Customer Reviews

The Last Sucker

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If this is truly their last studio album, Ministry has come full circle. In a career that has spanned almost thirty years, Al Jourgensen leaves a robust legacy having perfected industrial-metal, overcome a toxic drug addiction and, most importantly, remained relevant.

This is the definition of HARD CORE. Play any of these tracks at full blast from your car stereo (with the windows down) and you will inspire looks from passers-by confirming:

"...the end is near."

Sonically, Ministry has already gone where few bands dare to venture and this album breaks no new ground. Yet, their musical attack is a nothing short of a jihad against the current global and domestic political state. Very few modern musicians have chosen to go "this far" with the exception of hip-hop's Immortal Technique.

"Death & Destruction", "Let's Go", and "The Last Sucker" are all standouts; as is a coma inducing cover of "Roadhouse Blues". The albums most interesting tracks are "The End of Days Part 1 & 2".

Keeping with his penchant for including samples of speeches, Jourgensen ends this album and Ministry's studio career with excerpts of former Supreme Allied Commander of Europe and President of the United States, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In his last presidential speech, he prophetically warns Americans about the dangers of an unchallenged, military industrial-complex. When he says "..and now I am to become a private citizen. I am proud to do so. I look forward to it." one can help but conjure up images of "Uncle Al" bidding us an equal farewell.

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Can it be true? Is this really the last we'll ever hear from Al Jourgensen and Ministry? Let's hope not, but if indeed it is, "The Last Sucker" is a heck of a way to go out. Completing the politically charged assault trilogy that started with "Houses of the Mole" and continued with last year's "Rio Grande Blood", "The Last Sucker" is a nitro fueled blast of raw industrial mayhem, which is nothing less than we should come to expect from good 'ol Uncle Al. "Watch Yourself", "No Glory", "Die in a Crash", the title track, and the creepily closing "End of Days" are some of the best material that Ministry has produced in the past three years, and the blazing cover of the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" is simply a treat to the ears. "The Last Sucker" closes with Al once again making excellent use of an old speech, which in itself is a fond farewell to the fans that have stuck by Ministry through thick and thin over what is close to thirty years that the band has been around. If indeed this is the end of Ministry, it's been a great ride to say the least, and they will forever be known as one of the most original and influential outfits to ever hit the scene.

The Good
"Let's Go" leads the charge with galloping riffage and equally as powerful vocals. Heavy guitars and a furious Al Jourgensen stomp a mud hole of anger into "Watch Yourself." Jourgensen unleashed more fury and hatred on the politically charged track "The Dick Song." Meaty riffs and chugga-chugga riffs back up snarling vocals on "The Last Sucker." "No Glory" fires off at you and furious heavy metal break-neck speed. A cover of The Doors "Roadhouse Blues" seems a little out of place with the rest of the music, but does fit it lyrically with the albums overall theme. It's certainly more interesting than the original. Ministry closes out with the multi-tempoed epic "End of Days."

The Bad
This has been labeled the last Ministry album.

The Verdict
There's no denying that Ministry is making a strong statement against our current government and political actions as a nation under George Bush. With The Last Sucker Jourgensen makes his opinions clear with anger, fury, and thunderous guitars. I have listened to Ministry in the past, and I wasn't really impressed. However, The Last Sucker opened my eyes and touched my metal soul. Powerful, strong, and to the point.

I've been a Ministry fan since almost the begining-1989's "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste", which I found by accident while joining a CD/Book Club. I was so impressed by the intense double-base-times-ten beats with perfect decidedly placed appropriate samples, that I became an instant fan. After that, I kept my ears open for more Ministresque industrial-thrash sounds. I also developed friends along the way who introduced me to others including: KMFDM, Front 242 and Skinny Puppy. In my opinion, Al Jourgensen and Co. are the Masters of Sampling and pioneers of industrial metal. Without Ministry, there would be no Rob or White Zombie, Nine Inch Nails or Static-X. I was ridiculed in the past for being a Ministry fan because they were always ahead of their time and going against the grain of modern metal--no one understood. My personal favorite album like many other Ministry fans is 1992's Psalm 69--I remember copies of the "Jesus Built My Hotrod" single floating around the undergrond industrial/thrash/metal scene of my high school before "Psalm 69" was ever released. My all-time personal favorite single is: "Dead Guy" from Filth Pig, followed by "Gangreen" from Rio Grande Blood and "The Dick Song" off of the album in question (The Last Sucker).
If this is indeed Ministry's final studio offering, I'm extremely proud of what they have produced. What I've enjoyed from Ministry over the years is the samples and how they are placed. The last couple of albums I've been slightly disappointed with, even though the songs were good.
As for "The Last Sucker", I'm blown away by not only the samples but, how they are perfectly placed within the songs. I could not think of any better song to start the album off with other than: "Let's Go", which has a repeatative sample revealing what is yet to come if you listen to the remainder of the CD--"...the tides are risin' and the sea is comin'in! A storm's a brewin'!" The album continues on with the politically charged single: "Watch Yourself" with another amazing sample to introduce the song. "The Dick Song" not only is amusing but, relives the true tale of Vice President Dick Chaney's hunting accident, including samples from the media release and of Mr. Chaney himself. The title track, "The Last Sucker" is a nice surprise rhythmically speaking as well as: "Die In A Crash" that is reminiscent of "The Land Of Rape And Honey" days. Speaking of days, the final opus: "End of Days (Pt. 1 and 2) is the perfect way to end a final Ministry release, especially with Part 2 containing the longest and most fitting sample. The cover artwork with removeable Serpent-Bush motion graphic is a nice aesthetic touch as you open the CD.
If we are not to hear from Ministry again, some things that I would like them to be remembered for but, not limited to are:

-Industrial sampling pioneers
-Most respected-in-your-face live band
and politically influential

Hope to see Ministry performing intermittently from here on out even though no new albums exist. Peace and sampling live on!

This album is great. I was a bit hesitant for I have been let down by the new CD's other Classic Industrialists have released, but NOT this one. The packaging alone is brilliant. If you have loved the last three albums inspired by the Bush administration, you will fall in love with this one. BUY IT ALREADY.

First impressions from a lifelong fan: the Eureka Pile is back! After Paul Barker's withdrawl it seemed like the old, classic Ministry sound--great tunes with killer riffs, highly melodic, etc--was gone. This one's gonna make old fans grin from ear-to-ear--at least if they skip over tracks 2-4 (come back to them later). "Let's Go" you've already heard, but from "Last Sucker" on through to "End of Days" it's non-stop Ministry mayhem with all the trademarks tweeked, buffed, a polished to a high voltage shine. "Roadhouse Blues" is amazing, but so are "Last Sucker," "No Glory," "Die in A Crash." If you love the Classic Uncle Buck sound, no worries here.

If "The Last Sucker" is indeed Ministry's swan song, what a way to go. Al Jourgenson, one of the pioneers of industrial/metal, has always been socially conscious, and especially loathing of organized religion ("Psalm 69") and the Bush era, both senior and junior.
Not that the evil deeds of W. aren't worth this scathing wrath Jourgenson delivers. Without trying to get too political myself, which, given the last three Ministry's lyrical contents is not easy, it's a glorious insightful exercise of the 1st Amendment, set to punishing brutal riffs and samples that make your skin crawl, since many of those are from the Bush man himself.
What makes latter day Ministry particularly powerful is the inclusion of Prong genius Tommy Victor as a full musical writing partner and guitarist extraordinaire. Few can pummel your cranium into soggy grits like Victor can, and his attack is as brutal as the crimes Jourgenson laments on "The Last Sucker".
Favorite cuts include the title track, the Cheney slam piece "The Dick Song", which is funnier than hell, and the closer "End Of Days Pts. 1 and 2". What makes these interesting is the inclusion of the prophetic and chilling final speech Dwight Eisenhower gave on national television before turning the office over to JFK. In it, Eisenhower warned the public of the danger he saw emerging of the military industrial complex getting mixed up with profiteering and tipping the balance between rightful defense needs and outright military corruption. Talk about hitting the nail on the head.
We should thank Jourgenson for including all of that speech as an album closer, as he obviously wants to share a chilling moment in history with his listeners, and good for him for trying to educate us.
But whether you agree with his politics or not, it's great for the music, too. Prong and Ministry are a match made in metal heaven, or hell, whichever they prefer.

In my opinion this is a better album than Rio Grande Blood, which for some reason most people seem to like a bit more. I think this is a little more diverse than Rio Grande while still keeping the industrial/thrash sound they are known for. The beats-per-mintute are toned down just a bit, but there are more layers to the music-weaving guitars, layered samples ans some really interesting drum programming. There is an appearance from Burton C. Bell (from Fear Factory) on a couple of the later tracks, and even a cover of the Doors song "Roadhouse Blues". Sadly this is supposed to be Ministrys' last album but I'm not sure if I believe that (or want to). Highly recommended.

It's a good album. The first four tracks are great. After that it starts getting tired. A lot of the same sounds. The Roadhouse Blues cover was really stupid filler material. I like Ministry's more experimental days that had more variety. This release isn't as good as Rio Grande. I would still own it, but I would wait and find it used. I would put money on RC and Lard albums than this one.

This album is billed as "their last studio album" and it's one of their best. It's a politically charged recording complete with carefully edited samples from political speakers. The cover of the Door's "Roadhouse Blues" is just barely recognizable as it is completely immersed with Ministry style. It's a fluid album you can listen to from start to finish without skipping any tracks. The inclusion of Eisenhower's speech near the end on The End of Days II really makes you reflect on current political direction.

With the addition of a members of Prong to the group on the last two records there is a heavy influence of their sound but it really adds to the music. While I do enjoy the record I wouldn't say it's the best Ministry work to date. The vocals are a bit too evenly mixed for my liking and sometimes blend with the distorted guitars too well. Knowing that this would be the last studio album and it was recorded in Texas I was really hoping to hear some guest vocals from Gibby Haynes (Butthole surfers). Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory) lends his talents which is just as good though.

Overall this album is great and worth the purchase. I'm an extremely picky listener so I pick up on nuances most people might not give a second thought to and the things I described are really the only issues I had with the album. It won't disappoint.