Ministry's "Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs," released 32 years ago, on July 14, 1992, by Sire Records, is a seminal industrial metal album that stands as a defining work in the genre. Also known as "ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ," the album showcases a powerful blend of aggressive guitar riffs, pounding drums, and electronic elements, solidifying Ministry's influence and legacy in industrial metal. Produced by band members Al Jourgensen and Paul Barker, "Psalm 69" features iconic tracks like "Jesus Built My Hotrod," with a memorable guest appearance by Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, and "N.W.O.," which offers a scathing critique of the Gulf War and U.S. foreign policy.
The title of the album is linked to chapter 69 of The Book of Lies, a written work of Aleister Crowley, where he uses the expression "The way to succeed and the way to suck eggs" as a pun for the 69 sex position ("suck seed" and "suck eggs"). Moreover, Crowley titled the chapter ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (which translates literally as "shrugged" and contains the sound ΛΗΞ "licks") but has a second meaning as a compound of Greek κεφαλη ("head") and Ξ Θ (an encoded alphabetic reference to "69") which both have slang meanings in English for sexual acts.
"Psalm 69" achieved significant commercial success, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard 200 and earning a platinum certification from the RIAA, marking it as Ministry's most commercially successful album. The album's raw intensity, dark themes, and innovative soundscapes have made it a critical and fan favorite, influencing countless artists in both the industrial and metal scenes. Tracks like "Just One Fix" and the title track "Psalm 69" further demonstrate the band's ability to merge relentless energy with thought-provoking commentary.
The album received a 4 to 5 star ratings by most leading music magazines.
The album's relentless energy, unapologetic political stance, and groundbreaking fusion of metal and electronic music have cemented its place as a powerful statement in Ministry's discography. With "Psalm 69," Ministry not only defined the industrial metal genre but also pushed the boundaries of what heavy music could achieve. Its lasting impact on the industrial and metal scenes underscores its status as a landmark album, continuing to inspire new generations of musicians and fans alike.
Ministry – ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ / Psalm 69
| N.W.O | 5:29 | ||
| Just One Fix | 5:11 | ||
| TV II | 3:04 | ||
| Hero | 4:12 | ||
| Jesus Built My Hotrod | 4:51 | ||
| Scarecrow | 8:21 | ||
| Psalm 69 | 5:29 | ||
| Corrosion | 4:55 | ||
| Grace | 3:06 |
ASTARI NITE Unleashes Resolution Of Happiness: A Labyrinthine Of Desires & The Pursuit Of Fulfillment
Negative Gain Productions recording artists, ASTARI NITE have just unveiled their latest full-length album, Resolution Of Happiness.
The album chronicles the individual's journey through the grieving process from denial through acceptance. But perhaps more importantly, Resolution Of Happiness offers a trajectory of hope and the celebration of life itself.
Speaking from personal experience, vocalist Mychael candidly states, "Something altered inside of me and to be perfectly honest with anyone who has brought ASTARI NITE into their lives, I was able to finally become at peace with the loss of my brother and Father!
The past never-ending years have been rather haunting though with a bunch of cheers from my friends and a bit of introspection, the grieving process seems to have vanished. I woke up and was able to breathe again! So, maybe I’m in bloom, maybe it’s okay to be myself, or maybe I could care less about wearing a crown of gloom any longer. The songs that make up Resolution Of Happiness are honest and welcoming into a perspective of my own, personal life. I’m in love with being alive and I’m in love with watching and making people smile."
Resolution Of Happiness is about learning from one another and the idea that creating memories is far more important than allowing “energy vampires” to drain your existence. Do what you want to. Don’t change the volume!
Resolution Of Happiness is available on CD, vinyl and digital formats in North America via Negative Gain Productions and on Danse Macabre Records for European digital distribution.
Stream ASTARI NITE Via Spotify HERE:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Kct3q55cU3hJXomNTjMGo
Check out the video for “Tongue-Tied Galore” HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZw8Gh9-RKE
The “Tongue-Tied Galore” video for ASTARI NITE was about portraying a day in the life of the band, or many days in the life of the band from hanging out before and after the shows, to touring and seeing friends, hitting stages near and far such as the Red Party and Dark Force Fest, without forgetting where the band came from. ASTARI NITE's city of Miami and stages like Churchills were repeatedly paid tribute to throughout the video.
Whereas the song itself is visceral in nature, the video absorbs itself and scenes of happiness the band has shared together. As vocalist Mychael states, "With the help of our friends, the video is made of pictures in the collage of our daily lives, often greater than the sum of all its parts."
ASTARI NITE will be performing songs off the new album Resolution Of Happiness at the following dates
7/6 Dallas, TX (Obituary Fest at The Granada Theater- presented by Leah Lane of Rosegarden Funeral Party)
8/3 Ybor City, FL. (Crowbar presented by Communion After Dark)
8/24 WPB, FL. (The March Violets and Rosegarden Funeral Party, presented by Heroes Live Entertainment)
9/7 Germany – (NCN Festival)
9/13 Fort Lauderdale, FL. (Culture Room presented MIDGE URE – THE VOICE OF ULTRAVOX)
9/28 Louisville, KY (Radio Arcane presents DARK CASTLE FEST)
On this day, 38 years ago ,FRONT 242 recorded their John Peel Radio Sessions for BBC 1 Radio!
On this day, 38 years ago, the Belgian EBM icons FRONT 242 were invited to record a BBC live radio session for the legendary John Peel sessions (13 July 1986). The complete session was broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 23 July 1986. Listen below to some of the amazing alternative versions of FRONT 242's classics, taken from their No Comment LP (1984), Politics of Pressure EP (1985) and their very first release, the 7" Principles/ Body To Body (1981).
Tracklist:
No Shuffle
Funkadafic
Don't Crash
Body to body
Line-up:
R23 (Drums, Vocals)
Patrick Coornys (Keyboards)
Jean Luc De Meyer (Vocals)
Daniel B. (Keyboards, Special Effects)
SEQUENTIAL ZERO Brings A Dark Nostalgia To Their Debut Album, ‘Zero Sum Game’
SEQUENTIAL ZERO has unveiled their new, highly-anticipated full-length release, Zero Sum Game.
While musically playing a fond tribute to the darkwave genre, the lyrics on Zero Sum Game cover a wide range of subjects from ancient spells, environmental concerns to interpersonal politics and depression.
Zero Sum Game is a mirror. It shows us the turmoil in the world and at the same time, the struggles within us all. The listener is taken on a journey into the complexities of modern life while riding a soundscape full of dark, nostalgic sounds of a simpler time. Larger themes of environmental destruction and corporate greed are covered, as well as the power of ritual and dark magic.
We all have friends that define themselves by the hollow adulation available online, all the while feeling worthless, even though you know they aren’t. How often do we struggle to find motivation and creativity within when all we feel is hopelessness?
This collection of works isn’t all doom and gloom, it also suggests we can find value in the darker parts of our psyche, that we are all insecure and that is OK. Have fun anyway. Time is marching on. But we have our memories and the ever-present potential for love and treasured relationships.
Zero Sum Game is available as digital download, CD digipak, and limited 180-gram silver vinyl. Out now through Mantravision Productions.
5 years ago Rüdiger Frank of Printed At Bismarck's Death and The Tors Of Dartmoor passed away...
Today 5 year ago, we received the sad news of the death of Rüdiger Frank ((° 17. Juni 1967, Ludwigsburg; † 12. Juli 2019, Markgröningen, Germany), singer of German gothic rock band The Tors Of Dartmoor. Rüdiger Frank left Printed At Bismarck's Death in 1989 with keyboard player Heiko Muter (who died in 2001) to form a new gothic rock band: The Tors Of Dartmoor, named after an English rock formation in a mystical landscape.
I got to know The Tors Of Dartmoor in 1991, shortly after the release of their grand debut "The Obvious Darkness". I remember very well taking this CD in the store, intrigued as I was by the band's name as wel as the cover-artwork with a photo of a ruin. The seller told me that this was the latest gothic sensation from Germany. Sold! I absolutely loved this album with classics such as "Waterking" and "Meet Moshe Dayan" (a song they wrote still with Printed At Bismarck's Death). Since then The Tors Of Dartmoor has been number 3 in the list of my favorite gothic rock bands, after The Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim and just before Love Like Blood.
I was delighted when The Tors Of Dartmoor came to play in my hometown of Antwerp in 1992 at the Phantom Festival in the Limelight (the poster also included The Lance Of Allotment, Dive and Die Krupps). I will never forget the performance of The Tors Of Dartmoor and I still remember perfectly how it began. A tall guitarist and bass player came on stage and started to play the first song. When, after a few minutes, everyone started to wonder where the singer was, a small jerk suddenly came out of the backstage door, a kind of troll king who controlled the entire performance. What a voice and what a presence! Rüdiger Frank suffered from dwarf growth and never grew taller than 1.34 meters. But as small as he was in stature, as big was his act and his stage presence!
And this not only with his gothic rock bands, because in Germany Rüdiger Frank was also a well-known and celebrated actor. He played numerous roles there, including that of God in the piece "Mefistofele" and of Riff Raff in the musical "Rocky Horror Show". In later years he was known for his double role in the world's first steampunk opera "Klein Zaches, genannt Zinnober" and until very recently as Herod in the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar".
After the unparalleled debut "The Obvious Darkness" (1991) the albums "House Of Sounds" (1993, tip: "Welcome To The House"), "Third Second" (1996, tip: "Gypsy") and“ Chapter VI ”(2004) which still had a bunch of strong songs but which, as an album, unfortunately could not match the level of their debut.
Recently Rüdiger Frank was also active in the Romeo Is Bleeding formation, which made music inspired by Tom Waits. Unfortunately he could not finish a long-planned solo album. Rüdiger Frank had had health problems for a long time and was only 52 years old. I will cherish my copy of "The Obvious Darkness", signed by the four band members at the Phantom Festival in 1992, forever. [Henk Vereecken / Dark Entries]
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