Industrial flipped on its head
For more than 40 years, Laibach has pushed the envelope in avant-garde and industrial music, combining different genres and incorporating satirical and provocative lyrics about social issues and politics. This is no different on their 23rd studio album, Musick, a record that molds their long-standing process of social and musical exploration to the hyper-technological culture of 2026.
Sonically, Musick borrows from Eurodance and techno-pop, with the band’s textured industrial sound anchoring each track. Club-pop staples like synth hooks and looped drum beats run throughout the record, providing an immersive dance-club experience from the beginning. Alongside its modern hyper-pop edge, the album also explores past eras of pop music, experimenting with ‘80s synth beats and the bright digital sounds of the ‘90s. Like past Laibach records, Musick uses multiple genres and instruments, including strings, with “Resistencia” serving as a highlight of the band’s sonic evolution. Underneath the repetitive vocal loops and industrial production, Laibach implements warm guitar strumming and skanking reminiscent of ska-rock. On the title track, featuring Wiyaala, a spirited orchestral arrangement runs beneath vocal loops, combining classical traditions with the ever-changing techno staples of modern pop.
On Musick, Laibach’s writing is more confrontational than ever, with the main lyrical theme poking fun at modern culture’s emphasis on technological evolution and the consequences it has for music and humanity in general. The album touches on the overabundance and recycling of music in “Singularity” with lyrics like “every tune’s a copy or remake / we are dancing to the old refrain,” while “Keep It Reel” features looped vocals chanting frustrations about AI-generated content. One of the most subversive tracks on the album is “Luigi Mangione,” a Western-inspired song that includes satirical and introspective references to political movements, discrimination and conspiratorial paranoia surrounding surveillance in a technological age.
The vocals, led by Milan Fras, tie the album together, with additional featured performances sliding perfectly into its sonic and lyrical adventures. Fras’ deep, commanding voice immediately demands attention on the opening title track and keeps it for the rest of the album. Although paired with an exploding avant-garde sound, Fras’ words never get lost, with his poignant and dissenting lyrics remaining at the forefront of the listener’s mind. Donna Marina Mårtensson, featured on “Singularity,” provides a lighter, flowing contrast to Fras, but the two play off one another in a fun yet cohesive way. On “Keep It Reel,” Manca Trampuš matches Fras’ intensity while putting her own spin on the track’s exciting and transgressive lines. Meanwhile, on the title track and “Allegorhythym,” Wiyaala’s lush and powerful singing brings much of the album’s emotion to the forefront.
By the end of the final song, the listener has experienced a range of genres mixed with a wide array of voices steadfast in their convictions, unlocking a new world of musical possibilities. For an album centered on themes of musical stagnancy and oversaturation, Musick leaves its audience with a sense of creative potential rather than limitation.
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