Formed in London in the early 1980s, Test Dept is recognized as one of the pioneering forces of industrial music. They are known for their groundbreaking sound and powerful performances that push the boundaries of music, art, and protest while exploring political and social issues.
The founding duo of Paul Jamrozy and Gray Cunnington leads the group, which resurfaced in the mid-2010s. They recently signed with the Artoffact label and plan to release a series of carefully curated box sets, along with a brand new album targeted for 2026. The first of these box sets is scheduled for release on 5 December. Titled Industrial Overture: Studio & Live Recordings 1982-1985, it will consist of 42 tracks across four CDs and will also be available digitally. This collection includes the first-ever reissue of the group's 1983 cassette-only debut album, Strength Of Metal In Motion, as well as the classic albums Ecstasy Under Duress and Atonal & Hamburg, both of which have been unavailable for over three decades. Additionally, there will be a disc of previously unreleased studio recordings, featuring two sessions recorded for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1.
Out of the total 26 tracks that are new to CD and digital formats, 12 have never been available at all. All content has been compiled by Test Dept and newly remastered by Paul Lavigne of Kontrast Mastering.
Test Dept envisions itself as part of a broader cultural movement that explores the intersection of art and social change. Their collaborative spirit led to the creation of The Ministry Of Power, an umbrella organisation for working collectively on multidisciplinary projects that integrate music, movement, theatre, film, and political activism. This initiative resulted in large-scale multimedia productions in disused industrial spaces and other unconventional environments. In 2015, they published an extensive book titled 'Total State Machine', which chronicles Test Dept's history, philosophy, and work. The Disturbance album, released in 2019, featured expansive electronic production and was promoted with a tour. In 2023, the group was commissioned by the arts organisation A/POLITICAL to create a new large-scale work titled Furnace in an old iron foundry in southern France. This ongoing relationship has further projects in development.
Test Dept will perform at festivals in Poland and Germany in October 2025, followed by shows in Spain and Sweden in December. Augmented by their trademark striking visuals, a fully electronic set with remixes of some of these early recordings plus a preview of new material will encompass aggressive percussion, industrial noise and the experimental soundscapes that are their stock-in-trade. Expect power and confrontation in what will be visceral and immersive experiences. Link
Test Dept - 2025 live shows:
18th October - Wroclaw (PL) Gothic Hall | Industrial Festival XXIV
25th October - Zwickau (DE) Club Seilerstrasse | Elektrisch Festival
07th December - Barcelona (ES) Ombra Festival
20th December - Stockholm (SE) Hus 7
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"They wrote that we wanted to influence people's minds with our bagpipes so that they would be willing to attack the police." - Irdorath
"It's about humans; we are the high parasites. We feast on the earth and on all the things that the earth gives us. We don't just take a little bit, we take everything." - Aaron Stainthorpe
"We were outsiders, and nobody knew what the fuck was going on. We just listened to this extreme music that nobody else liked, and that made us very strong..." - Mikael Stanne
"We paused our work as I was grieving heavily, but once we returned to it, things took on a whole new meaning." - LV Darkling
