Description
Ministry - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Ministry’s 1992 album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ — more commonly known by its subtitle Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs — is one of the most iconic and aggressive releases in the industrial metal genre. Released on July 14, 1992, it marked the peak of Ministry’s popularity and the culmination of their fusion of metal guitar riffs, pounding electronic beats, and politically charged lyrics. The album’s cryptic title, ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ, comes from Aleister Crowley’s The Book of Lies, a fitting reference for a record steeped in chaos, esotericism, and defiance.
At the helm of this sonic assault was frontman Al Jourgensen, a visionary producer and multi-instrumentalist whose creative control and wild persona drove the band’s evolution from its synth-pop roots in the early ’80s into a crushing industrial juggernaut. Alongside longtime collaborator Paul Barker, Jourgensen created a dense, mechanical, and brutally cathartic sound that resonated with a generation living through the end of the Cold War and the rise of cynicism in American politics and culture.
Musically, Psalm 69 is a relentless onslaught of distorted guitar riffs, thundering drum machines, and abrasive samples — many pulled from news broadcasts, televangelists, and cult media. The album opens with “N.W.O.” (“New World Order”), a seething protest against the George H.W. Bush administration, complete with cut-up speech samples and a militaristic beat. It became an MTV staple, introducing a wider audience to the raw power of industrial metal and even earning a Grammy nomination. Other standout tracks include “Just One Fix,” a driving, drug-fueled anthem featuring a spoken-word cameo from William S. Burroughs, and “TV II,” a manic takedown of American consumerism and mass media.
Then there’s the title track, “Psalm 69,” a dark, twisted, and blasphemous piece of sonic theater that blends heavy metal riffs with ritualistic rhythms and cryptic biblical imagery. The album’s final tracks veer further into experimental territory, with songs like “Corrosion” and “Grace” emphasizing texture, feedback, and controlled chaos over traditional structure. Throughout, Jourgensen’s snarling vocals and politically incendiary lyrics paint a dystopian landscape that mirrors the industrial wasteland of the sound itself.
Psalm 69 was not only a critical success, but also a commercial breakthrough — reaching #27 on the Billboard 200 and eventually being certified gold, and then platinum. It became a cornerstone of industrial metal alongside Nine Inch Nails’ The Downward Spiral and Marilyn Manson’s early work, influencing countless bands in the metal, electronic, and alternative spheres. The album also represents the apex of Ministry’s creativity before substance abuse and internal tensions led to a darker and more erratic period in the band’s history.
With its mix of esoteric references, political rage, and genre-defining sound, Psalm 69 is more than an album — it’s a statement. It’s brutal, unapologetic, and visionary, a perfect distillation of Ministry’s ethos at the height of their powers. Whether you’re exploring industrial music for the first time or revisiting the genre’s most important records, Psalm 69 is essential listening.
The title ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ is a reference to Aleister Crowley’s work and the idea of ‘success and excess,’ reflecting the album’s themes of indulgence and societal critique. It is considered one of Ministry’s most iconic and enduring albums.
Rhino Records
180 gram vinyl
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
N.W.O
Just One Fix
TV II
Hero
Jesus Built My Hotrod
Scarecrow
Psalm 69
Corrosion
Grace
