Surgical Meth Machine Surgical Meth Machine 2016 Nuclear Blast Records Surgical Meth Machine is the side project of Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen and follows in the footsteps of the more extreme songs in Ministry’s repertoire, most songs push over the 200bpm broken repetitively by samples before kicking back in again. As an album, Surgical Meth Machine draws many comparisons with the track Side F/X Include Mikey’s Middle (TV4) from 2013’s Ministry album; From Beer to Eternity, with Jourgensen citing the death of Ministry and Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia as the influence for Surgical Meth Machine and that the album is a tribute to Scaccia. Surgical Meth Machine is the brainchild of Jourgensen and producer/engineer Sammy D’Ambruoso who between them play every instrument on the album, including the production of Surgical Meth Machine. Surgical Meth Machine itself sounds just like a Ministry album, there is no other band which sounds like it has had Jourgensen at the controls with his extreme, heavy industrial sound. Surgical Meth Machine has a heavy programmed drum machine sound that at times is ear-splittingly loud, but you would expect nothing else from the Ministry madman. The programmed drums, heavily distorted guitar and shouted vocals are in your face all interspersed with broken, repeating samples. Al Jourgensen given his lifestyle, is a wonder how Jourgensen gets anything done. However, Jourgensen is an exceptionally talented musician. Jourgensen, along with his distinctive vocals, plays the guitars and bass on Surgical Meth Machine with his studio counterpart D’Ambruoso programming the drums, whilst also adding some guitars and vocals. Both Jourgensen and D’Ambruoso show that they are both masters of their style, Jourgensen in particular has a very distinctive sound that is head and shoulders above his peers. Not all the songs on Surgical Meth Machine blast forward at 200bpm, Jourgensen shows a more psychedelic side with the album closer, much slower and extremely trippy I’m Invisible. But generally, Surgical Meth Machine is full of the nihilistic and bleak observations of the world through the eyes of Jourgensen. This shows through on the albums opener I’m Sensitive, where Jourgensen attacks the narcissism, vanity and insecurity that runs through social media. Jourgensen’s lyrics of nihilism continue through Tragic Alert and Rich People Problems to the amusing Side F/X Include Mikey’s Middle (TV4) –esque Unlistenable where Jourgensen and D’Ambruoso discuss their views on music through the Beavis and Butthead style of ‘they suck’ both eventually agreeing that DEVO rock before launching into a brilliant cover of DEVO’s Gates of Steel. Jello Biafra of ex-Dead Kennedy’s fame guests on the song I Don’t Wanna with his unique voice melding very well with Jourgensen’s to create an excellent Industrial song with Hardcore Punk overtones giving a huge middle finger to the music industry. Surgical Meth Machine is a decent Industrial album and a fantastic tribute to Jourgensen’s late friend and ex-Ministry member, Mike Scaccia. You get the feeling that with Surgical Meth Machine, Jourgensen and D’Ambruoso are having fun, no constraints, just doing exactly what they want and because of this Surgical Meth Machine sounds great. If you’re a fan of Ministry, then Surgical Meth Machine will fit perfectly in with your record collection. 7/10 Adam Tragic Alert (Jourgensen/D'Ambruoso)
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