“WHAT? Are they still going?” All regular live music fans will know this reaction from friends when a certain concert is announced.
Ministry, those pioneering American industrial metallers, may well have formed light years ago, and had their rock ‘n’ roll run-ins, break-ups and the odd early death, but boy are they still going strong?

Led by the ever-energetic Cuban-American dreadlocked frontman Al Jourgensen, Ministry provided an unforgettable night for their adoring black-clad fans at Tramshed.

With an impressive videoscreen backdrop showing typically dystopian images (and an occasional Donald Trump receiving a thump) the guys opened with Hail to His Majesty, before tearing into classics PermaWar, LiesLiesLies, Waiting, Just One Fix and Thieves, among others. Highlight for me was a mesmerising So What, with Jourgensen showing all the vocal power and twisting body antics for what he is renowned.

The band’s guitar-fuelled energy filled the entire venue – and fists pumped as the night closed with Psalm 69, Khyber Pass and Devo cover Gates of Steel.

How much longer these men of musical mayhem carry on is anyone’s guess, but I feel they’ll call it a day again once again… only to re-form (again). And why not?