Cover albums are a dangerous thing, especially when done by an established band. They generally fall somewhere in between the categories of sheer brilliance and complete rubbish, mostly in the latter and rarely in the former. Ministry’s last foray into recorded music, entitled Cover Up, kicks its steel toed boot right into the realm of brilliance.

Where many artists mess up the covers album concept is in how they execute the recording. They often seem to be done in a few short, throw away sessions or sound like they were recorded with no passion for the music they claim inspired them. Many bands also seem reluctant to take chances with the arrangements of the songs, often choosing to do pedestrian retreads of songs that leave you wanting to just listen to the original. Al Jourgensen’s industrial metal juggernaut Ministry however, have the steel balls to do the exact opposite and do it right.

Instead of just playing the songs loud and fast, Jourgensen instead has put eachpiece on this disc through the Ministry machine, along with the help of “co-conspirators” lending vocals throughout the album, and given them appropriate industrial crunch in places and fan-boy enthusiasm in others. While purist fans of the classic rock artists featured here may cry blasphemy, nothing could be further from the truth. In many instances, Jourgensen manages to bring out things the originators did with subtlety and in turn hits you square in the face with the ferocity that only Ministry could bring, while merely mutilating a few sacred cows in the process.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.