Possibly fascist (definitely hilarious) Slovenian band Laibach to release new album

Perhaps you’ve heard of Laibach, the possibly fascist Slovenian rock band from the ’80s who grew to pseudo-fame with a string of covers that turned into mid-level hits. No? Then you are missing out on one of the great stories of rock history—and it’s about to add another chapter.

Originally formed in 1980 in what was then Yugoslavia, Laibach’s band name was banned in its home country of Slovenia because it’s the name Hitler gave its capital city during the Nazi occupation. They dressed in Nazi-reminiscent uniforms and seemed pointedly, but vaguely, political in their songs and videos.

Nobody could tell if they were parodying fascists or if they were actual fascists. Asked directly once, they answered, “We are fascists as much as Hitler was a painter,” which would seem to be the same thing as saying, We are fascists a little bit. Over the years they amassed a lengthy discography (that includes no less than six cassette-only releases) and now the most confusing band in history is getting ready to set the record straight with a new release, “Spectre,” coming out March 11. According to their press release:

On this album the group – which has never defined itself politically, but has constantly analyzed politics through its work – comes across as politically engaged as never before. SPECTRE literally sounds like a political manifesto manifest in poetic form. Titles and lyrics couldn’t be more direct. With these lyrics and songs, Laibach, who has always given a controversial impression – or an impression of controversy – especially in terms of its political orientation, is now very clearly taking a position on the political spectrum and probably irreversibly abolishing its own (to some extent quite comfortable) political ‘freedom’ and neutrality.

Those titles? “The Whistleblowers,” “No History,” “We Are Millions And Millions Are One,” “Resistance Is Futile,” etc. I don’t have the lyric sheet—but once again I still have no idea if these guys are parodying the extreme right or whether they are the extreme right.

Below, let’s revisit their video for their cover of “Life Is Life” penned by the Australian band Opus, which ran on MTV in the early ’80s. I still have no idea whether it’s intentionally or unintentionally hilarious. And I get the feeling that’s just how they like it.