So, let me tell you about my relationship to this era Ministry. I loved this band in high school. Ministry, NIN, Godflesh, Skinny Puppy - I'm all in. I had the three disc box set from Wax Trax. I had a keyboard that could do drum sounds and would run it through distortion pedals. It was a good time in my life. I also had a "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" t-shirt which had a big ol' engine of some kind or another on the front of it. And one day in the pizza line the dude behind me said, "Hey, if you're into racing you should come out to the speedway in South Caldwell on Friday nights." I wasn't about to go. (I probably should have.) That shirt confused the shit out of everybody and I absolutely loved that. I also saw Ministry at Lollapalooza 92, and despite Pearl Jam and Soundgarden being on the bill in their absolute primes... 1992 me probably would've told you Ministry was the best band there. They tore shit up and nobody else on that bill sounded remotely like them. BUT... t-shirts and concerts aside, I also just really, genuinely liked the music and this album still holds up for me. It does what it does and doesn't make any bones about it. The guy lost me when he started getting political in his music a way that had absolutely zero nuance about it, but that didn't come until later. I have way more appreciation now for the first two records, but their transition to a metal band was made for nerds like me. I still love "Scarecrow," and "Just One Fix." They're grimier songs than what Trent Reznor or (uggh) Rob Zombie was doing, and then of course the album doesn't just stay in the sewer. "Hotrod" is a fun song! "TV II" is fun. "N.W.O." is a great opener and tone-setter. And none of you are probably even reading this, but damnit now it's on the record.