Ministry - Moral Hygiene (2021)

I said wow on my first impressions of Moral Hygiene, but don't get me wrong, that was more derived from surprise than expectation as Al Jorgensen is still unable to make a great record from start to finish in the 21st century, and that notion doesn't disappear completely despite this release clearly being the best Ministry album since 2006's Rio Grande Blood. Is that really exposing much though? I suppose not as all of the output since that brutal industrial-thrash second entry into the "W" trilogy has been mediocre at best. The Last Sucker (a promising first half that dwindles into uninspired filler, although "Let's Go" remains one of the best tracks ever of the post 2000 version of the band) and From Beer to Eternity (gloriously harks back to early 90's days in some moments, but still too inconsistent in it's sound in others) had their moments, nothing still came close to the magnificent 2016 non-Ministry side project, Surgical Meth Machine and it's one off, warped and blistering full length...so...I went into this with low expectations and wondering why Al just doesn't do MORE Meth Machine albums instead...

Lack of motivation is an obvious factor, but part of the problem has surely been the man's laziness or content towards his fanbase (including more than one unexplained cancelled tour in my hometown). Already retiring the band more than once over the last 10 or so years, I guess we should just assume more albums will come until Uncle Al is deep in the cold, cold ground, but ever the annoying riddle wrapped in an enigma, he still showed the patience and passion to release the eye watering-ly good SMM in between shit Ministry releases. I can only imagine being married to him if just being a fan is this frustrating. Hygiene's earns it's a victory lap however as this is the first recording in years where he has at least made an effort to curb the abhorrent vocal style and almost alt-metal type choruses and structures that have plagued recent songs on almost every album. I'll admit, all albums thus far since 2006, has had some great music (see above - and even the woeful Relapse had "Double Tap"), but the eye rolling moments of past leading track/s have outweighed anything great as a whole and ruined an album like off milk pouring onto cereal. The difference this makes feels almost like a miracle, as gone are the days of (starting off) enjoying a new album but waiting for that cringe to kick in that inevitably always did of late. Hygiene is practically null and void of such a thing. Jourgensen sits in a Dark Side of the Spoon/Animositisomia era vocal wise most of the time on Hygiene - muted, deviant, but complemented by restrained barking - and even though The Stooges cover of "Search and Destroy" threatens to be that spoilt alt-metal milk, the track is saved by some classy heavy metal/industrial combination musicianship that shows it can still work.

At least one cover song is expected in Ministry's releases lately in reality but thankfully, it isn't the shining moment here ("United Forces" anyone?). Moral Hygiene is a strong "Ministry-sounding" album throughout and I never thought I'd ever say that again as Jourgensen pushes past 60 years old. We won't go overboard and suggest his lyrics are equally or any more inspiring than the old years - they are better, but it's a forgivable short coming for a man 40 years and 15 albums deep into the industry. It is good to hear old mate Jello Biafra make another appearance however, in the chugging "Sabotage is Sex", while "Disinformation" and "Believe Me" show that there is inspired moments still waiting to happen with this band, and even though they resort to filler (again - in this instance, sub-instrumentals) towards the end, indulging in Jourgensen's love of Dub for over two tracks and 6 minutes), we end with another addition to the "TV Song" legacy, which aptly is a 3 minute face melt of industrial/speed metal that leaves you wanting more.

Consistency has not been the band's strong point in any recent times - even within each release, let alone between them - but perhaps at least Moral Hygiene is a sign that Alien Jourgensen - the man - may get the right crew behind him and still deliver that last, truly great Ministry album before he's in that cold ground after all one day. He just needs to wait until it happens organically rather than forcing it as he seemed to have done here (AmeriKKKant = forced, Moral Hygeine = organic). You could nitpick it (but did I mention he is in his sixties now?), but for all it's expected flaws in the modern era of the band, within context, this should put a smile on the face of an old school fan as it did me, as they channel methods of old to greater effect again finally and it's worth the time.

#ministry #moralhygiene #aljourgensen #industrial #metal