Ministry - Last Tangle In Paris: Live 2012 (Album Review)
Monday, 30 June 2014
Written by Alec Chillingworth
So, 2014 seems like a good time to be Al Jourgensen. Having unleashed the best Ministry album in over a decade – 'From Beer To Eternity' – last year, completed a successful stint in rehab and seemingly announced plans to tour one last time, things are on the up for Uncle Al.
Last year also found Ministry paying tribute to the late, great Mikey Scaccia in the form of 'From Beer To Eternity' and a live release, 'Enjoy The Quiet: Live At Wacken 2012'. So, one year on, do we really need a new Ministry live album?
From the opening throes of 'Last Tangle In Paris', it doesn't really seem so. Kicking off with the same two songs as the Wacken release, vivid images of Jourgensen nicking sweets from small children initially come to mind. The tracklisting rarely deviates from that of the previous release, rendering it almost pointless. Both albums, after all, were recorded on the same tour.
There are, naturally, some positives – this is Ministry, remember. Al's vocals are on blistering form throughout, with his scathing rants during Relapse surpassing the Wacken recording with ease. And, when the band lurch into Psalm 69, N.W.O, Just One Fix and Thieves, they're next to untouchable. ‘Last Tangle…’ represents one of the tightest deliveries of these industrial classics ever committed to tape.
If you delve into the multi-faceted DVD version of the album, you'll discover another plethora of pros and cons. There's a shedload of archive performances dating back to 2006, with a live airing of So What sure to send early-era fans into a pant-wetting frenzy. It’s very cool, but only if you don't already own the Wacken release, which includes a bonus gig from the same year featuring a similar setlist. There's also enough backstage footage and interviews to warrant a purchase from the curious, but it’s not really enough.
This is by no means a bad album, it's just an unnecessary one. Ministry remain one of the most innovative, utterly vital metal bands on the planet, but with many more live albums (and better ones, at that) under their belt, the appeal of 'Last Tangle In Paris' extends to completists only.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
