Turmion Kätilöt

Lore & Background

The band had a recording contract with Spinefarm Records (specifically Ranka Recordings), and their second album, Pirun nyrkki, was released on 29 March 2006. Shortly after a dispute over income developed between the band and Spinefarm, with the band filing a lawsuit against the label. During the ongoing case, a new album, U.S.C.H.!, was released for free download on 11 June 2008. A single, 'Minä määrään' ('I Rule'), was also released for free before the album, on 21 May. On 9 March, the group posted a statement on their website, clarifying the arguments between the band and their former record company Spinefarm Records had been settled, but stated that the terms of the agreement meant they could not discuss the matter further. U.S.C.H.! was released physically on 20 May 2009 including two bonus tracks.

On 7 December 2012, lead vocalist Turunen suffered a stroke. The band was on small hiatus but returned on 22 January 2013 and revealed that a new album was coming out later that year. On 4 April 2013, the band released a new single titled 'Jalopiina' in two different forms; as a purchasable single or as a free download on their website. During the first day after the release, the Finnish record shop Levykauppa X held a campaign where the single was given away for free. In May 2015, the band debuted two new singles, 'Vastanaineet' and 'Taisteluhuuto', and in July announced that their upcoming album Diskovibrator would be available on 25 September that year.

In January 2017, Turmion Kätilöt announced on their Facebook page that long-time member Spellgoth had departed from the band. A devout theistic Satanist, he later commented on his decision to leave the band as 'having his heart more on the side of black metal'. He currently fronts the Finnish black metal band Horna. In August 2017, the band announced that after his trial period, Shag-U (also known as Fear of Domination vocalist Saku Solin) would become the full-time member of the band.

Reader's Guide

Turmion Kätilöt emerged in the early 2000s as a distinctive force in Finnish industrial metal, blending heavy guitar riffs with electronic elements. Their significance lies partly in their confrontational relationship with the music industry, exemplified by their 2008 lawsuit against Spinefarm Records over income disputes, which led to the free release of the album U.S.C.H.!. This act of defiance, along with the later 'legally stealable' single campaign for 'Jalopiina', highlighted the band's willingness to challenge conventional distribution models. The band's lineup has evolved over time, with founding member DJ Vastapallo departing and later Spellgoth leaving in 2017 to focus on black metal. The addition of Shag-U as a full-time member in 2017 solidified the current lineup. Their discography, spanning from Hoitovirhe (2004) to Resodance (2026), shows a sustained output. The band's legacy includes a dedicated fanbase and a reputation for provocative, genre-blending music, though their impact remains largely within the Finnish metal scene.

Did You Know?

• The band's name translates literally to 'Midwives of Ruin', 'Midwives of Bane' or 'Midwives of Perdition'.
• In 2008, the band released the album U.S.C.H.! for free download during a legal dispute with their label.
• Lead vocalist Petja Turunen suffered a stroke on 7 December 2012, causing a brief hiatus.