Ministry - In case you didn’t feel like turning up. (Live)

Label: Sire
Catologue Number: 7559-26266-1
Format: LP
Date: 1990
Style: Industrial Metal / Alternative Rock
Rating: 7/10
Reviewer: Sidney James

Why is in when I hear the words Live album, I shudder and want to hide away in the darkest alcove. It’s probably due to the fact that most Live albums are normally terrible and leave a terrible feeling of being fleeced by Mister record label. In Case.. however is one of those albums which is an exception to the rule.

Recorded on the 1989 Ministry tour, in archives a bans at the height of their powers. The Ministry live set up was greatly expanded over the studio core of Al Jourgensen and Paul Barker and included Martyn Atkins (One time PI.L drummer), Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy) and the seemingly omnipresent Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Fini Tribe). The addition of the additional members means that Ministry were able to produce a sound that is a remarkable facsimile of their studio sound. Not an easy thing when you realise that the studio material of Ministry is heavily based around sampled loops and sequences.

In Case.. also acts as a greatest hits package for the earlier Ministry material, featuring as it does the six best of the early Ministry tracks, The Missing, Deity, So What, Burning Inside, Thieves and Stigmata. All of them come over as powerful as their studio counterparts, with The Missing and Deity sounding stronger than they do on Land of Rape and Honey.

The only disappointment is that the album does only feature six tracks as I’m I know there is a great deal more material recorded from this tour. A live version of Skinny puppy’s Smothered Hope appears as a B side on the difficult to find Burning Inside 12” so why not include it here . Add to this the fact that the Video version of the album features Breathe and a stunning Version of the Land of Rape and Honey featuring Jello Biafra and you can’t help but ask why these aren’t included as well.

In Case… is a superb live recording, but you just wish there was more too it. Buy it if you can find t cheap, or if you can find it get the video instead as it gives a longer example of the godlike genius that is Ministry.