Rio Grande Blood - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
With Rio Grande Blood (5/2/06 - 13th Planet Records/Megaforce), Ministry's chief executive madman Al Jourgensen harnesses bunker-busting guitar missiles, drums which pummel like carpet bombs and audio samples ripped from today's headlines promulgating the grim reality of the State of the Union. Rio Grande Blood is an industrial guerilla Patriot Act admonishing conformity and embracing the concept that national pride takes many forms and questioning authority in a free society should not come at the price of being labeled as seditious with fear of imprisonment.

Customer Reviews: Read 60 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Rio Grande runs rampant with renewed thrash sound May 22, 2006
25 out of 41 found this review helpful

Well the more things change, the more they stay the same, and one thing that has stayed the same in the thrash/techno/industrial whatever void they fill market, is Ministry.

Like their previous album "houses of the mole", ministry takes a strong punch at the bush administration as well as the main topic in our headlines today, the war in Iraq. A cover not far off from something of an H.P. Lovecraftian view set coupled with a little caricature humor of the Alfred E. Newman type is what first sets the tone. Al Jorgensen, a man whose vocals are known for being distinct in sound and intense in delivery, leads ministry. Fast, furious, and fatal, his voice sounds like that of someone who is just on the verge of having their voice "crack", so that some of the guttural grown is taken away to allow more of a heartfelt yell that is higher in pitch than most bands of this genre. Oh yeah, and his delivery is usually that of someone who is waist deep in lava yelling at the guy on the side of the cliff holding the rope to short to reach.

The themes again, are direct hits that are often humorous and slapstick at times. Even making fun of the military, which I have never partaken in and despise myself. However, it's a free country right? And with that freedom comes the freedom for Ministry to thrash bash, and of course, let us know how much they don't like the current political landscape the country finds itself in. On their previous album, they took actual excerpts from George W. Bush and had them added in to various songs. This of course we also saw with the words from the famous drill sergeant in the movie "full metal jacket" on the album "The mind is a terrible thing to taste". This time around, however, they twist the words around, though it could be just a different way of looking at the president.

The album opens with "Bonus" which is a track that clocks in at just less than one minute. It's got the epic and synchronous sound of marching combat boots in the background. In the foreground is of course, a marine corps drill instructor doing what he does best: Telling the men marching they are nothing but maggots. I think the message Jorgensen was trying to get across was the irony of unity by constructive criticism. I could be wrong, and have plenty of Marine friends who would maybe interpret it as something else. The track "Rio Grande Blood" is where we see the aforementioned quips. The presidents voice can be heard saying in a public address announcement "I am a weapon of mass destruction" "I want your money" and then of course there is a pretty funny one where he says "I'm an a##hole" which of course is done during a silent nanosecond right before the drums and guitars start screeching away. A listener may not agree with the lyrics, but they don't have to, Ministry was never about lyrics and songwriting as much as sound and beat, and this song is a perfect way to let people know that Ministry is still a force to be reckoned with. Fierce guitars that play fast but don't scream out into oblivion coupled with fast drum beats that are ferocious but not frenzied is a perfect formula for these guys to stay on track with what put them on top in the first place.
The album has a nice progressive feel to it, it flows well from one song to the next, and this is evident with track four entitled "Gangreen". Before Al graces us with his voice, we get some more of the drill sergeant, along with the famous marine call "A-ooah!" in the background to the beat of the song.

"Fear (is big business)" is also another great track that shows the diversity the band can still create despite many feeling they are just thrashing away in every single song with no direction. The early part of this song has a slow, driving beat that is reminiscent of the slow, industrial, deep and haunting tracks that we witnessed on their album "Filth Pig". It doesn't last long though, and soon Al is screaming about "the government siege" while GWB's voice is in the background saying, "FEAR" as an added chorus. The drums and guitars on this are supremely fast but don't clout the chorus, beat, and overall vocal performance of the song.

"LiesLiesLies" of course is laden with modern day political references to the Bush Administration and the federal government as a whole. By this time we are enjoying the fresh Ministry tracks we've waited a while for, but are starting, in my personal opinion, to get a little tired of the theme. This song high speed with some mid tempo chorus and has great backing vocals as well as an awesome haunting beat for a chorus. By now we're almost halfway through the album and are maybe a little tired already of Al telling us things that we already knew about the presidency during any time period; when dealing with politics, it never is logical, fair, or just. It really is just a lot of old guys telling lies. We know. We live here. We elected them over and over and over again. "The great Satan" opens up with a quip about the CIA or whoever knowing Bin Laden was going to attack the United States. This is the part where the album really needed to keep up but unfortunately this track is where it starts to fade. A little bit of thrash can go a short way, and on this song we're dealt over three minutes of slayer like rehash and of course, lest we not forget, more GWB quips, which by now to me are getting a bit tiresome. Tracks "Yellow Cake" "Palestina" and "A##clown" are all-more of the same. Heavy thrash, speeding drums so fast you don't know what the beat count is after 2 seconds, and political themes. The album does however, finish off with a great little gem called "Kyber Pass" that has a steadier, deeper rythym that doesn't speed past us like a freight train, but slowly and steadily runs along. This is a song that has great structure and really shows ministry at its best when it comes to putting together a song that has a great beat (but not to fast) haunting sound (but not to dark) and fierce vocals (but not so much illiterate screaming but intelligible lyrics).

I'm giving this album three stars instead of four or five for the simple fact that its nothing we've really heard before. Thrash is great, but we've been here before, and given that there was obviously more concentration put into the theme of this concept album and not enough in differing structure, themes, and songwriting, I will leave it at three and simply say I would recommend it to a friend who likes thrash, speed metal, ministry, or anything making fun of the president.

I think its great that bands of my generation are singing songs about the war and current political situations of my generation. However, making an entire album basically an anti-bush anti-war album to me somewhat takes away from what Ministry does best. We have 2 consecutive albums from them now that basically all say the same thing. It would be nice to hear something from them on a track here and there that is about something besides what we see on CNN every night. Overall, if you liked some of Ministry's early stuff when they were known more as thrash, or speed metal, or whatever park you want to drop them in, then this is the album for you. If your looking for slower, deeper tracks like what we saw on their release "Filth Pig" in which many fans felt was to much "Industrial" rock, then this is probably not an album you will enjoy. If your looking for some jabs at the president, or are a ministry fan in general, then by all means check this out.

Track listing:

1. Rio Grande Blood
2. Senor Peligro
3. Gangreen
4. Fear (Is Big Business)
5. Lies Lies Lies
6. The Great Satan
7. Yellow Cake
8. Palestina
9. A** Clown
10. Khyber Pass

4 out of 5 stars

(3.5 stars) Not on par with the classics, but still enjoyable May 3, 2006
24 out of 32 found this review helpful

Since George W. Bush is still the President of this country, it should be almost obvious that Ministry's new album is going to be another stab at him. But if you didn't already guess what the lyrics on "Rio Grande Blood" were going to be like, it should become apparent as soon as you play the first song.

Following up 2004's comeback album, "Houses Of The Mole," industrial metal icon Al Jourgensen has returned, two years later, with a new Ministry disc and a new, long awaited record from his most successful side project, The Revolting C - cks.

Every famous Ministry trait is in place on the new album, including rigid, abrasive, industrial metal guitars, Al's electronically raspy vocals, political lyrics, breakneck rhythms, and many Bush quotes (some real, some fake). Unfortunately, these traits make "Rio Grande Blood" ultimately sound like a continuation of the band's last release, the very political and angry "Houses Of The Mole." But, with their last two discs saying pretty much the same thing, Ministry's anti-George Bush campaign has seemingly lost momentum and been stretched too thin.

But this record does have a handful of new lyrical ideas (i.e. 9/11 conspiracies) and some songs have new, ultra heavy guitar licks (e.g. "Palestina" boasts an almost Pantera-esque riff). Plus, the songs themselves, when not compared to "HOTM," are still very enjoyable.

This record opens with the title track, which is more-or-less a prototypical Ministry tune. It's backed by a turbo-charged rhythm which falls into a fast, deep groove with surging guitars, and a falsified "quote" from "George Bush" is also included. "Senor Peligro" keeps the listener's blood pumping by beginning with fiery, machine gun riffs; but things slow down for the third song, "Gangreen," which has a slower, churning, if repetitive rhythm with a mini guitar solo.

"Fear (Is Big Business)" and "The Great Satan" both have buzzsaw rhythms, and the latter song also features an almost speed-punk drum beat. Finally, "Butt Clown" is the last highlight this album has to offer. It's backed by a very strong, propulsive, churning riff, and a careening solo. Lyrically, this song compares Washington D.C. to three ring circus.

Since it doesn't break any real ground for Ministry (musically or lyrically), one could argue that The Revolting C - cks' album, "Cocked And Loaded," which was released earlier in 2006, upstages "Rio Grande Blood." I wouldn't exactly say that, but I would say I'm a bit let down by this album, and it's about equal with the latest from Revco.

All in all, it may not be a classic, but I enjoyed "Houses Of The Mole," so I can only complain about "Rio Grande Blood" so much. Thus, if you, too, liked Ministry's last album and you enjoy the band's anarchist attitude, I advise you to sit back, relax, spark a bowl, pop this C.D. in your changer, and start preparing your plans for a revolution.

5 out of 5 stars

Best Ministry album of the 21st century May 3, 2006
19 out of 23 found this review helpful

This is Ministry's fastest and heaviest album ever. You could go as far as to call it Thrash. Riffs! Riffs! Riffs! Like House Of The Mole' before it, Rio Grande Blood is filled to the brim with political attacks on Bush. This is good and bad. Mostly bad. For one, this record(and Houses Of The Mole) is going to be EXTREMELY dated years from now, given that all the political rants are current issues. Plus, I don't know about you, but I love my Ministry Bush-free. Hearing Bush's voice is sometimes annoying to have to listen to after a while. There are a lot of other samples throughout that are less annoying though. This is not to say that the political attacks are not relevant cause they are. Jourgensen is only stating the obvious truth. This is a small complaint though. Any Ministry fan should pick this up because it is an amazing record. Fast as hell buzz-saw riffs, distorted bass, ominous synths, pummeling drums, and harsher-than-normal Jourgensen screams! Everything you know and love is here. Industrial Metal in your face! Plus with contributions from the likes of Tommy Victor(Prong) and Paul Raven(Legendary Killing Joke), this record stands all on its own. Stand out tracks include Rio Grande Blood, Yellow Cake, Gang Green, and prolly the best song on here, Lies Lies Lies. Every song is a winner though. Jourgensen proves once more that Ministry doesnt mess around and is truly a force to be reckoned with. I hope there is more to come in the future, but hopefully not so political. A must own album

Rock On.

5 out of 5 stars

Ministry's best album of the this decade May 4, 2006
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

this is the 2nd Ministry album released since long time collaborator Paul Barker left the band. this is also their 3rd full-length studio album since being dropped by Warner Bros records. this shows that nothing can stop Al Jorgensen and his industrial metal onslaught. its hard to believe that its been 18 years since Land Of Rape And Honey was released. but after all this time, Al can still pull off a brutal, confrontational Ministry album like Rio Grande Blood. under his rule, Ministry has evolved into more of an actual band, rather than a one-man industrial entity involving drum machines, samples, and various programming. Rio Grande Blood is even more in your face than their last album, Houses Of The Mole', both musically & politically. even the album cover is more intense (and bound to cause more controversy). but there's no such thing as bad press. this album gets my vote as one of the best metal releases of 2006.

5 out of 5 stars

Ministry Finally Makes A Decent Album After All These Years May 2, 2006
17 out of 21 found this review helpful

Over the past few years Ministry has released some major stinkers after their Filth Pig record(and some would even say Filth Pig was when it went downhill). Dark Side of The Spoon was one of the worst IMO. They started getting a little back on track with Animositisomina and Houses of the Mole. However, they just couldn't compare to their 3 best records, Land of Rape and Honey, The Mind is a Terrible Thing To Taste, and Psalm 69...until now. Ministry has finally gotten their act together and produced one major sonic assault of a record. From beginning to nearly the end(Khyber Pass and the Sgt. Major track end the album on a pretty mellow note) it's some of the most aggressive thrashing metal Ministy has ever produced. The only tracks I didn't like were actually the previously mentioned Sgt. Major tracks. Basically, just a little joke with a Ermey(Full Metal Jacket) drill seargeant which from what I've read he's actually a retired drill seargeant. Maybe it's the fact that members of The Killing Joke and the drummer from Slipknot are helping out with this one along with Jello Biafra. It just seems so much more focused than previous efforts. LiesLiesLies, Assclown, Fear Is Big Business, and many more great tracks on here. If you've ever been a fan of Ministry you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

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