Ministry: Last Tangle In Paris

I'll never go down in history as the biggest fanatic of Al Jourgensen's Ministry, yet having encountered them many years ago in the Glasgow Barrowlands, when I accompanied a good friend to see one of his favourite acts, I can't deny they are a live force to be reckoned with. However when I mentioned to the same mate of mine, that I had a promo of the wonderfully titled Last Tangle In Paris (although not quite as chucklesome as the Sphinctour!) and enquired if he'd fancy giving it a home after I'd spent a few weeks getting to know it, even he, a diehard said, "hmmmm, isn't it basically the same as the Enjoy The Quiet Live At Wacken 2012 release from last year?", and I was offering it for free....

So what does a casual observer who hasn't got the Wacken release make of it? Truth be told, I was pretty impressed, the vicious verve and brutal attack that I remember from a few decades ago still evident in abundance. While the band's penchant for creating some of the best riffs Metal has heard and then playing them over and over until you're just about sick of them, still hampers the overall effect. Jourgensen himself defies age and circumstances, with the question always being how can someone who has been pronounced dead on more than one occasion sound in such rude health? "Relapse" finds him spitting with anger, "Psalm 69" still the tour de force it always was, while "Just One Fix" is a hit of energy to send you into ecstasy. Actually truth be told, there isn't really a criticism of any of the performances, with never even a suggestion that the foot is ever lifted off the gas.

So, as someone who doesn't follow Ministry's every move, or buy all of their releases, there's plenty on Last Tangle In Paris to get the juices flowing and the attention fixed. It isn't a classic, but it is a strong live release. However the attitude of a long term fan who has already invested in the Wacken release was less enthusiastic; "I'll take it if you don't want it..." being his parting shot. You know what? I think I might just keep it!

Track Listing
1. Ghouldiggers
2. No "W"
3. Senor Peligro
4. LiesLiesLies
5. 99%ers
6. Life Is Good
7. Relapse
8. The Last Sucker
9. Psalm 69
10. New World Order
11. Just One Fix
12. Thieves

Added: July 30th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ministry on facebook
Hits: 1742
Language: english

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