Houses of the Mole

Overloaded industrial tinged thrash from the band that started this sound. Yes, before NIN there was Ministry. Fast thrash metal guitars, add keyboards and some drum machine (there are acoustic drums as well) and overload the hell out of all the other sounds. Their first record came out in 1981 and this is their 9th or 10th full length release. Gone is long time base player Paul Barker and back on guitar is ex-Rigur Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia. Band leader Al Jourgensen has also been in Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, 1000 Homo DJs, Acid Horse, PTP, and a few others. This is also pretty much a concept record against Bush, republicans and conservatives, and even includes a song called No “W”. There are some non-metal tracks and this album reminds me of “Psalm 69” a bit.
**1. Fast pummeling sound and somewhat of a remake of the classic “Psalm 69”. This starts with samples of Bush. “Despicable acts of terror”, “evil” and “psalm 23”.
2. Riff not unlike “Thieves”. “Waiting for *Christ” in the USA”. Medium paced with long march at the beginning.
3. Not as heavy with chorus of “you’re worthless” but it’s more self degrading than pointed at Bush.
**4. Driving bass to begging along with “You’re wrong, every time” point right at our prez. Discordant guitar and slower pace. Has the no famous sample from Bush, “tonight I have a message for the people of Iraq. Go home and die. “
5. Odd sample to begin into fast thrash.
**6. Fuck yea! The 3rd in a series of tracks from 3 different releases that started with “TV Song” and now this, “WTV”. Brutally fast guitars and vocals that go in short bursts and then have start/stop parts with samples. “Connect the fucking dots”. More Bush samples. Ends quiet.
7. Slower, not as heavy, and dark.
8. Slow and pummeling with what sounds like discordant keyboards.
9. Long, starts simple with just drums. Out of place, almost catchy melody shows up. Sad. Has some similarities to their track “The Fall”. Fades out and ends quiet.
23. Bonus track with no title. Starts with the star spangled banner, done straight. Then samples of Bush talking about “fighting a war, against evil”. Gets to full on thrash with some dramatic keyboards. Basically it’s a different mix of the first track.
Really good stuff. -mph