Cleopatra Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1992, establishing itself as the home of some of the underground’s darkest, heaviest sounds from the goth, hard rock, and industrial scenes. And after more than three decades, Cleopatra is still going strong with an exciting slate of new releases for Fall 2026 that includes two legendary bands that have been around even longer than the label: Chicago industrial metal band Ministry, and English goth/darkwave band Rosetta Stone.
From its danceable early Wax Trax singles to its modern incarnation as a provocative juggernaut of heavy guitars and heavier beats, Al Jourgensen has led Ministry as the band’s only consistent member since 1981. And that long, fascinating history will end with an exclamation point with Cleopatra’s October 30th release of Ministry’s farewell album Hate To Go – Take Out or Delivery.
Jourgensen is going out with the kind of crunching anthems and irreverent political commentary that has long defined Ministry on the band’s 17th and final album, a set of fiery songs that extends middle fingers at the U.S. government, artificial intelligence, and hatemongers. Paul Barker, who was a member of Ministry from 1986 to 2003 for the band’s trailblazing years of platinum sales and a headlining spot on the 1992 Lollapalooza tour, returned to guest on Hate To Go’s closing track, “We’re Still Here.”
Cleopatra’s relationship with Ministry dates back to 2015, when the label released the first of three archival Ministry live albums, Toronto 1986. Hate To Go, however, is Ministry’s first studio collection of new material for Cleopatra. This Fall, Ministry will make appearances at several festivals in America and Australia, including Sick New World Texas on October 24th and Good Things Festival Sydney on December 5th, before the band embarks on the Goodbye Europe 2027 Tour in April.
Singer/guitarist Porl King formed Rosetta Stone in 1988 with bassist Karl North, developing a dark post-punk sound that King has carried on for over 20 years with an evolving lineup of bandmates. Rosetta Stone became one of Cleopatra’s earliest acts in 1993 when the band received U.S. distribution for the first time through the label. And on September 25th, Rosetta Stone and Cleopatra Records continued their long run together with the release of Executing Nostalgia.
Executing Nostalgia continues to refine Rosetta Stone’s signature sound, with cavernous reverb, heavily distorted guitars, and driving drum machine grooves, on the lead track and first single “Shadowband.” The band also pays tribute to some of its foundational influences on the new album, covering the 1982 Virgin Prunes track “Pagan Lovesong” and “Alone,” a 1980 solo track by Colin Newman of Wire.
“Incubus Succubus” features Rosetta Stone’s label mate Thunder Bae, a German electronic artist who released her debut album, A WOMAN, on Cleopatra in June. With artists from multiple generations releasing exciting new music on the label, Cleopatra Records has a bright future in dark, uncompromising music in 2026 and beyond.