Big Sexy Land
This is the debut album by Ministry leader Al Jourgensen's most infamous side-project band. A sort of underground supergroup, its early contributors included core members of electronic music innovators Front 242 and Ministry, plus solo artists Chris Connelly and Luc Van Acker. Most of the tracks are hard, bare-bone sonic assaults built predominantly around brutally programmed drums. Jourgensen's inventive skill with sound-creation and rhythm programming is abundant on tracks such as "We Shall Cleanse the World" and "Attack Ships on Fire." Bass riffs are coldly propelling, particularly on "38" and the gloomily blasphemous "No Devotion." The variety of vocalists adds to the overall color of the album.--Mark McCleerey