November 1989: Ministry Released THE MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO TASTE

Any listener beguiled by the European-flavored dance-floor synth-pop of Ministry's 1983 debut, With Sympathy, would not be able to recognize the band at all by the time they released fourth studio effort, The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste, in 1989. The band's fourth studio effort was a culmination of the increasingly aggressive and thrash-metal-inspired sound mastermind Al Jourgensen and his perpetually growing cast of characters had been working towards since the shock of sophomore effort, Twitch, in 1986.

Released on November 14, 1989, The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste saw Ministry emerge as a veritable industrial-rock super-group, with the mob in the recording studio including Dave Ogilvie of industrial pioneers, Skinny Puppy. When they took collection of jackhammer electronic thrash-metal anthems on the road, it required two drummers to replicate the bombast: Bill Rieflin and Public Image Ltd legend, Martin Atkins. Another Skinny Puppy member, Nivek Ogre, was also among the touring band.

Packed with instant fan favorites "Thieves," "Burning Inside," and "So What," The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste set a new standard for the underground electronic rock music scene, which had now swerved well into thrash-metal and hardcore lanes. The record didn't exactly set the charts on fire, peaking at #163 on the Billboard 200 in December 1989. The instant classic, however, is still revered as a high water mark at the crest of the industrial wave. The madness and debauchery of the album's notorious tour was captured on 1990 live release, In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up.