Album Review: Turmion Kätilöt – Reset (Nuclear Blast Records)

Turmion Kätilöt, the Finnish-singing industrial and electronic metal band hailing from the barren wastelands of Savo, will release their new album ‘Reset’ on October 25th, 2024, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Confidently striding forward with this, their 11th studio album, Turmion Kätilöt have worked hard to build up a solid reputation as an industrial heavy machine that you can pit and party to, depending on their or your mood. This new album continues their impressive run of releases with an even stronger balance of heavy party anthems and industrial intensity. All while not shaking the boat too much. After all, at this stage you should know what you’re getting with this band and that excitable, anthemic, and likable sound is front and centre with the first two tracks, Yksi Jumalista and Päästä Irti. Both are early examples of the hyperactivity that exists in this album.

However, while both are solid tracks enhanced by quality choruses, Pulssi is an outright banger, a bit of Europop banger, in fact. It’s silly, it’s fun, it’s energised, and it’s stupidly catchy.

Following that highlight, Turmion Kätilöt up the ‘electrowerks’ with the chorus-driven Sinä 2.0, get even bouncier with Musta Piste, combine moments of ferocity with effective melody on Trauma, then explode with industrial virulency on the chunky Otava. A series of tracks that have tons of experimental variety, offering mixed results, but being a mostly interesting set of creative listens.

Of course, this is Turmion Kätilöt, and not everything they offer is going to be solid gold, especially as there is a ton of width between the electronica, industrial, and metal on their scale. Yet, the overall feeling is one of interest as the album continues on. There’s safety in the knowledge that Turmion Kätilöt will have plenty more exciting moments to come, even if there will also be plenty of polarising moments too.

One that shouldn’t be an issue is the heavy industrialised sound of Se Mitä Et Näe, a delightfully heavy listen with these infusions of weirdo touches that fit really well. Again, just like so much of the album, the chorus of this one hits hard. Kerran Kuollut then arrives with a thrilling showcase of manic electronica. Before Puuttuva Naula slows the tempo down and offers up something far moodier, but just as infectious. In fact, the latter is one of the catchiest of all thanks to its big synth sound.

Of course, if you’re looking for catchy then a track that features Chris Harms of Lord of the Lost will certainly stand out and Schlachter is this track. There’s a reason why this one is already a fan favourite. Then, finally, it’s Reset 7 (not to be continued) and Turmion Kätilöt taking the absolute p**s with a near 8-minute retro-tinged Europop effort that devolves into something more familiar as it goes on. Darker, moodier, and less danceable, but certainly not lacking in body shaking vibes. It’s a fascinating ending that feels so different, but also isn’t in the slightest.

Which sums up the album as Turmion Kätilöt stick to what they know and deliver big anthems in style. Not everything hits, but the majority certainly does. Eleven albums in and still providing listeners with a good time.

Turmion Kätilöt – Reset Track Listing:

1. Yksi Jumalista
2. Päästä Irti
3. Pulssi
4. Sinä 2.0
5. Musta Piste
6. Trauma
7. Otava
8. Se Mitä Et Näe
9. Kerran Kuollut
10. Puuttuva Naula
11. Schlachter
12. Reset 7 (not to be continued)

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