Lard – Power of Lard EP
Released in 1989, Power of Lard is the debut EP from Lard, the unlikely but potent collaboration between Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and members of Ministry, including Al Jourgensen and Paul Barker. This meeting of minds blends political punk fury with the abrasive, mechanical muscle of late-’80s industrial rock. The result is a strange, confrontational, and oddly humorous record that still feels unpredictable decades later.
Concept and Style
At just three tracks, Power of Lard is compact in length but sprawling in ambition. Each song pushes the boundaries of its genre, fusing Ministry’s metallic, sample-heavy grooves with Biafra’s trademark sneer, surreal storytelling, and biting satire. The production is dense and gritty, filled with metallic percussion, grinding bass lines, and jagged guitar riffs, yet it leaves room for Biafra’s theatrical delivery to cut through clearly.
The EP feels almost like a performance art piece — part spoken word, part punk rant, part industrial experiment. It’s music designed to provoke, confuse, and entertain all at once.
Track Breakdown
“The Power of Lard” – The title track is an eleven-minute industrial-punk odyssey. It begins with a slow, ominous build of metallic rhythms before erupting into a hypnotic groove. Biafra’s voice ricochets between mocking preacher, carnival barker, and street protestor, delivering absurd and satirical lines about consumerism, media manipulation, and the cult of excess. The repetition and looping structure give it a trance-like quality, but the constant lyrical jabs keep the listener on edge.
“Hellfudge” – The second track is more direct, locking into a driving beat that feels more traditionally rock-oriented, though still anchored by Ministry’s industrial framework. Biafra spins a bizarre, darkly comedic tale that blurs reality and satire, touching on themes of corruption, urban decay, and paranoia. The guitar riffs cut sharper here, and the pacing gives it an urgent, almost frantic energy.
“Time to Melt” – Closing the EP is another extended piece, drifting into more experimental territory. It’s atmospheric, creepy, and heavily layered with samples, effects, and unconventional rhythmic shifts. Biafra’s vocals here are less linear, more like fragmented thoughts or fever dreams, fitting perfectly with the track’s uneasy, disorienting mood. The song feels like the soundtrack to a dystopian short film that never existed.
Performance and Production
What makes Power of Lard work is the chemistry between Biafra’s manic charisma and Ministry’s disciplined chaos. Jourgensen and Barker provide a heavy, machine-like backbone, but they’re not afraid to embrace looseness when the song demands it. The EP’s production captures that late-’80s industrial density — layers of noise, samples, and effects — but with enough rawness to keep it from sounding overpolished.
Impact and Legacy
At the time of its release, Power of Lard was an oddity — too weird for mainstream rock, too abrasive for casual punk fans, and too tongue-in-cheek for the more humorless corners of the industrial scene. Yet that’s exactly why it has endured. It stands as a perfect snapshot of a creative moment when genre lines blurred, and artists weren’t afraid to take risks purely for the thrill of it.
Conclusion
Power of Lard is loud, strange, and gloriously unhinged — a record that refuses to fit neatly into any single category. It’s a fusion of political theater, industrial aggression, and absurdist comedy that still packs a punch. For those willing to embrace its eccentricities, it remains one of the most unique and entertaining collaborations of its era.
 
Lard – Power of Lard EP (1989):
The Power of Lard – 11:14
Hellfudge – 5:05
Time to Melt – 8:45
Format: white vinyl 12" (indie exclusive)
Cat: VIRUS 072W
Released: 31 Jul 25