It has been over a year since Ministry‘s 2008 farewell tour bid goodbye in true metal fashion – kicking bass and screaming guitar. The industrial pioneers headed by Al Jourgenson may have made themselves legendary via Psalm 69 back in the early 90s, but the powerhouse that is Ministry regardless of the ever-changing line up has now gone the extra mile that wannabes like Static-X failed to provide due to legal issues. As of 2009, the menacing metal headliners are releasing the humorously titled Adios… Puta Madres (not “putas” as Windows Media putos would have you believe).
Available now via Planet Records, the set features two discs, one being a CD comprised from live performances culled from Ministry’s C U LaTour, while the DVD is essentially the same but with an absolute ton of bonus material, most of which is backstage footage and a documentary covering the band’s entire career.
While reviews on Ministry’s last two albums (the classic rock cover record Cover Up and the politically charged The Last Sucker) were mixed 50/50, the band’s 25 year tenure alone is enough to give them a status as legends in the alternative community – second being the more mainstream 20 year presence of Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor. This fact by and by is what can warrant such a move by Ministry, to distribute the most poignant of goodbyes in disc form for all to enjoy (primarily those who were unable to attend C U LaTour).
It is safe to say that the purely industrial sound of Ministry is an acquired taste, not unlike the occasionally obscure Nails or more niche-worthy acts like Mindless Self Indulgence, Acid Bath or KMFDM. Be that as it may, the melodic crunching noise and undeniable staying power of Jourgenson and his revolving door of cohorts remains the definition of industrial music to this day. This band will be sorely missed – at the bare minimum – in its respective community, and is proud to have some tangible souvenir to remind the world that chaos can reign supreme.