| 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 have just signed to the Canadian label Artoffact to issue a series of carefully curated box sets that celebrate their history. They will also release a brand new album in 2026. “We are thrilled to begin a creative partnership with Artoffact, a label that truly understands Test Dept’s vision and legacy,” the band state. “Their expertise will help bring our back catalogue to a wider audience, while also driving the creation of powerful new work we are eager to share.” “Test Dept has been in our earholes for over three decades,” the Artoffact Team responds. “Having a chance to work with them on their catalogue and new material is a dream come true.” Test Dept will be performing at festivals in Poland and Germany in October 2025, followed by shows in Spain, Sweden and Finland in December. Augmented by their trademark striking visuals, a fully electronic set comprising remixes of 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 a visceral and immersive experience. TEST DEPT | 2025 live shows 18th October WROCLAW (PL) Gothic Hall | Industrial Festival XXIV 25th October ZWICKAU (DE) Club Seilerstrasse | Elektrisch Festival 7th December BARCELONA (ES) Ombra Festival 20th December STOCKHOLM (SE) Huis 7 21st December HELSINKI (FI) On The Rocks TEST DEPT | 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. |