Ministry - Rantology

Even though Al Jourgensen handpicked most of the tracks for Rantology, it feels more like a promotional album than any sort of “Greatest Hits,” but fortunately, there are enough re-mixes to please old and new fans alike. The purpose of Rantology seems to want to attract a new generation of Ministry fans, and it may actually succeed. Jourgensen created the heaviest (yet undeniably melodic) band on the planet throughout the 80s’, and he seems bent on teaching kids today who’s still the boss. Part political concept album, part re-mix collection; Rantology features one new song, a collection of “update” mixes, and a few live tracks from the Sphinctour album. The new song, “The Great Satan,” sounds like Jourgansen is still on track, mixing his trademark sounds of flying shrapnel and teeth-shattering drum crashes with melodic, thrash guitar riffs—sounding somewhere between Slayer and classic Ministry. Perhaps more exciting, however, are the “updates” of classics like “Stigmata” and “Jesus Built My Hotrod.” Some of the tracks aren’t so much as re-mixes, but re-recordings with modern equipment to sound noisier and all-around more aggressive. What was once an industrial dance club favorite, “Stigmata” now seems more appropriate for background music at an underground dogfight. The new “N.W.O.” disappoints with no notable musical differences, but the samples of George Bush Sr.’s proclamations of a “new world order” are combined with our current Commander-In-Chief’s to further confirm the song’s political potency. At a time when Bush bashing seems redundant and too easy, Rantology punches a bit late, but all the songs remind us Jourgansen has been politically awake from the beginning, and it looks like he plans to keep writing heavy tunes and having a few laughs along the way. [www.ministrymusic.org]