Revolting Cocks
Cocked and Loaded
13th Planet/Megaforce
Though a few years removed from the throes of junk, “Uncle Al” Jourgensen might as well be ingesting a fistful of Geritol with the amount of musical senility afflicting him these days.
Whereas once there was a concrete, audible divide between the political industro-metal of Ministry and the campy, digital sludge of Revolting Cocks, the barriers have crumbled in Jourgensen’s increasingly incestuous camp.
In the wake of longtime cohort Paul Barker’s departure after Ministry’s excellent 2003 comeback, Animositisomina, the industrial forefather has exiled himself to his El Paso commune, opting for a motley gang of also-rans and who-the-hells to help nourish his musical alter egos. Yes, it’s true that RevCo has always been a mutating beast in its 20+ year history, but it seems the current incarnation – which includes Butthole Surfer Gibby Haynes and perennial mouthpiece Jello Biafra – is content to simply appease the drooling crowd at the Titty Twister or the hardcore Ministry fan who just can’t get enough Jourgensen.
The first two tracks on Cocked and Loaded, though, would have you believe that RevCo, version 15.0, is anything but uninspired. The opening Cramps-a-billy of “Fire Engine” (actually an Iggy Pop cover) would stir any soul to raise some hell on Devil’s Night, while the following scratch-heavy, cinematic funk of “10 Million Ways to Die” is one of RevCo’s most exhilarating, oddball cuts since their Big Sexy Land days. But the album then hits the wall in a hot minute with RevCo’s take on Bauhaus’ “Caliente (Dark Entries),” where Gibby Haynes phones in his vocals through a drive-thru mic and the rest of the instruments devolve into 3 ½ minutes of ho-hum.
From here on in, Revolting Cocks co-opt Ministry riffs into a headache-inducing assault of strip club anthems, specifically the trifecta of “Pole Grinder,” “Jack in the Crack” and “Devil Cock.”
Sure, RevCo was embraced because they embraced debauchery and devilish attitude, invoking a heavier tongue-in-cheek that disassociated them from Ministry’s socio-political inclinations. But unless he has enough sensibility to radically stray from the sounds – and lineup – culled from his day job, it’s best for Jourgensen to put Revolting Cocks to bed and focus on the Bush-baiting that has once again made him interesting.
Revolting Cocks: http://www.ministrymusic.org
