Test Dept, pioneers of industrial music’s revolutionary spirit since the 1980s, have partnered with Canadian label Artoffact Records to release curated box sets and a new album in 2026, continuing their legacy of politically charged, boundary-pushing sound and announcing a European tour in late 2025.
Pioneering duo carries four decades of sonic confrontation forward
In an era where industrial music has fragmented into countless subgenres and commercial derivatives, Test Dept remains one of the last authentic torchbearers of the movement’s original revolutionary spirit. The legendary London-formed collective has just announced a significant new partnership with Canadian label Artoffact Records, marking a crucial moment for preserving and extending the legacy of one of industrial music’s most uncompromising voices.
Formed in London in the early 1980s during industrial music’s formative years, Test Dept emerged alongside fellow pioneers Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, and SPK as architects of a sound that would influence everything from metal and electronic music to contemporary noise and experimental genres. Their impact extends far beyond their immediate contemporaries—traces of Test Dept‘s DNA can be found in the work of Godflesh, Rammstien, Ministry, Author & Punisher, Death Grips, and countless other artists who understand that music can be both weapon and art form.
Music as a tool for social change ::
What set Test Dept apart from their industrial peers was their commitment to genuine political action alongside sonic experimentation. While many industrial acts flirted with provocative imagery, Test Dept put their convictions into practice, most notably during their legendary 1984 collaboration with the South Wales Striking Miner’s Choir. That moment that crystallized the band’s vision of music as a tool for social change and working-class solidarity.
The group’s historical importance cannot be overstated. At a time when industrial music has largely been domesticated and commodified, Test Dept represents an unbroken link to the movement’s original transgressive power. Centered around founding members Paul Jamrozy and Gray Cunnington since their mid-2010s resurgence, they continue to embody the confrontational spirit that made industrial music matter in the first place.
This new partnership with Artoffact promises to bring Test Dept‘s extensive catalog to new audiences through “a series of carefully curated box sets that celebrates their history,” with a brand new album slated for 2026. “We are thrilled to begin a creative partnership with Artoffact, a label that truly understands Test Dept’s vision and legacy,” the band states. “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.”
The label’s enthusiasm is equally palpable. “Test Dept has been in our earholes for over three decades,” the Artoffact Team respond. “Having a chance to work with them on their catalogue and new material is a dream come true.”
Challenging the status quo ::
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. Their collaborative instinct led to the formation of The Ministry of Power, an umbrella organization for working collectively on multidisciplinary projects that integrated music, movement, theatre, film and political activism, resulting in large scale multi-media productions in disused industrial spaces and unusual environments.
Their influence on contemporary music continues to resonate. The crushing, rhythmic brutality that Test Dept pioneered can be heard in modern industrial metal, harsh noise, and even in the more adventurous corners of electronic music. Their integration of political messaging with genuinely challenging sound design established a template that artists still follow today, proving that confrontational music doesn’t have to sacrifice intellectual rigor.
Recent years have seen continued creative evolution. The 2015 publication of the extensive book Total State Machine 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 arts organization A/POLITICAL to create the new large-scale work Furnace in an old iron foundry in southern France; an ongoing relationship with further works in the pipeline.
A visceral and immersive experience ::
Test Dept will return to live performance with a series of European dates beginning in October 2025, including appearances at Industrial Festival XXIV in Wrocław, Poland (October 18) and Elektrisch Festival in Zwickau, Germany (October 25), followed by shows in Barcelona (December 7), Stockholm (December 20), and Helsinki (December 21). 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.
In a musical landscape increasingly dominated by algorithm-friendly content and risk-averse artistry, Test Dept‘s persistence feels both necessary and radical. They remain committed to the idea that music should disturb, challenge, and ultimately transform both artist and listener. For those who understand that industrial music was never just about harsh sounds but about interrogating power structures and social complacency, Test Dept‘s continued presence offers hope that the form’s revolutionary potential hasn’t been entirely co-opted.
As we await both the archival box sets and new material, it’s worth remembering what made Test Dept essential in the first place: their unwavering belief that music could be more than entertainment, that it could serve as a catalyst for consciousness and change. Today, that mission feels more urgent than ever.
2025 photography by David Altweger.
Disturbance is available on One Little Indian. [Bandcamp]
