We’re totally stoked about new releases from High on Fire, Himsa, Black Dahlia Murder and Today is the Day. But we’re even more excited about the new album by Ministry, The Last Sucker (Megaforce/13th Planet Records). Actually, it’s a bittersweet release — not because it isn’t 100 percent brutal — but because it signals the end of the industrial metal group’s 20 year reign (we’re not counting any of the wussy pop that came before 1988’s In The Land of Rape and Honey. In any case, Ministry are going out with a mushroom cloud. The Last Sucker is an explosive amalgamation of everything they’ve done since frontman Al Jourgensen woke up from the heroin stupor of Filth Pig and started tearing stuff up again. Like 2004’s Houses of the Mole and 2006’s Rio Grande Blood, The Last Sucker combines high-octane thrash and storming metal with anti-government rants and soundbytes from President Bush to create a vicious, toxic and unerringly precise album, the brutality of which is only tempered by its dark humor. As those Bush-haters the French, say, Magnifique.
Here’s the other new stuff that’s out there:
A Life Once Lost - Iron Gag (Ferret) — Vicious storming hardcore metal with vocal production by Lamb of God Frontman Randy Blythe.
The Black Dahlia Murder - Nocturnal (Metal Blade) — More punishingly metallic than 2005’s Miasma, this one marks a return to the death metal blast beats and graphically horrific lyrics of the band’s early daze.
Christine - Badasser (Supernova) — One of several ripping bands signed by, produced and released by Today is the Day frontman Steve Austin.
Defcon 4 - The Bad Road (Supernova) — Here’s another one of Steve Austin’s discoveries.
High On Fire - Death Is This Communion (Relapse) — Not as trippy as High on Fire’s earlier offerings, this one is still no less destructive. Produced by Seattle soundsmith Jack Endino who keeps things savage and never resorts to Nirvana-style soft verses and loud choruses.
HIM - Venus Doom (Republic/Universal) — More melodic gloom from Finland’s finest flashy goth metal outfit.
Himsa - Summon In Thunder (Century Media) — bludgeoning and raw, the band’s new album combines the hardcore pummel of 2003’s Courting Tragedy and Disaster with the thrash barrage of 2006’s Hail Horror.
Roanoke - Stormbringer (Supernova) — See previous Supernova entries.
Suicide Silence - The Cleansing (Century Media) — Could this be the next extreme metal Job For A Cowboy or The Red Chord? They’re certainly loud enough.
Today Is The Day - Axis Of Eden (Supernova) — In addition to unveiling the new creations from his new label upon the world, gun-toting crazy man Steve Austin has graced us with his band’s new album, which combines the atmospherics of 2002’s Sadness will Prevail with the pulverizing jackhammer metal of 2004’s Kiss the Pig. You’ll bee spitting out your own teeth.
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