Band:	Ministry
Album:	Relapse
Style:	Industrial metal
Release date:	March 23, 2012
A review by:	jupitreas

01. Ghouldiggers
02. Double Tap
03. FreeFall
04. Kleptocracy
05. United Forces
06. 99 Percenters
07. Relapse
08. Weekend Warrior
09. Git Up Get Out 'N Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse [Defibrillator Mix] [limited edition bonus]

In the world of Ministry, or at least in the demented, chemically imbalanced world of Al Jourgensen, everything is an addiction. It has therefore been fairly inevitable that the band is back with a new record, contrary to statements made just a few years ago. Al needs just one more fix, and it is called Relapse - a title that proves to be immensely accurate.

You see, if we stop to think and ignore all of the glamorized, self-tortured imagery associated with charismatic drug abusers, it is very clear that a Relapse is not something one should look forward to. The mind fails, organs disintegrate, death draws near and when it comes to Al's music, death is way overdue. Relapse is an epic failure, an album with nearly no merits to speak of. It is a shame that this album is adorned with the band's classic 90's logo.

Relapse really does reveal the very nucleus of why addiction is a deadly affliction. It is self-serving and self-defeating, it is nice to hear Ministry again but this is the sound of an addict's final, dying breath. It doesn't even help that some of the jackhammer riffs on this record are classically catchy and appropriately repetitive. We've heard it all before and done much better. Every idea here is recycled and even the moderately brilliant cover of S.O.D's "United Forces" is buried beneath the pile of suck. The lyrics are some of the worst ever on a Ministry record, the songs are boring and underwhelming and the considerable talents of all of the cogs in this machine (Tommy Victor, Mike Scaccia et al.) are wasted.

The conclusion is as inevitable as an addict's return to their drug of choice, with "Relapse", Al Jourgensen inadvertently made the ultimate statement about drug abuse: its not worth it. Not only is the "Relapse" fix not as good as that first hit, it also brings forward the scary realization that the drug wasn't all that awesome to begin with. "Relapse" is so embarrassing, so asinine, so unnecessary, that it manages to tarnish the godlike legacy of the Ministry brand, and this is quite the shameful feat. Avoid this album like the plague, trust me - abstinence is way better.