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Test Dept.

Profile:
The group was formed in New Cross, south-east London in late 1981. All unemployed, and with listening tastes ranging from soul to classical music, they searched out whatever they could find to make music with, and for the most part this consisted of scrap metal salvaged from waste ground and derelict factories. The reason had as much to do with lack of money as it had to do with a dislike for conventional rock instruments. Originally, they used bass guitars and other conventional instruments, but these were fairly rapidly dropped as they obtained more industrial percussion, and found that these created a stronger and more consistent sound.
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Variations:
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Discography

Releases:
History (The Strength Of Metal In Motion) (Cass, Ltd)   Not On Label 1982
Compulsion (2 versions)   Some Bizzare 1983
Peel Session 1983 (Cass)   Ministry Of Power 1983
Strength Of Metal In Motion (Cass)   Not On Label 1983
Beating The Retreat (Album) (7 versions)   Some Bizzare ... 1984
Ecstacy Under Duress (Album) (3 versions)   Total ... 1984
Live At The Ritz (Cass, C60)   Audiofile Tapes 1984
Program For Progress (2 versions)   Some Bizzare ... 1984
Shoulder To Shoulder (LP)   Ministry Of Power 1985
European Network 1985 (Cass)   V2_Archief 1986
The Faces Of Freedom 1 2 & 3 (12", Single)   Ministry Of Power 1986
The Unacceptable Face Of Freedom (Album) (8 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1986
A Good Night Out (Album) (4 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1987
Europe (Cass, C90)   Les Nouvelles Propagandes 1987
Victory (Single) (2 versions)   Ministry Of Power 1987
Gododdin (12", Ltd)   Media City Records, Media City Records 1988
Natura Victus (12")   Sub Rosa 1988
Terra Firma (Album) (4 versions)   Sub Rosa ... 1988
Gododdin (Album) (2 versions)   Ministry Of Power 1989
Materia Prima (Album) (4 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1990
Pax Americana (Single) (3 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1990
New World Order (Single) (2 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1991
Pax Britannica (Album) (4 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1991
Proven In Action (Album) (3 versions)   Ministry Of Power ... 1991
Atonal & Hamburg "Live" (CD)   Dossier 1992
Bang On It! (Single) (3 versions)   Ministry Of Power 1993
Bang On It! / Interchange (12", W/Lbl)   Ministry Of Power 1993
Legacy (1990 - 1993) (Album, Comp) (3 versions)   Jungle Records ... 1994
Totality (Album) (4 versions)   KK Records ... 1995
Totality 1 (Maxi) (3 versions)   KK Records ... 1995
Totality 2 - Genius Remixes (Maxi) (2 versions)   KK Records 1996
The Enigma Of Doctor Dee / Vena Cava (Maxi) (2 versions)   KK Records 1997
Totality 1 & 2: The Mixes (CD)   Invisible 1997
Tactics For Evolution (Album) (3 versions)   KK Records ... 1998
Remixes:
Subterminal (CD, Maxi) & Terminal (Subtest Mi... Sub/Mission Records 1996
In Dust We Trust (CD, Comp) Tabla Rasa (The Tablet... Invisible 1997
Dr. Speedlove Presents: Chemical Warfare (Mix Mix Bang Bang) (2xCD, Comp) Unphazed (Test Dept. R... Invisible 1999
The United II Tour (CD) Asylum Disciple (Subge... Underground, Inc. 2003
Production:
If You Can't Please Yourself You Can't, Please Your Soul (Comp) (4 versions) Total Nervous Phenomonom EMI Records ... 1985
Drug Test Two (2xCD, Comp) Chillo (Sunrise) Invisible 1997
Dream Injection 6: Audio Sculptures (2xCD, Comp, Dig) Rat Sub Terranean, Sub Terranean 1998
Torture Garden - Bizarre & Eccentric Music Compilation (CD, Album, Comp) Nadka Torture Garden Records 1999
Appears On:
Abstract Magazine Issue 5 (LP, Comp) Fuel Foundation Of The... Sweatbox, Abstract Magazine, Abstract Magazine 1985
If You Can't Please Yourself You Can't, Please Your Soul (Comp) (5 versions) Total Nervous Phenomonom EMI Records ... 1985
Q.E.D. (2xLP + 7" + , Ltd, Gat) Demonomania N.L. Centrum 1988
Industrial Revolution - Second Edition (2xCD) The Legacy CEMA Special Markets, Cleopatra 1994
Taking Liberties (2xCD, Comp) Critical Frame Of Mind... Totem Records 1994
Romantic Sound Sampler Volume II (CD, Comp) Dark Eyes Zillo 1995
Drug Test Two (2xCD, Comp) Il Est Un Sac De Merde Invisible 1997
Exile On Coldharbour Lane (Album) (2 versions) Mao Tse Tung Said Elemental Records 1997
Complete Dubnology (Box + 4xCD, Comp) Critical Dub Cleopatra 1998
Dream Injection 6: Audio Sculptures (2xCD, Comp, Dig) Rat Sub Terranean, Sub Terranean 1998
Abby - The Compilation Part 2 (2xCD, Comp) Arddyledog Ganu Höllenfeuer 1999
Torture Garden - Bizarre & Eccentric Music Compilation (CD, Album, Comp) Nadka Torture Garden Records 1999
This Is Industrial Hits Of The '90's (2xCD, Comp + Box) New World Order (Crusa... Cleopatra 2007
Tracks Appear On:
Rising From The Red Sand (Volume Two) (Cass) Gdansk Third Mind Records 1982
A Sudden Surge Of Power (Cass) Shockwerk (Live) Cause For Concern 1983
Alchemy (Cass, Ltd, Comp) Untitled Sterile Records 1983
Alchemy (VHS) Efficiency Twin Vision 1983
Batcave: Young Limbs And Numb Hymns (LP) Shockwork London Records 1983
Meridians 1 (Cass, Comp, C60) Efficiency Touch 1983
Rising From The Red Sand (Volume Four) (Cass) Extract From Exercise ... Third Mind Records 1983
The Angels Are Coming (2xCass, Comp) Shockwork (Live) Pleasantly Surprised, Pleasantly Surprised 1983
Raging Spool (Cass, Comp) V.F.M. New Musical Express 1984
TV Wipeout (VHS, PAL, 110) Shockwork Doublevision 1984
The Last Supper (Cass, Comp) Forward Adventures In Reality 1984
Abstract Magazine Issue 5 (LP, Comp) Fuel Foundation Of The... Sweatbox, Abstract Magazine, Abstract Magazine 1985
If You Can't Please Yourself You Can't, Please Your Soul (Comp) (8 versions) Total Nervous Phenomonom EMI Records ... 1985
Peyrere (Cass, Comp, C60) Total State Machine Peyrere 1988
Q.E.D. (2 versions) Demonomania N.L. Centrum ... 1988
Cycle Two - Sector Two (2xLP) Glasfedd Eu Hancwyn (R... Razormaid Records 1990
Jungle (Flexi, 7", Comp) Pax Brittanica (Excerpt) Ministry Of Power, Jungle Records 1991
Unbelievable - The Indie Dance Album (CD, Comp) New World Order Posh Music For Kids 1991
Industrial Revolution - Second Edition (2xCD) The Legacy CEMA Special Markets, Cleopatra 1994
Taking Liberties (Comp) (2 versions) Critical Frame Of (Cri... Totem Records 1994
Sheen: KK Records Compilation (2xCD) Zenergy KK Records 1995
Built For Stomping (CD, Smplr, Promo) New World Order Re-constriction Records, Cleopatra 1996
Dubnology 2: Lost In Bass (Comp) (2 versions) Critical Dub Middle Earth Recordings 1996
High Priests Of Electronic Dub (CD, Comp) Critical Dub Hypnotic 1996
Industrial Revolution Second Edition (VHS) Bang On It Cleopatra 1996
Industrial Revolution: 3rd Edition Rare & Unreleased (2xCD) New World Order (Crusa... Cleopatra 1996
Drug Test One (2xCD) Table Rasa, Genius, Al... Invisible 1997
Drug Test Three (CD) The Drifter Invisible 1997
Drug Test Two (2xCD, Comp) Chillo (Sunrise), Il E... Invisible 1997
In Dust We Trust (CD, Comp) Tabla Rasa (The Tablet... Invisible 1997
Industrial Madness (4xCD, Comp) Bang On It (Metal Edit) Cleopatra 1997
Complete Dubnology (Box + 4xCD, Comp) Critical Dub Cleopatra 1998
Dream Injection 6: Audio Sculptures (2xCD, Comp, Dig) Rat Sub Terranean, Sub Terranean 1998
Abby - The Compilation Part 2 (2xCD, Comp) Arddyledog Ganu Höllenfeuer 1999
Industrial Strength Machine Music (CD) Kick To Kill Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
Torture Garden - Bizarre & Eccentric Music Compilation (CD, Album, Comp) Nadka Torture Garden Records 1999
Gothic Industrial Madness (DVD, NTSC) Bang On It Music Video Distributors 2000
The Very Best Of Industrial Revolution (CD) New World Order (Crusa... Cleopatra 2000
Goth - The Ultimate Collection (2xDVD) Bang On It Music Video Distributors, Cleopatra 2002
Looking For Europe - The Neofolk Compendium (Comp) (3 versions) Arddyledog Ganu Auerbach Tonträger 2005
Some Bizzare Artists - Redefining The Prologue 1981-2006 (CD, Comp) Plastic Some Bizzare 2006
This Is Industrial Hits Of The '90's (2xCD, Comp + Box) New World Order (Crusa... Cleopatra 2007
!-10 (CD) New World Order Razormaid Records  
A-7 (CD, Comp, Promo) Glasfedd Eu Hancwyn (R... Razormaid Records  
The Last Supper (Cass) Forward Musica Maxima Magnetica  
U.K. Buzz #006 (LP, Comp, Promo) Total Nervous Phenomenon Thirsty Ear  
Unofficial Releases:
Live At Q.Bo' (Cass, Ltd)   Not On Label (Test Dept. Self-released) 1987
Faces Of Freedom Live Budapest 1985 (Cass, Ltd)   Humania 1995
Alchemy (VHS) Efficiency Psycho Bod  
Berlin Atonal 85 (Cass, Comp, C90) Untitled, Untitled, Un... Not On Label  
Rising From The Red Sand (5xCass) Gdansk, Extract From E... Statutory Tape  
Rising From The Red Sand 2 (Cass, C60) Gdansk Statutory Tape  
Rising From The Red Sand 4 (Cass, C60) Extract From Exercise ... Statutory Tape  
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YouTube Videos

Test Dept - Compulsion