Surgical Meth Machine | Al Jourgensen On Signing To Nuclear Blast & How SMM Differs From Ministry

Surgical Meth Machine

MINISTRY mainman Al Jourgensen’s new project, SURGICAL METH MACHINE, has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for their self-titled debut album. The record, which was recorded primarily at Jourgensen’s home studio in Burbank, California with his longtime engineer Sam D’Ambruoso, will be released on April 15 worldwide.  Al has recorded a series of album trailers, with the first one being posted online today. Watch as Al discusses signing to Nuclear Blast and how this project differs to Ministry, HERE.

Listen to the new song “Tragic Alert” HERE.

Al commented: “I hope you enjoy this soundtrack to the New World Order…you should, y’all helped create it!”

 

Pre-order Surgical Meth Machine via Nuclear Blast HERE.

CD – Track Listing:

01. I’m Sensitive

02. Tragic Alert

03. I Want More

04. Rich People Problems

05. I Don’t Wanna

06. Smash And Grab

07. Unlistenable

08. Gates Of Steel

09. Spudnik

10. Just Go Home

11. Just Keep Going

12. I’m Invisible

 

LP – Track Listing:

Side A

01. I’m Sensitive

02. Tragic Alert

03. I Want More

04. Rich People Problems

05. I Don’t Wanna

06. Smash And Grab

 

Side B

01. Unlistenable

02. Gates Of Steel

03. Spudnik

04. Just Go Home

05. Just Keep Going

06. I’m Invisible

 

In an October 2015 interview with In The Loop magazine, Jourgensen stated about how the idea for SURGICAL METH MACHINE came about: “You know, [guitarist] Mikey [Scaccia] died a couple of years ago, from MINISTRY, and I just figured, like, nah, it’s time to quit. I don’t want to have John Bonham’s kid playing drums for us and having replacement parts forever; that’s just not my scene. So I just figured, ‘All right, let’s stop this. Let’s do some other stuff.’ And not only that. I found that it was really unburdensome to not have the MINISTRY moniker or expectations and just do something like whatever the fuck we want. I mean, the band’s name is SURGICAL METH MACHINE. It’s not like we’re gonna be on Top 40 radio and on ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol’. [Laughs]”

 

He continued: “I understand it’s not a real commercial project for us, it’s not gonna put bank in my wallet, but it was a lot of fun to do, in that sense – of just not having the constraints of the expectations of what you’ve done for twenty years. So this is… It’s kind of new stuff. It’s pretty cool. It sounds like kind of MINISTRY, but it’s a different level. It’s like I literally just put my foot on the gas pedal for this record.”

 

According to Jourgensen, the sound of SURGICAL METH MACHINE’s debut release leans heavily on the aggressive side, but fans can also expect to hear a few surprises. “There’s a couple of real poppy things on there, which brings me full circle, because, literally, I don’t give a fuck anymore,” he said. “So I’m actually almost acknowledging that first horrible pop record I did in 1983. I’m crooning on some songs, I’ve got some pop songs on there, and then there’s just brutal assault for the rest of it. It’s a very dichotomous record, but it’s me, and I’m acknowledging everything that’s been me through, like, the last 35 years. Let’s just throw my balls on the table and hope somebody doesn’t have a meat cleaver running.”

 

For More Info Visit:

www.aljourgensen.com

www.facebook.com/surgicalmethmachine

www.facebook.com/ministry

www.nuclearblast.de/surgicalmethmachine

About Linda Heron

London Photographer and News Editor for Planet Mosh.