Ministry – Houses of the Mole

The Anti-Dubya Sermon

The dark, powerful machine that is Ministry has been
pumping out so much industrially infused metal they
could easily erect a six hundred and sixty six foot
tall building, nay – church, from which they could
preside over their faithful followers. Ministry’s
groundbreaking blend of industrial, electronica, and
metal has remained consistent over the length of their
career, influencing countless others. So it’s no real
surprise that Houses of the Mole should follow suit
with their previous albums, but this album’s concept
is sure to raise a few eyebrows.Houses of the Mole takes a theme common in much of
today’s music – displeasure with Dubya. In fact,
Houses of the Mole is entirely dedicated to showing the world just that. All nine songs have the letter ‘W’ in them, from the descriptive “Worm” and “Worthless” to the simply put “Wrong” and blunt opener, “No W.” Political stances aside, albums ultimately come down to music, and for the most part Ministry deliver. Their classic guitar/effects/pulsating beats provide a dark structure to each song, sometimes infusing them with brief samples from Bush’s speeches. Indeed, the sheer velocity and rhythm of each song brings a high level of intensity that progresses steadily throughout the album. While the somewhat bland and awkward vocals on Houses of the Mole slightly detract from the album’s overall appeal, the persistent energy and brutality of the record make it a worthwhile sermon.