![Ministry – The Squirrely Years Revisited [Cleopatra Records]](https://i3.wp.com/industrialcomplexx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CLO6338CD-5.webp?w=1920&resize=1920,1920&ssl=1 "Ministry – The Squirrely Years Revisited [Cleopatra Records]")
Al Jourgensen has a complicated relationship with his early work as Ministry, particularly the debut album With Sympathy, which he claims was forced upon him by Arista Records. He regards his discography as beginning with 1986’s Twitch, which, while also criticized, marked a shift toward the industrial-metal sound we know today. Despite his disdain, With Sympathy has gained a cult following, becoming a beloved release among some fans who appreciate its British new wave influences.
The recently announced The Squirrely Years Revisited aims to rework this early material with modern touches, combining original melodies with harsher guitars and electronics. However, it’s seen more as a novelty for dedicated fans than an essential release.
How does revisiting and reinterpreting older work affect an artist’s legacy, especially when the original may not be fondly remembered by them?
