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Then Comes Silence signs to Metropolis Records and announces new post-punk album

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:35:53 +0000

Metropolis Records announces the signing of Swedish post-punk outfit Then Comes Silence for the release of their seventh album, “Trickery”. The first single, “Ride or Die”, will be released on March 1. The full album will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally on April 5.

“Metropolis Records is thrilled to announce the return of Then Comes Silence. The new album ‘Trickery’ will be the band’s first worldwide release with us. It’s a fantastic album and we are excited to get to share it with you. It’s a refinement of the band’s signature sound, a focused distillation of everything TCS has released to date,” says Jim Smith of Metropolis Records.

The new album was recorded by Jörgen Wall (Jay-Jay Johanson, The Hellacopters) over three days at Stockholm’s Kapsylen Studio and mixed by Tom van Heesch (Rammstein, Apocalyptica, Backyard Babies). The mastering was in the hands of Svante Forsbäck / Chartmakers (Rammstein, Amaranthe, Ville Valo, The Rasmus, Apocalyptica).

Then Comes Silence is Alex Svenson, Jonas Fransson and Hugo Zombie. Formed in Stockholm in 2012, this project was originally inspired by frequent touring with A Place To Bury Strangers and an attraction to horror and the occult. After debuting with their eponymous album in 2012, Then Comes Silence put out two more albums before releasing “Blood” via Nuclear Blast in 2016. Their subsequent “Machine” album was jointly released via Oblivion/SPV and Metropolis Records in 2020.

In March and April, Then Comes Silence will be touring North America extensively with Vision Video (tour dates will be announced soon).

Then Comes Silence videos

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Ministry releases new track and video for ‘Just Stop Oil’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 18:30:53 +0000

(Photo by Derick Smith) Al Jourgensen’s latest single against the system, “Just Stop Oil”, handles the themes of what he says “corporate greed. sharky politicians. climate out-of-control and questionable government interests.” The brand-new Ministry track – from their upcoming 16th studio album “Hopiumforthemasses” – is shared today alongside a video “that begs for action for the benefit of our collective future.”

“Hopiumforthemasses” will be out March 1, 2024 on Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be available in three vinyl variants, a CD jewelcase and digital/streaming platforms. The vinyl variants include: green with yellow splatter (in stores everywhere); blue with pink splatter (nuclear blast exclusive); red with white splatter (band/tour exclusive).

Below is the video for “Just Stop Oil”.

“Just Stop Oil” follows the release of earlier single “Goddamn White Trash”.

Ministry will play the new songs live on a Spring 2024 tour, kicking off February 27, supported by Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly.

February 2024

27 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
29 Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre

March 2024

1 Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
2 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
3 Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
5 Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
6 Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
8 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
9 Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
10 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
12 Columbus, OH – Kemba Live
13 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater
14 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
16 Toronto, ON – History
17 Montreal, QC – MTelus
18 Boston, MA – Roadrunner
19 New York, NY – Terminal 5
20 Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Casino
22 Cherokee, NC – Harrah’s Cherokee
23 Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
24 Tampa, FL – Jannus Landing
26 Birmingham, AL – Avondale
27 Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Casino Biloxi***
29 Houston, TX – House of Blues
30 Dallas, TX – The Factory
31 Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater

April 2024

2 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
4 Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
5 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre

***Front Line Assembly is not appearing

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Ministry announces 16th album ‘Hopiumforthemasses’ coming March 1, 2024 – First single + video for ‘Goddamn White Trash’ released today

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:22:25 +0000

(Photo by Derick Smith) Ministry is set to release its 16th album, “Hopiumforthemasses”, on March 1, 2024, through Nuclear Blast Records. Today, we are given the first taste of the new material with the official release of “Goddamn White Trash”. This track, featuring Pepper Keenan, initially made its debut during Ministry’s headline tour earlier this year.

Watch the video for “Goddamn White Trash”, directed by Dean Karr, here:

The album consists of nine tracks and, as usual, passionately addresses the state of the world. “Just like you or anybody else, I’m simply a passenger in this lifetime,” says Jourgensen. “I’m observing social changes, political shifts, and economic fluctuations, and I comment on them because I have a First Amendment right. Contrary to those who say artists and athletes should remain silent and just perform, I’m on this journey too. If I see something, I say something. This approach shapes the direction of each album. Instead of remaining static and singing about broken relationships, inner turmoil, or the pain of the week, I comment on what’s happening from the perspective of a fellow passenger.”

For this new album, Jourgensen is joined by Ministry’s current line-up of musicians — John Bechdel on keyboards, Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto on guitars, Roy Mayorga on drums, and Paul D’Amour on bass. The album also features a host of special guest contributors, including Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz, long-time collaborator and Lard companion Jello Biafra, and Corrosion of Conformity frontman Pepper Keenan.

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Ministry announces final (streaming) show of the year with full band

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:46:50 +0000

(Black and white photo by Derick Smith) Ministry has a livestream concert set for November 20 at 3 PM PT/5 PM CT/6 PM ET/10 PM GMT. Tickets have gone on sale now at HITKOR.com (to both stream live and watch on demand). The special streaming event will be available in more than 30 countries and was planned with European Ministry fans in mind after the band had to cancel a multi-country tour this fall due to unforeseen circumstances.

Ministry’s Al Jourgensen says: “We never intended for Cleveland with NIN to be our last show this year. Due to circumstances beyond our control we had to cancel Europe but we didn’t want to end 2022 without one last show, and this will be one for the books.”

The live set will feature the full band and possible special guests. In addition to creator and founder Al Jourgensen, Ministry’s full band will appear in the livestream show, including drummer Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour, Soulfly, Nausea), guitarists Cesar Soto (Man The Mute) and Monte Pittman (Madonna, Prong), bassist Paul D’Amour (Tool, Feersum Ennjin), and keyboardist John Bechdel (Killing Joke, Fear Factory).

The show will also feature new tracks from the latest album, “Moral Hygiene”, out now on Nuclear Blast Records.

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Ministry launches video featuring Jello Biafra: ‘Sabotage Is Sex’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 11:09:47 +0000

Out now is a video for the Ministry track “Sabotage Is Sex” taken from Ministry’s 15th studio album “Moral Hygiene” (Nuclear Blast Records). Featured on the track is Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys). The two kickstarted their side project Lard in the late ‘80s, a fusion of industrial and punk, and this latest collaboration “may be a hint of things yet to come” so Al Jourgensen says.

The video features both musicians, surprising as this is the first time Biafra has ever appeared in a music video. “Jello and I have been friends and music collaborators for decades. I had no idea he’d never done a video before and I’m honored to pop that creative cherry for him on ‘Sabotage Is Sex.’ It’s crazy how tech savvy we’ve all gotten yet somehow it all seems very punk rock to shoot a video at home with just an iPhone. Who knows, maybe one day there will be a Lard video?”

Created by director Joel Smith of Mad Minute Productions, the black-and-white video focuses on the corruption of the powers that be, racial injustice and the infringement on the rights of Americans.

You can see the video for “Sabotage Is Sex” right below.

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Vaselyne (Yvette Winkler and Frank Weyzig formerly of Clan Of Xymox) join COP International, first single ‘Waiting to Exhale’ out now

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:32:51 +0000

COP International has announced the signing of the Dutch band Vaselyne. The duo came recommended by John Fryer who had worked with Yvette Winkler on a Black Needle Noise release.

“Waiting to Exhale” is the first single taken from Vaselyne’s upcoming album to be released in 2022. The video for the single, which you view below, was shot by dutch filmmaker Dorothée Meddens.

Through Pieter Nooten Winkler came into contact with Frank Weyzig who was Clan of Xymox’ original guitarist. They decided to write music together and Vaselyne was born in 2011. As well as being Vaselyne’s singer and lyricist, Yvette does guest vocals and lyrics.

Vaselyne has so far released four albums/EPs on the German label Echozone: the “Earthbound” EP (2012), their full-length debut album “The Fire Within” (2013), the “In Dreams” EP (2015) and the “Fragile” EP (2016). In the spring of 2018, after a two-year hiatus, Frank and Yvette Winkler picked up things where they left and Vaselyne contributed to the Textbeak (Michael Szewczyk) album, “Sick for Songs a Season Eats”, produced by John Fryer.

About Yvette Winkler

Yvette Winkler is a Dutch singer/lyricist and artist. After being a nightclub singer in her teens performing covers with a tape, she formed her first band Dazzle & Delight. In the following years, she did musical theatre, recorded with Orphan Amp and co-founded Sea Of Souls.

After meeting Pieter Nooten of Clan of Xymox on Myspace, she started a collaboration for his album “Here is Why” for which she did lead, backing vocals, and wrote lyrics.

She has collaborated with Textbeak, John Fryer’s Black Needle Noise, IAMTHESHADOW, Junksista, Jean-Marc Lederman and Attrition.

About Frank Weyzig

Weyzig started his music career in 1985 with the Dutch electronic wave band Clan of Xymox when they were signed with the English independent label 4AD, which released their first album, “Clan of Xymox” that year. Weyzig played guitar and keyboards on the first album and performed with the band on stage as a live guitarist and keyboard player until 1990.

From 1995 until 1999 he played as vocalist and guitarist with Dutch indie-wave band Born For Bliss which you will surely remember from the track “Arabia” (released via Nuclear Blast / Death Wish Office).

In 1998 German Goth rock legends ‘Love Like Blood’ asked Frank to write a song for their “Snake Killer” album, “Ylene”.

In 2009 Frank co-wrote and produced the album “Spiders in the MindWeb” for White Rose Transmission, the band founded by Carlo van Putten (at that time vocalist of The Convent; later the singer of Dead Guitars) and the late Adrian Borland (frontman of English 80’s cult band The Sound). Other notable endeavors include the StarGazing Project with Remco Helbers and The White Rose Transmission live album “Spinning Webs at Night”.

In 2020, Frank started to work with Kelly Cook (ex-MOEV) on their new project Tearing The BlackBox. So far, TTBB released two EP singles; “Devil World” and “Breathe”.

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Al Jourgensen discusses inspiration for ‘Search And Destroy’ cover in new video interview

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 08:29:17 +0000

(Photo by Derick Smith) Ministry has released the music video for the new track “Search And Destroy” from the upcoming Ministry album “Moral Hygiene”, out October 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. The inspiration for the song, a take on The Stooges’ hit, is explained by Jourgensen in a new video featuring Billy Morrison (Billy Idol, Royal Machines) who worked on the cover.

Hear Al Jourgensen discuss “Search And Destroy” in detail in the new interview video right below. And you can see the music video for “Search And Destroy” (directed by Dean Karr) right after this.

“Moral Hygiene” was recorded with engineer Michael Rozon (also behind the boards on AmeriKKKant) at Scheisse Dog Studio, Jourgensen’s self-built home studio and creative lab. As with all Ministry albums, all songs are written and performed by Al Jourgensen. Additional contributions come from Billy Morrison (Billy Idol, Royal Machines), Cesar Soto (Man The Mute), John Bechdel (Killing Joke, Fear Factory), Roy Mayorga (Stonesour, Soulfly, Nausea), Paul D’Amour (Tool, Feersum Ennjin), Arabian Prince (N.W.A.), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and sitar player Flash.

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Industrial act Ministry is about to return with 15th studio album this Fall

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:58:16 +0000

(Photo by Derick Smith) “Moral Hygiene”, the 15th studio album by industrial act Mnistry will be released October 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. As a teaser a new single and video is released for “Good Trouble”. The song is inspired by late Congressman John Lewis and the BLM protests. The new video includes sampling from last year’s demonstrations in Los Angeles as captured by Jourgensen and his partner Liz Walton.

The 10-track album is a follow-up to 2018’s “AmeriKKKant” which their first release on Nuclear Blast, and marked the longest gap between studio albums in the group’s entire career; at five years, following “From Beer to Eternity” (2013).

The upcoming release includes a collaboration with Jello Biafra on “Sabotage Is Sex” and on the cover of The Stooges’ “Search And Destroy” that features guitarist Billy Morrison (Billy Idol/Royal Machines). Morrison is also featured on a number of other songs on the album. Additional contributions come from Cesar Soto (Man The Mute), John Bechdel (Killing Joke, Fear Factory), Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour, Soulfly, Nausea), Paul D’Amour (Tool, Feersum Ennjin), Arabian Prince (N.W.A.) and sitar player Flash.

“Moral Hygiene” was recorded with engineer Michael Rozon (also behind the boards on “AmeriKKKant”) at Scheisse Dog Studio, Jourgensen’s self-built home studio.

See the video for “Good Trouble” below.

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Click Interview’ with Then Comes Silence: ’We Have More Influences From The 50s, 60s And 70s Than From The 80s’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 17:00:46 +0000

Swedish formation Then Comes Silence this year released their fourth full length album entitled ”Machine” (SPV Oblivion & Metropolis Records). The band is active since a couple of years now, but strikes back with a renewed line-up. Alex Svenson (vocals, bass, synthesizers), Jonas Fransson (drums), Mattias Ruejas Jonson (guitars) and Hugo Zombie (guitars) worked together with producer Alex Svenson while the album has been mixed by Stefan Glaumann (who already worked together with bands such Rammstein, Clawfinger, The 69 Eyes, Killing Joke ao). The result is a fully accomplished post-punk and cold-wave driven work, which will become without a shadow of a doubt one of the best albums of 2020. I got in touch with the band asking them a few questions.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Your new album “Machine” also is the first one with a ‘new’ line-up. Can you give us more details about ‘Then Comes Silence V.2’ and do you notice main differences/changes with the old line-up?

Jonas: Mattias (previously in A Projection) and Hugo (previously in Los Carniceros Del Norte) joined us between ”Blood” and ”Machine”. The new line-up feels really good, we have become close friends and we are working very well together. They are both great musicians and now it feels like we are all moving in the same direction with Then Comes Silence.

Q: What have been the main ideas and themes for the new album? Did you encounter challenges and/or main difficulties in the writing process?

Alex: ”Machine” follows the same theme as the previous albums, like death, finity, mortality and the human ego. If you want to write you need dedication, energy and discipline. Inspiration is all around us. All the time and everywhere. You can’t wait for a perfect moment, you just have to start working and the ideas will come.

Q: I honestly didn’t hear any minus point on “Machine”, but do you hear some aspects to improve and/or eventually elements you wanted different and/or better? And what are the criteria to know a song/album is finished?

Mattias: I haven’t listened so much on the album since it got released, but I do play some stuff differently live compared to the album. It has more to do with my way of expression than that I want to improve my work on the album.

A good rule is to give the album/song a specific amount of time to come to fruition and when the time is up, the album/song is done.

Q: I’ve been always fascinated by the mix of influences featured in your work, but the 80s cold-wave and post-punk elements both remain very present. What does the 80s mean to you in terms of inspiration and major artists? And how do you put all these influences together?

Hugo: I think that we have more influences from the 50s, 60s and 70s than from the 80s. So maybe we sound like 80s artists because we have the same influences they had back then, not because we try to sound like them.

About putting the influences together, well, I think is kinda like being in a kitchen: Influences are the ingredients, Alex is the chef and the band are the cook’s assistants. You can use the same ingredients as other people, but your dish will always have your personal touch.

Q: Your album has been mixed by Stefan Glaumann, but I think most music lovers don’t always realize how important a good mix can be. Tell us a bit more about this essential aspect of a recording and how did the collaboration with Stefan Glaumann happened? Anything to add about the production process?

Alex: The mix is very important. It can be compared to film editing when making a movie. There’s a camera man, a story, a director etc… but the editing can be decisive for the result of the film. The same goes for the mix of an album.

We knew about Stefan Glaumann, but had never met him. We wanted a colder sound with a punch. That’s what you get working with him. He is a master of the metal sound. He knew about us and liked my voice so he was excited to work on ”Machine”.

Even though I don’t play metal and probably never will, I believe the scene has many qualities. We payed a visit in their garden to see what flowers we could bring with us. It was probably something that came to my mind when we worked with Nuclear Blast in the past. I have always wanted to get into the metal club. I grew up with it along with many other genres, but they would probably just call me a poser. The metal scene can be quite conservative and strict.

I did the music production of the album and took care of the recording. I tried to make it as easy as possible for Glaumann to take over the wheel in the mix.

Q: Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, gigs, tours and festivals have been cancelled and/or postponed. What’s the impact of it all on the new album and what’s your experience with the live streams?

Hugo: It sucks and the impact of it all has been huge. We were waiting like one year for the album to be released, and then we release it just the day the world stopped. So it’s very difficult to promote a new album without touring, but anyway we are overwhelmed by the support we have from people buying the new album, merch… that’s really helping us and our labels to keep on keepin’ on.

We did a live stream in May, and it was weird but I had a really good time, and it was even better when I read a lot of messages from friends saying that thanks to the stream they were able to forget about all the shit happening around us for one hour. Anyway, the most important thing at the moment is that everyone stay safe and healthy, we’ll have fun soon.

Jonas: The album release worked fine, it’s just super annoying not to be able to do gigs and tours, we really miss it a lot. The last month we’ve been busy with building a new rehearsal studio, that has been a nice change from just sitting at home and doing nothing. The studio is very close to be finished and soon we can start making music again.

Mattias: We did a proper live stream with a full crew taking care of everything just to be able to put out a proper live stream for everyone to enjoy, we even engaged the audience and let them decide the set list and people seems to have enjoyed it.

Alex: We should be lucky to have social media. Imagine this same situation 15 or 20 years ago. Even though we won’t be able to play and tour like we usually do, the new album gets good attention on the social platforms. To me ”Machine” has become very much connected to 2020 and it was released on the same day almost all of Europe got into lockdown.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Ministry releases new song and video ‘Alert Level’ + fans invited to make videos answering ‘How Concerned Are You?’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 17:04:32 +0000

At the moment Ministry is working on its 15th studio album for Nuclear Blast Records. A first taste of what to expect comes today with the new track “Alert Level” accompanied by a video, created by Agent Ogden.

The song is the first new material from Jourgensen in 2 years. Jourgensen: “We finished the song in January and it sounded great during rehearsals for our Australia/Japan tour dates, before we went into quarantine. The original plan was to finish the new record before the July ‘Industrial Strength’ US tour so we could have an Election Day release, but in lieu of the circumstances — and how relevant the song feels for these bizarre times — we decided to release “Alert Level” now.”

With the release of “Alert Level”, fans are asked to be a part of the larger conversation by answering the question posed by the song’s central message, “How concerned are you?”. Fans should upload videos, 30 seconds or less, to their social media profiles with the hashtag #MinistryAlertLevel. All the members of Ministry will be watching from home and selecting the videos most meaningful to them, which will be later shared.

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Forthcoming album Then Comes Silence mixed by the Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Killing Joke, Deathstars, The 69 Eyes)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:05:08 +0000

A few days ago we announced that Swedish post punk goth rockers Then Comes Silence had joined Metropolis Records for North and Central America and thus leaving Nuclear Blast who had released their last album “Blood” worldwide. Today we can announce that Oblivion has signed the band for the EU market.

The new album, “Machine”, will be out on March 13th and was mixed by the Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Killing Joke, Deathstars, The 69 Eyes).

Check out “Strangers”

And here’s “We lose the Night”

Then Comes Silence was formed in Stockholm in 2012. The same year they released a self-titled album “Then Comes Silence” on Novoton. It was followed the year after by “Then Comes Silence II” and in 2015 by “Nyctophillian”. Their 4th album, “Blood”, was the first (and only) one on Nuclear Blast.

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Then Comes Silence launches video for ‘We Lose The Night’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:41:55 +0000

“We Lose The Night” is the brand new video for the Swedish post-punk act Then Comes Silence. The track is taken from the upcoming album “Machine”. You can view the video below. The band’s new album “Machine” will be released on March 13.

Post-punk from Stockholm since 2012

Then Comes Silence is a quartet based in Stockholm, Sweden. Since the band’s very first show, as the opening act for A Place to Bury Strangers in 2012, the band released 4 albums: “Then Comes Silence” (2012 – Novoton), “Then Comes Silence II” (2013 – Novoton), “Nyctophillian” (2015 – Novoton) and “Blood” (2017 – Nuclear Blast).

In 2018 the band opened for Fields Of The Nephilim and Chameleons Vox in Germany and they are more frequently playing other festivals in Europe. In 2018 Seth Kapadia and Jens Karnstedt left the band and the former session musicians and touring substitutes Mattias Ruejas Jonson (ex-A Projection) and Spanish born Hugo Zombie (ex-Los Carniceros Del Norte) became the new members in the band.

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Then Comes Silence leave Nuclear Blast and join Metropolis Records – new upcoming album ‘Machine’ being prepared

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:08:29 +0000

Swedish post punk goth rockers Then Comes Silence have joined Metropolis Records for North and Central America and thus leave Nuclear Blast who had released their last album “Blood” worldwide. Their new album “Machine” is now being finished, and we’ll be able to offer you extra info pretty soon.

In 2018 Seth Kapadia and Jens Karnstedt left the band and the former session musicians and touring substitutes Mattias Ruejas Jonson (ex A Projection) and Spanish born Hugo Zombie (ex Los Carniceros Del Norte) became the new members in the band.

You can check the band’s last studio album below. Read the review of ‘Machine’.

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Ministry – AmeriKKKant (CD Album – Nuclear Blast Records)

Filip Wildhoney — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 21:24:54 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-metal Background/Info: Studio album number 14 for the pioneer of industrial-metal mastermind Al Jourgensen, an artist who doesn’t need an introduction. The first album since long without any riffs from Mike Scaccia (RIP) on it. Content: We are definitely not used to hear scratching (by DJ Swamp and Arabian Prince) and beautiful strings (by Lord Of The Cello) in a cinematic style on a Ministry album, which is the case for opener “I Know Words”, a sarcastic ode to President Donald Trump. Because of the length and the downtempo speed “Twilight Zone” (including Al on harmonica) should have been fitting well as one of the last tracks. It reminded me a bit on “Khyber Pass” from the “Rio Grande” album. It’s only at the outro of track 3, “Victims Of A Clown”, that Ministry finally pulls up the speed as we are used to hear from them on their last albums. “TV5/4Chan” is in the same style as “WTV” (from “Houses Of The Molé”), a mixture of guitar riffs and chaotic samples including shocking stuff like “… all you got to be is white in America and you get whatever you want!”. And then it’s finally time for some headbanging on the uptempo trash-metal of “We’re Tired Of It”, with Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory) on vocals followed by “Wargasm”, which reminded me vocally a bit of “Lay Lady Lay” (from “Filth Pig”). “Antifa” was the first released single and videoclip about the antifascist movement while “Game Over” is just like “Twilight Zone” a downtempo song with a repeating guitar-hook and middle-eastern style melody. On the last song “AmeriKKKa”, the singing style of Al reminded me a bit of Marilyn Manson. + + + : The violins on the first track accentuate in a nice way the sadness of the current (Trump-)era we’re living in. The sampling done by Al & Liz is amazing and the (additional) vocals of Burton C. Bell are definitely a positive thing! – – – : Not much uptempo stuff this time and no less than 3 compelling songs are longer than 8 minutes which might be just a bit too long for some people. Conclusion: This album is full of impressive sampling and is very well produced! Definitely an album you have to listen to more than once before you start to appreciate the songs, although not much new is presented. Respect for Al that he keeps protesting in his way against the current government. Best songs: “We’re Tired Of It”, “Wargasm”, “Antifa”, “AmeriKKKa”. Rate: (8) WH. Band: www.ministryband.com / www.facebook.com/weareministry Label: www.nuclearblast.de / www.facebook.com/nuclearblasteurope

Read the news on ‘AmeriKKKant’.

Then Comes Silence – Blood (CD Album – Nuclear Blast Records)

Filip Wildhoney — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 13:11:57 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark wave, post-punk, gothic rock.

Background/Info: This is already the fourth album of this Swedish act, that was founded in 2012 in Stockholm. Band leader Alex Svenson just started writing on the new album when his father suddenly passed away. Writing this album became a healing process for him. The production and engineering was done by Tom van Heesch (Rammstein, Entombed A.D, …).

Content: The sentence “The world isn’t in a better condition than in the 80s”, as the band states, typifies the gloomy atmosphere throughout this cd. Highlights: opener “The Dead Cry For No One” is a smash in the face, a kick-ass song which invites everyone to freak out on the dancefloor! Long time ago that any band could get my attention bringing such catchy guitar-riffs. “Strange Kicks” is a compelling song which lets the voice of Alex and especially the uptempo beats of drummer Jonas come out very well. The accoustic guitar on the downtempo “Choose Your Poison” sounds very nice in combination with the other guitars. “Good Friday” is one of the best songs, sadness and melancholy à gogo. The slowly built-up tempo changes make “Warm Like Blood” explode very well.

+ + + : Then Comes Silence brings tasteful songs that have more variation compared with most other bands in this genre. The band does an excellent job in creating 11 tracks full of doom, passion and soul. All tracks are very groovy and compelling and boast a remarkable energy. For sure something to check out for fans of The Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus and Joy Division.

– – – : The opening-riff on “In Leash” sounds nice but a bit too much like the riff of “Is Vic There?” from Department S.

Conclusion: A fresh breeze of gothic renaissance and one of the best releases of 2017! “Blood” is a must have in your cd/vinyl-collection! Then Comes Silence definitely has its own personality and these 4 musicians know damn well how to write good songs. It makes them one of the leading acts in the goth scene for now and for the future!

Best songs: “The Dead Cry For No One”, “Strange Kicks”, “Choose Your Poison”, “Good Friday”, “Warm Like Blood”.

Rate: (9) WH.

Band: www.thencomessilence.eu / www.facebook.com/thencomessilence

Label: www.nuclearblast.com / www.facebook.com/nuclearblasteurope

New Ministry video and album details!

Filip Wildhoney — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:57:13 +0000

“AmeriKKKant”, industrial-metal pioneers Ministry’s 14th album, will be released on March 9, 2018 for the first time via Nuclear Blast Records. The album will include guest appearances from Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory, former N.W.A. member Arabian Prince, DJ Swamp and Lord of the Cello. It contains 9 songs in total of which 3 of them are longer than 8 minutes!

The new album will also be released on vinyl and can be ordered here.
Special release-packages can be ordered here.

Today the video for the first single, “Antifa”, a protest song against the current political chaos in America, was released.

Tracklist

1. I Know Words
2. Twilight Zone
3. Victims of a Clown
4. TV5/4Chan
5. We’re Tired of It
6. Wargasm
7. Antifa
8. Game Over
9. AmeriKKKa

Tourdates

March 22 – Anaheim, Calif. @ House of Blues
March 23 – Ventura, Calif. @ Ventura Theatre
March 24 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Brooklyn Bowl
March 26 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Ace of Spades
March 28 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theatre
March 29 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Vogue Theatre
March 31 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Union Hall
April 01 – Calgary, Alberta @ Palace Theatre
April 03 – Missoula, Mont. @ Wilma Theatre
April 05 – Lincoln, Nebr. @ Boubon Theatre
April 07 – Chicago, Ill. @ Riviera Theatre
April 08 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Turner Hall Ballroom
April 10 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogart’s
April 11 – Grand Rapids, Mich. @ 20 Monroe Live
April 12 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Egyptian Room
April 14 – Toronto, Ontario @ Opera House
April 15 – Montreal, Quebec @ MTelus
April 17 – Boston, Mass. @ Royale
April 18 – Portland, Maine @ Aura
April 19 – Huntington, N.Y. @ Paramount Theatre
April 21 – Montclair, N.J. @ Wellmont Theatre
April 22 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Town Ballroom
April 23 – Baltimore, Md. @ Rams Head Live
April 25 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Center Stage
April 26 – Orlando, Fla. @ Hard Rock Live
April 28 – Austin, Tex. @ Levitation Festival
August 10 – Kortrijk, Belgium @ Alcatraz Metal Festival