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Relapse

by Ministry

Released: March 23, 2012

Industrial metal, thrash metal

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Lineup Change.

The Album

Themes from the album include critiques of political corruption, media manipulation, and personal struggles with addiction and recovery, reflecting Jourgensen’s own experiences. Jourgensen reassembled Ministry with a new lineup for this record, featuring musicians who contributed to the band’s earlier works and brought fresh influences to the project. "Relapse" is the twelfth studio album by American industrial metal band Ministry, released on March 23, 2012.

Inside the Recording

"Relapse" was produced by the band’s founder and frontman Al Jourgensen, and the tracks reflect his critical view of contemporary societal issues.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This album marked the band's return after a…

This album marked the band's return after a hiatus following the release of "The Last Sucker" in 2007, which was initially intended to be their final album.

The album showcases Ministry's signature industrial metal sound…

The album showcases Ministry's signature industrial metal sound, characterized by aggressive guitar riffs, heavy use of synthesizers, and politically charged lyrics.

The lead single from the album, "99 Percenters,"…

The lead single from the album, "99 Percenters," aligns with the themes of the Occupy Wall Street movement, expressing solidarity with the protests against economic inequality.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Ministry - Relapse

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Then

Reception

"Relapse" was produced by the band’s founder and frontman Al Jourgensen, and the tracks reflect his critical view of contemporary societal issues. The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who appreciated its intense energy and Jourgensen's unrelenting commentary but noted some variability in the impact of individual tracks.

Now

Legacy

After "Relapse," Ministry continued to release new material, further expanding their legacy within the industrial metal genre.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Relapse" is the twelfth studio album by American industrial metal band Ministry, released on March 23, 2012. This album marked the band's return after a hiatus following the release of "The Last Sucker" in 2007, which was initially intended to be their final album.

The album showcases Ministry's signature industrial metal sound, characterized by aggressive guitar riffs, heavy use of synthesizers, and politically charged lyrics. "Relapse" was produced by the band’s founder and frontman Al Jourgensen, and the tracks reflect his critical view of contemporary societal issues.

Jourgensen reassembled Ministry with a new lineup for this record, featuring musicians who contributed to the band’s earlier works and brought fresh influences to the project. Themes from the album include critiques of political corruption, media manipulation, and personal struggles with addiction and recovery, reflecting Jourgensen’s own experiences.

The lead single from the album, "99 Percenters," aligns with the themes of the Occupy Wall Street movement, expressing solidarity with the protests against economic inequality. The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who appreciated its intense energy and Jourgensen's unrelenting commentary but noted some variability in the impact of individual tracks.

After "Relapse," Ministry continued to release new material, further expanding their legacy within the industrial metal genre.