Ministry to Re-Record Divisive ‘80s Material for New Album, ‘The Squirrely Years Revisited’

 Ministry announces The Squirrely Years Revisited, a re-recorded album of their divisive ‘80s material, set for release in 2025. The band will also embark on The Squirrely Years Tour, featuring Nitzer Ebb and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. See the full tour dates and details.

Industrial metal pioneers Ministry have announced a new project titled The Squirrely Years Revisited, set for release on March 28, 2025, via Cleopatra Records. This album features reimagined versions of tracks from their early 1980s synth-pop era, including songs from With Sympathy and Twitch.

Revisiting the Past

Frontman Al Jourgensen, who has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the band's early work, explained the motivation behind this endeavor:

"Since I hated my early stuff for decades, I decided to take ownership of it and do it right."

The album comprises nine tracks, with three additional bonus tracks available on the CD version. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Work For Love
2. Here We Go
3. All Day
4. Everyday Is Halloween
5. Revenge
6. I'm Not An Effigy
7. I'm Falling
8. Same Old Madness
9. I'll Do Anything For You
10. Just Like You [CD only]
11. We Believe [CD only]
12. Over The Shoulder [CD only]

The Squirrely Years Tour

To commemorate the album's release, Ministry will embark on The Squirrely Years Tour, focusing on their early synth-pop material. The tour kicks off on April 29, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, and features support from Nitzer Ebb, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, and Die Krupps on select dates.

Tour Dates:

• April 29: Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren *
• April 30: Albuquerque, NM @ Revel *
• May 2: Austin, TX @ Emo's *
• May 3: Houston, TX @ House of Blues *
• May 4: Dallas, TX @ Factory *
• May 6: Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern *
• May 8: Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival
• May 9: Chicago, IL @ Riviera *
• May 10: Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral *
• May 12: Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage *
• May 13: Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall +
• May 14: Boston, MA @ Roadrunner +
• May 16: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount +
• May 17: Montreal, QC @ MTelus +
• May 18: Toronto, ON @ History +
• May 20: Minneapolis, MN @ Palace +
• May 21: Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre +
• May 23: Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall +
• May 24: Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre +
• May 26: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore +
• May 28: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo +
• May 29: Spokane, WA @ Spokane Live Casino +
• May 31: Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom +
• June 1: Salt Lake City, UT @ Union +
• June 3: San Francisco, CA @ Warfield +
• June 4: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium +

* with Nitzer Ebb + with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

Band Lineup

The current lineup for this tour includes:

• Al Jourgensen – vocals
• John Bechdel – keyboards
• Monte Pittman – guitar
• Cesar Soto – guitar
• Pepe Clarke Magaña – drums
• Paul D'Amour – bass

Looking Ahead

The Squirrely Years Revisited follows Ministry's 2024 album, Hopiumforthemasses, and precedes their final studio album, slated for release in 2026, which will see Jourgensen reunite with former bandmate Paul Barker.

This project offers fans a unique opportunity to experience Ministry's early work through a contemporary lens, bridging the gap between their synth-pop origins and their later industrial metal sound.