After two years Ministry finally went back on the road and as of yesterday in Seattle, Washington their Industrial Strength tour is finally over. Having played 35 shows to sold out crowds and touring with Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity. VIM Magazine had the opportunity to photograph Ministry in concert as they performed at the Van Buren in downtown Phoenix on April 12.

Ministry started their set at the Van Buren with a tribute to Ukraine, displaying the countries national colors and playing a recording of their national anthem. They then went into a medley of songs from ‘A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste’ with songs Breathe, The Missing, Deity, and Stigmata.

Their set list for the night included three cover songs, Supernaut from Black Sabbath and Don’t Stand In Line and Man Should Surrender both from Pailhead.

They would round off their playlist with tour staple songs Burning Inside, N.W.O, Just One Fix, Thieves, and So What.

After their main playlist Ministry would return with an encore that included songs from their new album, ‘Moral Hygiene.’ The songs included Alert Level, Good Trouble, and a cover from Iggy and the Stooges, Search and Destroy.
The highlights were the visual imagery on display in the background as they performed through their set. With rapid-fire iconoclastic imagery and video that set each song on a different plain. Halfway through they showed a tribute to past members and key figures of the band.

Initially scheduled to take place in summer 2020, the Industrial Strength tour was rescheduled to fall 2021 and then spring 2022 due to COVID. Ultimately worth the wait, this tour with the bands that performed has to be a highlight for any rock and industrial music enthusiast.