Live Review: Ministry: "Hopiumforthemasses" Tour 2024 - With Gary Numan & Front Line Assembly

3/16/2024

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom Chicago
Thursday - March 14, 2024

The main tell right off the bat with Al Jourgensen and his juggernaut of a band Ministry-
And the constant push and pull to maintain relevance:
The first three songs from the setlist.

"B.D.E." Followed by "Just Stop Oil". And then "Goddamn White Trash".
Hard hitting the three of them, from Ministry's latest release, and the tour in support of-
"Hopiumforthemasses".
It's furious sounding. It's lyrically compounding". It's a Doc Martens boot stomping thrashing of sorts.

The Aragon, especially on a Thursday night- well those in attendance were not necessarily youngins- not the bodysurfer types from back in the day- intense push and pull off a heated main floor such as the Aragon from let's say anything 1988 and forward related- that kind of has seen its day so to speak.

Not that this is a bad thing- had the show been more intimate, such as the Riviera or something similar- my assumption is the main floor would've been more intense, more wilder.
Again, this is not a knock whatsoever.

The music, the band, the overall feel is different from early Minsitry, unhinged behavior not like years and years before.
Which brings me to Al Jourgensen- and Al Jourgensen up close.
From the pit- he's downright animated.

Like a wicked doomsday preacher with a message- play the part of scary, by all intent and purposes scary, but with a wicked sense of humor thrown in for good measure, but the tent revivals revolve around a six piece band with a message to say, like dropping carpet bombs from B-52's, the flying fortresses of "scare".
Yeah- no time for bullshit.
The setlist proves this.

Even after the third song, we're still diving deep into current releases and the latest release with songs of good measure and a solid message to say- "Aryan Embarrassment", "New Religion", and especially "Alert Level"- a song with stomping riffs, and a message of "How concerned are you?"- Still an important question to the present day.

Still, as always politically minded, and questioning everyone and everything.
It's not until the middle and latter part of the set that we get to classic Ministry, and still, with his current band, they punish, and punish some more.

The whole damn set is like this- a relentless juggernaut of amped energy and intense electric.
And even for troublesome Aragon acoustics- have to say Al's sound engineer knows a thing or two in how to conquer that beast, from pit to back of the main floor.
Getting back to my point of Al and all of his mannerisms (current day)- I could see clearly the shock, the spite, the fear laden mannerisms from Al's demeanor, up close and personal.
Same with the one's who arrived early to get front rail positioning, maybe even 6 or 7 rows deep.
But this is lost unfortunately, from the back of the main floor, and witnessing thereof.
From there, great visuals, great audio.

But not intimate, to see Al convey quite clearly what is deeply personal lyrically wise.
These current songs- they're protest upper cut wallops, with a heavy duty message.
From a main floor such as the Aragon, it works on some levels to re-wire your brain- and I guess for the late arrivals, it doesn't.
Again, not a knock on Al whatsoever- I guess what I'm saying for the dates remaining on this tour through early April- get your ass to whatever venue early- just to see Al up close and personal, and witness that firsthand.

You won't be disappointed.
To sum up- Ministry and Al Jourgensen- Immense pleasure in lashing out.

Same goes with Gary Numan, and also openers Front Line Assembly.
Setlists that were both whittled down a bit, more concise, more attack laden, no time for fillers.
For Gary Numan- more up front and center, main vocals being the precedent, delivery and angst intact.
His band proves this, having been with Gary for around ten years or so now.
They're delivering, having fun no doubt, allowing Gary to feel more relaxed, not nervous on possible mishaps, and to dive deeper and deeper into the songs, both old and new- making everything current day relevant- "Metal" in particular.
That song has "menace" now written into its veins, along with the newer material.
And again, same goes for Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber of Front Line Assembly, packing a wallop with a full band- bludgeoning drums provided by Jon Siren and wicked guitar from Matthew Setzer.
A full band- able to trailblaze away through songs such as "Vigilante", "Mindphaser", and especially "Killing Grounds" and "Millennium".
As a full on touring band- they certainly know a thing or two on change, let alone pivoting to up the ante in energy, coinciding with terrific visuals.
Just heavy swing, with big gnarly beats throughout.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Al Jourgensen, Ministry, Gary Numan, Bill Leeb, Rhys Fulber, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine

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Live Review: Ministry: "Hopiumforthemasses" Tour 2024 - With Gary Numan & Front Line Assembly

Al Jourgensen, Ministry, Gary Numan, Bill Leeb, Rhys Fulber, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine

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