Al Jourgensen has never been on to dwell in nostalgia—but with The Squirrely Years Revisited, out now via Cleopatra Records, Ministry’s founder isn’t just revisiting his synth-pop past, he’s rewriting it on his own terms.

The album is a bold and unexpected dive back into Ministry’s early ’80s era—a time when the band was more new wave than nihilistic, more Depeche Mode than distortion pedals. These 12 tracks—nine on vinyl/digital, with three CD-only bonuses—offer reworked versions of the band’s pre-industrial hits, including fan favorites like “Everyday Is Halloween,” “Work For Love,” and “I’ll Do Anything For You.” But don’t expect a simple remaster. These are full studio reinterpretations with modern production, elevated instrumentation, and Jourgensen’s now-seasoned voice lending new emotional weight to the melodies he once tried to forget.

“Since I hated my early stuff for decades, I decided to take ownership of it and do it right,” Jourgensen recently said—and The Squirrely Years Revisited is exactly that: reclamation.

From the opening pulse of “Work For Love,” it’s clear this is a different Ministry. The beats are crisper, the vocals less buried, and the arrangements more aggressive—yet the core DNA remains intact. “All Day” adds a layer of grit, while “I’m Not An Effigy” balances its icy synth lines with a darker edge that bridges past and present.

The updated “Everyday Is Halloween” is the album’s crown jewel: glossier, punchier, and more resonant than ever. It keeps the playful theatricality of the original while embracing a sharper sonic palette that makes the track feel both retro and refreshingly current.

Even deeper cuts like “Same Old Madness” and “I’m Falling” are given new life here, sounding more like tributes to a band that Ministry inspired than trakcs they themselves once released. The juxtaposition of youthful energy and Jourgensen’s weathered vocals create something new: synth pop with scars.

CD buyers are treated to three additional tracks: “Just Like You,” “We Believe,” and the fan-favorite “Over the Shoulder,” each of which delivers more refined nostalgia for die-hard fans.

To celebrate the release, Ministry is hitting the road this spring for “The Squirrely Years Tour“—a setlist rooted in synth-heavy hits and performed with all the modern grit the current lineup can muster. The tour kicks off April 29 in Phoenix, AX, and spans over 30 dates across North America, with Ministry supported by genre contemporaries Nitzer Ebb, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and Die Krupps.

Tickets are already in high demand and on sale now at ministryband.com.

The Squirrely Years revisited isn’t just a rehash—it’s a reinvention. While longtime fans might still lean into Ministry’s more aggressive, industrial catalog, this collection serves as a crucial reminder of where it all began. With smart re-recordings, surprising emotional depth, and a tour to match, this is the rare retrospective that sounds like a step forward.

For a band that once disowned its past, this is one hell of a way to say, “Yeah—we did that. And we’re proud of it now.”

For tickets and full tour info, visit: www.ministryband.com/tour

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