Amy Mahon
Ready to die
(We have a problem)
Let’s get ready
(How concerned are you?)
The opening song “Alert Level” sets itself up as an inquiry; a female voice repeating over and over throughout the duration: How Concerned are you?
The song then plays out like a pre-battle chant, alluding to the inevitable turn in early 2020.
Let’s get ready (let’s get ready)/Let’s get ready (let’s get ready)/ Let’s get ready/ Get ready to die
An excerpt of Greta Thunberg’s infamous UN speech is heard at the 3:29 mark, which to be honest is expected when it comes to a Ministry song. However, the samples used throughout the duration of this album constitute a more directed approach than that of their previous work, especially that of 2018’s AmeriKKKant.
Songs such as “Good trouble” and “Believe me” model the Ministry we all know and love, whilst “Disinformation” and “Broken System” aggressively iterate the, for lack of a better term, bullshit that was thrown from the higher-ups during the most devastating months of lockdown. “Search and Destroy”, a rather cheeky cover of Iggy & The Stooges song (ft. BILLY IDOL alum Billy Morrison on guitar)
The ninth track on the album, “Death Toll,” is probably one of the more unreserved songs. It begins with the now familiar feminine automated voice stating “The Death Toll is 20,000” and progresses as the radio-personality in the background hollers about destroying COVID-19. The monotonous industrial mix in the background adds to the anxiety, as the death toll increases to over 400,000- a solemn reminder of the duress the world has been under the last two years.
A seamless transition stitched by the closing song, “TV # 6- Right around the Corner” provides the precipice of sonic violence, satire, and sheer anarchy built up throughout the soundtrack.
THIS IS OVER (thank you Jesus) /Right around the corner (x3)/It’s time to get our fucking lives back
As much as we can all agree that Ministry hit the nail on the head with this album, let’s hope there’s no new global crises arising that’ll be cause for another anytime soon.
FOR 2022 TOUR DATES, CLICK HERE
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH MINISTRY:
Website | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Spotify
Comments