UMUR
The Last Sucker is the 11th and at least for now last full-length studio album with original material released by American industrial metal act Ministry. Bandleader Al Jourgensen has proclaimed that the band will not reform and that The Last Sucker will be their last album with original material. The album is also the conclusion to the semi-conceptual anti-Bush administration triology of albums which also included Houses of the Molé (2004) and Rio Grande Blood (2006). The Last Sucker was released in September 2007.
The music on the album continues the industrial metal style of the two predecessors. There are actually not many changes, so chances are if you enjoyed those albums you´ll enjoy this one too. The basis in the music is guitar driven thrash/ hardcore punk riffs with programmed drums ( there are real drums too. They compliment each other), various noises and samples. Al Jourgensen´s vocals are effect laden and distorted. He sounds as angry as ever. There are several great tracks on the album like Let´s Go, The Dick Song and No Glory, but overall the album is very consistent in quality with no sub par tracks in sight. The cover of Roadhouse Blues by The Doors, which is of course done the Ministry way, works pretty well too. I think the album is a bit more metal in sound and a bit less industrial than the last couple of albums but it´s a detail.
The production is powerful and professional.
The Last Sucker is another high quality release by Ministry and a great testimony to one of the pioneers of the genre. With 3 consecutive excellent albums it´s safe to say that Ministry went out with a bang leaving behind a legacy that most acts would die for. The Last Sucker deserves a 4 star rating.