Photos And Review by Jorge Lara

6-time Grammy nominated band Ministry played to a full house on Thursday, April 4th at the Theatre at Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas. A concert that also featured iconic band Front Line Assembly and the legendary Gary Numan, who all played full sets to an energized crowd.

Ministry, which was started in 1981 by Al Jourgensen has seemingly never lost their ability to rile up an audience. Al Jourgensen took some time between songs to converse with the crowd which was an added treat.

The evening started with a selection of songs from Ministry’s latest album Hopium For The Masses. From ‘B.D.E’ followed by ‘Just Stop Oil,’ ‘Goddamn White Trash,’ ‘New Religion,’ ‘Alert Level,’ and Broken System. A selection that finds the band trying out new levels of melody and sonic tension. The songs were all defined by a true political message that resonates with the crowds intensity as they propel themselves into a mosh pit and frenzy. Ministry’s intensity was not lost to the audience as their energy continued with classic favorites, ‘NWO’ and ‘Just One Fix’ from album Psalm 69.

The band proceeds to amaze with video visuals newly created for each song. The visuals along with the performances added to the crowds propensity. As the crowd find haven in titular songs ‘The Missing’ and ‘Deity’ and followed by fan favorite ‘Stigmata’ from the album, ‘The Land of Rape and Honey.’

The band finish their set list with songs ‘Thieves’ and ‘Jesus Built My Hotrod,’ the latter which gets a new intensity with a slight retake on the song. The band then return not just for one but for two encores. The first encore featured songs ‘Burning Inside’ and ‘So What’ which featured an extended bass and jam ending.

The second encore featured a cover of band Fad Gadget’s song ‘Ricky’s Hand.’ The song was accompanied by Gary Numan adding extra vocals.

The band concluded their Hopium For the Masses tour 4 days ago and their next stop will be the Cruel World Festival on May 11 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena where they will be playing songs from albums With Sympathy and Twitch.