Houses of the Mole'

Ministry | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000294SFC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,500 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. No W

2. Waiting

3. Worthless

4. Wrong

5. Warp City

6. WTV

7. World

8. WKYJ

9. Worm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Is Back With A Vengeance!!!!!!, July 4, 2004

By 

Kevin Hancock "hancocrates" (Deer Park, TX. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Houses of the Mole' (Audio CD)

I have been a loyal Ministry fan since 1988's "The Land Of Rape And Honey". To be honest, after 1999's "The Dark Side Of The Spoon" I was beginning to doubt whether Al and crew would ever again produce an album of fire-spitting, venomous, politically charged metal again. Yes ,that's right politically charged("Breathe" and "Filth Pig" to name just a few). Many seem to forget what this band has always stood for:freedom of speech and freedom from ignorance!However, I digress. "Houses of The Mole" is in my opinion the best Ministry album since it incorporates the best elements from "The Mind.." "Land" and "Psalm 69". From the opening notes of "No W" through the crunching reality that is "W TV" the album kicks you in the gut from start to finish! Kudos to Al and Co. for having the guts to speak their political voice loud and clear! No bleeding heart liberalism here: just the reality of America 2004. Highly recommended for Ministry fans(new and old) and anybody who likes their metal with a message.

28 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars back from the depths, July 22, 2004

By 

Pantone292 (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houses of the Mole' (Audio CD)

Al has finally come around. Gone is the slow, heavy mud that was "Filth Pig". Al is back with speed, chest pounding beats, and most importantly, samples. Sure, it's not quite as clean as "Mind..", but this is the stuff that made people like Ministry in the first place. I mean, let's face it, "Filth Pig" and "Spoon" did not attract new followers; all those albums did was irritate the old ones. The sound of this album is closest to "Psalm 69". As for the whole political statement, I think it's kind of silly, but I could really care less. Al could sing about unicorns and rainbows, and I probably wouldn't know the difference, as long as the music is there. Al's political views are only clear when you read the lyrics. Yeah, W is a moron, okay, we get it. If you like W, and you like Ministry, buy the album anyway.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ministry are back on top, May 31, 2005

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houses of the Mole' (Audio CD)

Emerging in 1983, Ministry stayed as an underground throughout the `80's (and developed a rabid underground fan base in 1988), but they broke into the mainstream with the hit single "Jesus Built My Hotrod", in 1991.
Some Ministry fans were disappointed with the band's last few offerings ("Dark Side of the Spoon"), but on this album, they make sure they got it right. Full to the brim with distorted, rigid and lumbering industrial riffs, electronics/synthesizers, samples, fast drum patterns and catchy beats."Houses of the Mole" is a return to form for Ministry...the band's best since "Psalm 69". Some parts of this album are solemn (i.e. "Worthless"), some parts are thought provoking (i.e. "WTV"), but some parts (i.e. "World") seem to be made for the listener to listen to while stoned.
In many ways, it's like a continuation or sequel of their most popular album, "Psalm 69". First, like "Psalm 69", there are 69 tracks on this C.D. (but only 9 of them are actual music songs, 60 of them are blank). But more importantly, "Houses of the Mole" and "Psalm 69" are both political.
Ministry seem to make their best music when they are inspired by politics (frontman Al Jourgensen has even said that he can only write well when there's a republican in the White House.) "Psalm 69" bashed the president at the time, George Bush, whereas "Houses" takes on George Bush's son, George W. Bush.
The new "politically charged" Ministry are poignant, paranoid, and pissed...all at the same time, thanks to Dubya. You can tell the theme of this album just by looking at the song titles: 8 out of 9 songs begin with the letter "W". Plus, this album is full of samples that are taken from a presidential speech (Bush saying things like: "If you or your friends see a man in uniform, say thank you.")

"No W" is the first single, so it's a highlight. It perfectly combines a fast chugging beat with a tempo change at the beginning, a guitar solo near the end, and a propulsive riff running throughout. The beat chugs so fast it almost grinds a little bit. This song is also full of Bush quotes, such as "We're fighting evil..."
"Waiting" has another beat change, with fast double bass work, and another beat which chugs fast (although not as fast as "No W"). The guitar riffs are industrial, but they also make a "booming" sound. Near the end of the song, the guitars fall into a stop-start lurch.
"Worthless" would be catchy enough to fit as the next single, but the lyrics (which wouldn't be out of place on a Marilyn Manson album) are obscene ("Hate yourself, f*ck yourself....you're worthless").
"Warp City" has a fast, organic drum sound then has more riffs that almost grind, as well as a "wah wah" guitar solo.
"WTV" has sounds and voice effects that are almost techno-ish. This song is a standout, though, because clips of TV shows, TV commercials, and a Bush speech are played in between this song's guitar riffs. If you string all of the clips together, you will find an anti-Bush message.

If you ever doubted Ministry, this album will make you wonder why you did. As previously mentioned, it is a return to form for the band and their best offering since 1992's "Psalm 69". Essential listening for fans of underground music of the `80's and early `90's, metalheads that have a broad taste in metal, and, of course, industrial metal fans.
Ministry may not have been the first band to do what they do (and many industrial rock bands have cropped up since Ministry in the 1980's). But, as this album proves, no one does what they do better.