Test Dept - Industrial Overture: Studio & Live Recordings 1982-1985 - (4CD Boxset) - SIGNED

628070647927

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Test Dept - Industrial Overture: Studio & Live Recordings 1982-1985 - (4CD Boxset) - SIGNED

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 40 tracks across 4 CDs. 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).

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.

This is a Limited Edition North America import.

All boxsets purchased will be signed by the two Test Dept founder members, Paul Jamrozy and Graham Cunnington, exclusive to Lexer Music.

Tracklisting

CD1 – STRENGTH OF METAL IN MOTION (2025 Remaster)

Last Rites^{^}
Shockwork/Workshock^{^}
Prokofiev’s Dream^{^}
Drum and Body^{^}
Death Of God^{^}
Dawn of Humanity^{^}
Blood and Sweat (Stakhanovite)^{^}
WWBC^{^}
Kindergarten^{^}
Interlude^*
Disneyland^{^}
Feeling It All^{^}
On Pain^{^}

*Previously unreleased
^First time on CD
[1-5] Albany Empire (Deptford) 25-08-82
[6] Arch 69 (Waterloo) 14-05-83
[7-8+12-13] Temperance Hall (Newbury) 24-04-82
[9-11] Acklam Hall (Notting Hill) 23-07-82

CD2 – ECSTASY UNDER DURESS (2025 Remaster)

Hunger
Compulsion
In Uniform
Slow Hunger
Spring Into Action
Gdańsk
Shockwork
Efficiency
Beating Retreat

[1] Britannia Row Studios (London)
[2+7] Heaven (London) 11-12-83
[3+5] Porterhouse (Retford) 10-12-83
[4] Henry Wood Hall (Glasgow) 23-12-83
[6] Batcave (London) 01-08-82
[8-9] Arch 69 (Waterloo)

CD3 – JOHN PEEL SESSIONS & STUDIO RECORDINGS

Blood and Sweat^*
Shockwork^*
Gdańsk^*
Efficiency^{^}
Shockwork^*
State of Affairs^*
Hunger^*
Operation Prayer Power^*
Massive Kamikaze Attack^*
Shockwork^{^}
Gdańsk^*
Gdańsk Dub^*

*Previously unreleased ^First time on CD
[1-3] Goldsmiths Demos 18-03-82
[4] Touch Meridians 1 Version 1983
[5-7] John Peel Session 15-08-1983
[8-9] John Peel Session 04-02-1985
[10] Trident Studios Version
[11-12] Red Herrings Versions 1984