• Лейбъл: AFM/Wizard
• Издаден: 2012
• Aвтор: Стефан Топузов
• Оценка:

The end of Ministry seemed to have come after a series of heavy, fierce and politically charged records.

The fall of the curtains with 'The Last Sucker' was so nicely done that you couldn't help but wish for a little bit more of the same. Well, you shouldn't have.

Now, five years later Al Jourgensen returns with 'Relapse', a fine example why some bands should be better left to rest in peace in their graves.

First, this is a reunion album – one of the cheapest dick moves in the music industry to begin with – that kicks off with a song that criticizes the same industry for its tendency to profit immensely from the catalogues of dead artists.

Second, the song in question, 'Ghouldiggers,' is also boring as hell. Just like the whole album.

Years ago Jourgensen was shaking fists at the Bush administration and now he tries to do it with the same passion towards its heritage. All he manages to do is to sound forced and ridiculous.
 
'Double Tap' and '99 Percenters' sound like an angry industrial soundtrack to an Alex Jones movies but unlike his films, fail even at being a guilty pleasure.

Here we also have a cover of S.O.D.'s 'United Forces' that is so unspectacular that it is overshadowed by the few seconds of 'Milk' in its own end.

The album finishes with what is probably the only really strong track in it – 'Bloodlust'. At least it goes through a few interesting moments before going back to the very basics with a riff, borrowed from a Black Sabbath song. From 37 years ago.

I rewind Ministry's albums in my head, trying to remember when was the last time they sounded so weak...

I get to 'The land of Rape and Honey' before I give up. But the real answer is more likely the following: “Never.”

Maybe I have been spoiled by the wonderful reunion records bands like Biohazard and Anthrax put out, but 'Relapse' is a good example why old bands shouldn't get back together.

Now I'll go listen to Amy Winehouse. At least she's dead and can't surprise me with something as bad as this.