s the case, I’m shocked.

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

Life Is Killing Me

Overall Impression & Rating
Life Is Killing Me is just a weird album from Type-O Negative. Simultaneously a revitalization for Type-O Negative yet inconsistent in what it’s supposed to be, the record truly deserves the title of “Dark Horse”. Even with this fault, one can’t deny that the music is fantastic on this album, and showed that even someone who’s fallen down so hard, can come back up strong.

Life Is Killing Me gets a 8 out of 10.

So that was the 15th birthday & review for Type-O Negative’s first true release of the 2000s, Life Is Killing Me. It’s not necessarily an album you should go out of your way for, but it’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Well, the end of part one of Industrial Metal Insanity is upon us, so I’ll see you all next week.



***
There’s one other Type-O Negative anniversary a little on down the road.....but you’ll have to wait and see what that one will be.

Album Review: Laibach's Opus Dei

Welcome back to Industrial Metal Insanity, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We kicked things off with The First Annual Report from British Industrial legends Throbbing Gristle. Artistically it has stood the test of time, and acts/acted as a source of inspiration for many future Industrial groups, but with dated sound quality & a huge ego behind it, means that it’s aged horribly. Luckily, as we transition into the 1980s, things would greatly improve. Better technology, better production techniques, and better sound quality practically ensured that Industrial music from the decade would aged better than anything from the 70s. There were plenty of groups that created some iconic Industrial music, but one band from Europe would help push the genre into the spotlight, and that band is.....Laibach!

That’s right, Laibach! This classic Industrial band (Technically an art group that worked with music for the most part) from Yugoslavia has released music since the mid 80s that, to this day, has been the source of inspiration for some of the biggest Industrial bands ever formed, Metal or otherwise. They’re certainly iconic, and they happen to be one of my favorites in the genre. So let’s not waste anymore time, and let’s take a look at their late 80s classic release, Opus Dei. Let’s begin.

Background
Normally I would talk about the background in which an album is made, but there’s not much info stateside (And what is around is somewhat all over the place), so here’s the Wikipedia page for details.

Laibach (Wikipedia)

Basic Description
Iconic Industrial.

Outside of some small faults (More on that below), Opus Dei is just one of those albums that came out a classic, and has stayed a classic. In it’s 30-plus years of existence, it has inspired numerous Industrial groups, and it’s not hard to see why! Taking the gritty notes & vibes of early Industrial music, Laibach takes all of that and puts a militaristic spin on things, and almost comes across as tyrannical to a degree, yet they don’t seem to completely believe in the far-left/far-right politics that are promoted in their music. The sound created on Opus Dei have been instrumental in helping other Industrial groups push their own sound, and still inspires bands today.

Best Track
Gotta go with Geburt einer Nation. Ages back when I first discovered Laibach (September of 2009 if I'm correct), this was one of the first songs I heard from them, and immediately became hooked. Ironically, Geburt einer Nation is a cover of the classic Queen song One Vision, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. Taking out the pop vibes & lighter feelings, Laibach instead converted it into a militaristic marching song, complete with a almost totalitarian coat of paint slathered over everything. It’s sinister sounding to be sure, yet you can tell that the group doesn’t believe in the ideology, and instead uses it for artistic purposes.

Geburt einer Nation

My other favorite track on Opus Dei is the title track......Opus Dei, or Life Is Life translated (Latin I think). Once again Laibach takes a popular song (A pop song in Germany I believe), guts out the original architecture, and remodels it into a totalitarian, militaristic stronghold. As with Geburt einer Nation, it’s obvious that Laibach are using the imagery for purely artistic purposes. None the less, you definitely get a nationalistic feeling as you listen to Opus Dei, and it stirs pride deep within your soul. Certainly an interesting track.  

(Opus Dei) Life Is Life

Worst Track
Kind of like The First Annual Report, Opus Dei is a bit of a pretentious record. Laibach has always been an artsy group, and about 75 to 90 percent of their releases carry this pretentiousness. In their defense, they know when to put back the artsy vibes, and give the listener a more grounded musical experience. For every “Ooo, what is this” track, there 1 or 2 more that are just fun songs. Apart from that, the album’s only other fault would be it’s age. Much like the Throbbing Gristle review from earlier this month, you can definitely tell when this album came out. Again in it’s defense, Opus Dei has aged considerably better, as Laibach has greater tech behind their music, and had better production value put in. The end result is a release that, while aged a bit, is a little fresher in terms of sound.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to Opus Dei, check out the link below:

Opus Dei

Overall Impression & Rating
Opus Dei is an old-school Industrial album done right. It’s got some age to it, and it comes across as a little pompous, but one can’t deny the power behind this record. It helped create a new genre of music, while simultaneously being some amazing music in it’s own right. I will say it here, and I’ll say it again in August: Opus Dei is essential Industrial listening!

Opus Dei gets a 8.5 out of 10.

So that was Opus Dei everybody. A solid Industrial album with heavily improved production quality & sound, and it finally gave us a little bit of a metallic edge to things. However, an artist from the United States just 2 short years later would finally put the metal within Industrial. So see you all after next week for the reveal of this release, and see you in a few days for a Type-O Negative birthday. Until then, stay safe.