Formed in London in the early 1980s, Test Dept are regarded as one of the pioneering forces of ‘industrial music’, recognised for their groundbreaking sound and powerful performances that pushed the boundaries of music, art and protest while exploring political and social issues.
Centred around the founding duo of Paul Jamrozy and Gray Cunnington since resurfacing in the mid-2010s, the group recently signed to the Artoffact label and plan to issue a series of carefully curated box sets along with a brand new album targeted for 2026.
The first of the catalogue sets is scheduled for release on 5th December, with ‘Industrial Overture. Studio & Live Recordings 1982-1985’ consisting of 42 tracks across 4 CDs and also available digitally. It includes a first ever reissue of the group’s 1983 cassette-only debut album ‘Strength Of Metal In Motion’, the classic ‘Ecstasy Under Duress’ and ‘Atonal & Hamburg’ albums (both unavailable for over three decades), plus a disc of hitherto unreleased studio recordings that incorporate two sessions recorded for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1.
In total, 26 tracks are new to CD and digital formats, of which 12 have never been previously available at all. All contents have been compiled by Test Dept and are newly remastered by Paul Lavigne (Kontrast Mastering).
Industrial Overture. Studio & Live Recordings 1982-1985 | TRACKLIST
Housed in a 5-panel ecopak designed by Paul Jamrozy and Stefan Alt (Ant-Zen), the set also includes a 24 page booklet featuring a specially commissioned essay by Test Dept expert Alexei Monroe, as well as period photographs.
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.
TEST DEPT | 2025 live shows
- 18th October WROCLAW (PL) Gothic Hall | Industrial Festival XXIV tkts
- 25th October ZWICKAU (DE) Club Seilerstrasse | Elektrisch Festival tkts
- 7th December BARCELONA (ES) Ombra Festival tkts
- 20th December STOCKHOLM (SE) Hus 7 tkts
TEST DEPT | Shockwork (excerpt) : Striking Miners’ Benefit show filmed live in Newcastle 1984
From the outset, Test Dept were lauded for their innovative use of found objects, scrap metal and industrial detritus as instruments. The group's unique blend of aggressive percussion, noise, distorted samples and experimental soundscapes also reflected their commitment to challenging the status quo, most famously in 1984 when they ventured into the industrial communities of Britain to perform live with the South Wales Striking Miner’s Choir, raising money and awareness for that cause.
Envisioning themselves as part of a broader cultural movement exploring the intersection of art and social change, their collaborative instinct led to the formation of The Ministry of Power, an umbrella organisation for working collectively on multidisciplinary projects that integrated music, movement, theatre, film and political activism. This led to large scale multi-media productions in disused industrial spaces and unusual environments.
2015 saw the publication of an extensive book entitled ‘Total State Machine’ that chronicled Test Dept's history, philosophy and work, while the ‘Disturbance’ album issued in 2019 incorporated expansive electronic production and was promoted with a tour. In 2023 the group was commissioned by the arts organisation A/POLITICAL to create the new large-scale work ‘Furnace' in an old iron foundry in southern France. This is an ongoing relationship that has further works in the pipeline.