Legendary industrial pioneers Ministry have just announced a new live album entitled Chicago/Detroit 1982, which will feature many rare Wax Trax Era songs. This compilation will mainly focus on the group’s work prior to 1983, when they released their debut album With Sympathy on Arista Records.

These songs were previously released on Trax! Box, a compilation box set which featured many of the band’s singles from this era in music. According to the website for this set, this new album is “A vintage live performance of Ministry from their early synth pop days!”

Before becoming one of the most prominent industrial bands with the release of their most famous album The Land Of Rape and Honey, the band originated as a synth-pop group on their debut album With Sympathy. They began venturing into darker synth sounds and territories on their next album Twitch, which is considered a staple of electronic body music (EBM).

The group performed Wax Trax era songs live earlier this year, in a partnership deal with Vans and Record Store Day. These performances took place at six select venues throughout the United States, with Cold Cave, another electronic music group with sounds reminiscent of the early industrial and goth era, served as the opener. These events helped promote the documentary Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records.

Chicago/Detroit 1982 track list

1 Same Old Madness
2 Revenge
3 Effigy
4 Primental
5 I’m Falling
6 Overkill
7 Never Asked For Nothing
8 Love Change
9 What Is The Reason
10 Work For Love
11 Cold Life
12 America
13 Funkamental
14 Dancing Alone
15 Le Stupide
16 Knowledge

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat