Metal Wani’s Jessie David had a chance to chat with Al Jourgensen of Ministry. Ministry is about to release their 14th studio album Amerikkkant which is set to drop March 9th.
The first thing Jourgensen does is make a sarcastic remark about Donald Trump before going into his inspiration behind the upcoming album. There were a lot of things that inspired Jourgensen to write Amerikkkant, one being “Obviously the direction I think this country is going in, that the world is going in for that matter.” Another thing that inspired him was the fact that he was in a studio with a band instead of just himself a computer and an engineer. According to Jourgensen this is the first time he’s been in a studio with a band since ‘Filth Pig’.
During the interview Al Jourgensen touched base on the ideas behind the cover art for the album, and how it’s very in your face just like the whole album. Jourgensen said, “I think were living in a very in your face time. This album to me is the audio equivalent to a series like Black Mirror. Where the producer, director, writer Charlie Brooker basically just holds a mirror up to society, this is where we’re at, this is where were going. Do you want to be part of this? My answer is absolutely fucking not!”
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Ammerikkant is a very politically driven album. Pointing out that history is repeating itself and society is feeding the media, Jourgensen goes into detail on the matter when asked to discuss the politically driven album.
Jessie asked Al about all the shootings happening in the United States and where he thinks its heading, he said “Were fixing to make some cosmetic changes” which latter led him to discuss what the album is truly about. Jourgensen said that “Amerikkkant is not an Anti-Trump album, it’s about the system and how it continues to produces people like Trump, and Bush and Reagan”. Jourgensen felt it’s time to be a voice. Going back to the upcoming album Amerikkkan, Jourgensen said there’s only one song on the album, it’s a narrative that tells a story. Amerikkkant is a concept album that tells a story.
Ministry will be going on a North American Tour and they just announced their touring lineup which will include (Fear Factory) Burton C. Bell, drummer Joey Jordison, and DJ Swamp (Beck) When asked how these guys all came together Jourgensen said “It all came about really organically, were all neighbours who have the same kind of ideals and morality.” This is the first time since 1995 that he’s been in a recording room with an actual band. When asked who Jourgensen would love to work with he said “Tom Waits”.
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During this tour Ministry will be playing a new set list that could include a song from Fear Factory. Time will tell though. The interview ended with Al Jourgensen talking about what is next for him. He is half way through the new Revco album, which is yet untitled but in his words is organic and pretty funny. Jourgensen said “Revco has always been the antidote to Ministry, Ministry gets all heavy and serious and Revco is just a frat party with everyone wearing lampshades on their head.”
Watch out for the new Amerikkkant album set to drop March 9th.
