Way the hell back in 1981, Chicago post-punk scenester Al Jourgenson founded a gothy synthpop band called Ministry. Over their first few releases, Ministry found their way toward a punishing and hugely influential industrial metal sound, which helped spark an entire underground scene. When that scene went mainstream in the '90s, Ministry became a huge name. They played the main stage on the 1992 Lollapalooza tour, and their classic 1992 album Psalm 69 went platinum. Since then, Ministry have had a checkered history, with Jourgenson as the only permanent member, and they've continued to crank our records independently since splitting from Warner Bros. in the early '00s. But now, Jourgenson is ready to retire the Ministry project after one final run.
As Blabbermouth reports, Al Jourgenson says that he's "fucking done." This is understandable! He is 67 years old! That's also the feeling that he radiates on Ministry's new single "Burned Out." Over grinding, thumping riffage that now feels very familiar, Jourgenson samples newscasters who describe the evils currently bedeviling humanity: ICE, the Epstein Files, the genocide in Gaza. His chanted conclusion: "I'm not sure if this world survives! I can't tell you what's truth or lies! It doesn't matter if you're left or right! We're all dead unless we all unite!"
Here's what Jourgenson says about Ministry coming to an end:
I'm fucking done. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I'm amazed at the path that it's taken, from With Sympathy to where we're at today, and all points in between. It's been quite a ride, but I'm completely at peace with the fact that it's done. It's time to herd goats.
Before he can herd those goats, though, Ministry will release one final album, entitled Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery). It'll include "Burned Out," as well as one song, "We're Still Here," that'll mark the return of former Ministry member Paul Barker. Ministry will also head out on a 2027 farewell tour, starting with a European run with Die Krupps. Below, check out the animated "Burned Out" video, directed by the former Revolting Cocks member Joshua Bradford, as well as the Hate To Go tracklist and the tour dates that Ministry have announced.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Crickets"
02 "Voices Of Hate"
03 "Clown Car"
04 "We Hate"
05 "Delete"
06 "Grifter"
07 "The White Man Lied"
08 "Singularity"
09 "Burned Out"
10 "We're Still Here" (feat. Paul Barker)
TOUR DATES:
9/15 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
9/20 - Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
10/03 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed
10/24 - Fort Worth, TX @ Sick New World Texas
4/02 - Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ronda *
4/03 - Saarbrücken, Germany @ Garage *
4/04 - Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique *
4/06 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Victoria Warehouse *
4/07 - Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia *
4/09 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City *
4/10 - London, UK @ Troxy *
4/12 - Paris, France @ Bataclan *
4/14 - Madrid, Spain @ La Riviera *
4/15 - Barcelona, Spain @ Paral-lel *
4/17 - Lausanne, Switzerland @ Docks *
4/18 - Munich, Germany @ Tonhalle *
4/19 - Vienna, Austria @ Gasometer *
4/21 - Prague, Czech Republic @ Forum Karlín *
4/22 - Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja *
4/24 - Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle *
4/25 - Hamburg, Germany @ Grosse Freiheit 36 *
4/26 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Amager Bio *
4/27 - Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller *
4/29 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Fållan *
5/01 - Helsinki, Finland @ House of Culture *
Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) is out 10/28 on Cleopatra. Check out our We've Got A File On You interview with Al Jourgenson here.
