Stockholm’s underground electronic trailblazer Majestoluxe returns with his highly anticipated album, marking his first full length release since joining the boutique label Icons Creating Evil Art. Building on the momentum of several acclaimed singles and the spring EP Stolid State — which featured a powerful collaboration with à;GRUMH… vocalist J3 sEUQCAJ and remixes from British industrial pioneers Test Dept and French genre innovators Maman Küsters — the album promises to push boundaries even further.
The upcoming album is called Wretched Conditions and delivers 13 raw, unflinching industrial tracks that showcase Majestoluxe's unmistakable sound. The A-side dives into his signature industrial pop style, featuring the standout singles Assertive Indifference, Money Mules, Life-as-a-Service and Blood on the Ceiling. The B-side, while more texturally abrasive, steers clear of formless noise, maintaining a tight grip on structure while evoking the gritty essence of 80's industrial. Majestoluxe also brings in some of Stockholm's finest alternative talents, with powerful collaborations alongside bodypop queen EMMON, horror goth siren Aux Animaux, Post Kontrôl of minimal wave heroes Hidden Lines, and the ethereal LIVMØDR.
Majestoluxe comments:
- "I’m beyond excited to finally release Wretched Conditions, my debut album on Icons Creating Evil Art. While this album is deeply personal and largely a solo endeavor, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with some of my biggest inspirations from Stockholm’s alternative electronic scene. EMMON, Aux Animaux, Livmødr, and Hidden Lines are not just remarkable artists but also close friends who share my vision for art and aesthetics.
With Wretched Conditions, I’ve pushed my sound into new territories, where you can almost feel the electricity coursing through the machines. Jimmy Monell’s expertly mixing efforts adds an important layer to the album. I’m immensely proud of what this album has become."
The artwork for the album and singles, as well as the visualizer for The Future Leaks Out and some of the lyrics, are heavily inspired by the dadaistic artistic movement.
Majestoluxe is the sonic alias of Swedish artist Conny Fornbäck, a visionary who seamlessly blends the raw energy of 80s industrial music with cutting-edge electronic production techniques. Since debuting in 2019, Majestoluxe has quickly become a powerful force in experimental music, earning critical acclaim for his boundary-pushing sound and captivating live performances across Europe and Central America.
Central to Majestoluxe’s sound is his massive modular synth system, which serves as the primary tool for crafting every track on the upcoming album. His music delivers a fascinating fusion of noisy techno and electroacoustic art music, evoking the abrasive spirit of 80s industrial and Electronic Body Music (EBM) while pushing those genres into new, uncharted territory. His use of modular synthesizers, crafted at the legendary Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm, along with homemade electronic instruments, results in a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking, embracing the DIY aesthetic of industrial music while incorporating modern technology and techniques.
Majestoluxe’s music is not just about sound but also about a thematic exploration of societal issues. His lyrics often confront the frustrations of modern life, critiquing bureaucracy, corporate jargon, and the vulnerability of the individual in an increasingly dehumanized world. Through a clever use of business buzzwords and modern terminology, often employed with a biting irony, Majestoluxe provokes listeners to question the power structures and hidden emotions embedded in contemporary existence.
With three critically acclaimed albums to his name, Majestoluxe’s unapologetic punk attitude and mesmerizing live visuals have captivated audiences, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions. A true artist of the underground, he continues to blur the lines between industrial, experimental, and electronic music, carving out a distinct space in today’s musical landscape.
Wretched Conditions is released on vinyl, CD and digitally on Feb. 14, 2025 via Icons Creating Evil Art.