Ministry to release final album and embark on 2027 European farewell tour
Founding member Al Jourgenson is retiring the pioneering industrial metal band after a 45-year career, culminating in a final independent album and an extensive 2027 tour that will bring significant revenue to the European live music market.
Industrial metal pioneers Ministry will release their final studio album and embark on a farewell tour, with founder Al Jourgenson confirming he is retiring the project. The band will release Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) on October 28 via the independent label Cleopatra, followed by an extensive 2027 European run alongside Die Krupps.
Jourgenson founded the Chicago-based group in 1981, eventually steering it toward the punishing industrial metal sound that achieved mainstream success in the 1990s. Their 1992 album Psalm 69 went platinum and the band headlined the 1992 Lollapalooza tour before splitting from Warner Bros in the early 2000s to release music independently.
The upcoming record features ten tracks, including the new single “Burned Out” and “We’re Still Here,” which marks the return of former member Paul Barker. An animated video for the single, directed by former Revolting Cocks member Joshua Bradford, accompanies the release. Jourgenson, 67, stated he is "fucking done" and "completely at peace" with ending the project to "herd goats," though he remains proud of the band's evolution.
The 2027 European itinerary represents a major mobilization of the continent's live music infrastructure, spanning 21 dates across 15 countries from Helsinki to Barcelona. For the European live entertainment sector, securing a legacy act of this stature provides a reliable draw for dedicated demographics, underscoring the sustained economic viability of niche genre touring long after mainstream radio play diminishes.
Before the European leg begins in April 2027 in Utrecht, the band will play four North American dates in late 2026, including stops in Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, and Texas. The European tour will visit major markets including London, Paris, Berlin, and Madrid, demonstrating the enduring transatlantic appeal of the industrial metal scene Jourgenson helped build.
