Bands / Artists

Turbo – 40 years of the Polish heavy-metal legend

Our cooperation with Turbo began on May 17, 2003. Initially, it was occasional transport of music equipment, but fairly quickly developed into a permanent relation. Since then, we have basically participated in all Turbo shows.
At the beginning of 2019, the musicians entrusted us with the role of the road manager. In August 2019, Piotr Mielcarek (company owner) became the band manager.
Currently we are working on the band’s 40th anniversary celebration, which, due to Covid-19, will also take place in 2021.

The group was founded in January 1980 in Poznań and less than four months later (April 23) the musicians played their first gig. After a successful debut, Turbo was invited by the organizers to take part in the first rock music festival “Jarocin 80”.

Since then, the band has played thousands of gigs in Poland, taking part in many important rock and metal festivals. The group has toured abroad several times, among others in Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Great Britain, and recently also to Russia.

During the 40-year career, the band has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such artists as: Hanoi Rocks, Pretty Maids, Helloween, Running Wild, Overkill, Kreator, Citron, Sepultura, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep.

Since the beginning, Turbo has played hard rock, over the years more and more improving the style based on emerging metal trends. At the same time, the group managed to keep their own distinctive style allowing to classify the band in heavy and thrash metal genres.

The band’s music has been repeatedly acknowledged by critics and journalists. Turbo albums have won the title of “Album of the year”, the musicians took first places in industry rankings, and the group has been nominated for the most prestigious awards, including twice for the Fryderyk award.

The band has had quite a few releases, including twelve studio albums. The first album, entitled “Dorosłe dzieci” [Adult children], released in 1983, was a big sensation, thanks to uncompromising energy and innovative arrangements for those times. The title track has become not only one of the most important and greatest hits of the early 80s, but also of all Polish rock music.

In 1986 Turbo released the album “Kawaleria szatana” [Satan’s cavalry], which critics and fans consider to be the best and most important heavy metal album of the 1980s in Poland.
Modern and very professional sound and arrangements have brought the band leadership in this music genre on the domestic market.

A year later Turbo released another breakthrough album entitled “Ostatni wojownik” – “Last warrior”. It contains fierce, thrash metal songs that strengthened the band’s image and allowed them to sign a contract with the German record label Noise Records. It was the first of several of the band’s albums released outside of Poland. The band received positive reviews in the foreign music press, being often compared to Brazilian Sepultura, (debuting at the time), and received notes similar to celebrities such as Judas Priest or Iron Maiden.

In the following years Turbo released several albums that emphasized the character of the band, were warmly received and allowed the group to consolidate its position on the Polish market. In the meantime, there were personal changes, and in 2007 the current vocalist, Tomasz Struszczyk, joined the band. This resulted in the release of another well-received album in the genre of classic hard and heavy, entitled “Strażnik światła” [Guardian of light] in 2009.
At the end of 2013 the group’s latest studio album – “Piąty żywioł” – “The fifth element” was released.

Turbo has been touring intensively for many years. The band started 2019 strong – with a four-gig tour of Poland with the legendary group Uriah Heep. Currently, the band is working on a new album and is planning to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The musicians are preparing a set-list containing the band’s most important songs. It will be presented in two versions: electric or acoustic. A few surprises are also planned.

Due to Covid-19 pandemics, 40th anniversary celebration has been extended and will also take place in 2021.

Current line-up:

Wojciech Hoffmann – lead guitar
Bogusz Rutkiewicz – bass guitar, vocals
Tomasz Struszczyk – lead vocals
Mariusz Bobkowski – drums
Przemysław Niezgódzki – rhythm guitar

Greatest hits
This is a double album released on the occasion of the band’s 40th anniversary. All songs (original remastered versions) were selected by fans. Premiere: 13.11.2020.
Release year: 2020
Label: Metal Mind Productions
CD 1
1. Fabryka keksów
2. Dorosłe dzieci
3. Pozorne życie
4. W sobie
5. Coraz mniej
6. Smak ciszy
7. Cały czas uczą nas
8. Jaki był ten dzień
9. Wszystko będzie OK
10. Słowa pełne słów
11. Lęk
12. Człowiek i Bóg
13. Na skrzydłach nut
14. Epilog
CD 2
1. Szalony Ikar
2. Już nie z Tobą
3. Kawaleria szatana I
4. Kawaleria szatana II
5. Żołnierz fortuny
6. Wybacz wszystkim wrogom
7. Bramy galaktyk
8. Ostatni wojownik
9. Strażnik światła
10. Na progu życia
11. Noc już woła
12. This war machine
13. Może tylko płynie czas

In the court of the Lizard
The second live album by Turbo. It has been recorded during a concert in Kraków, in the Lizard King club. The band has played a set-list containing the group’s greatest hits. Paul Di’Anno (ex Iron Maiden) made a guest appearance.
Release year: 2014
Label: Metal Mind Productions
CD 1
1. Intro
2. Myśl i walcz
3. Przebij mur
4. Na progu życia
5. Kometa Halley’a
6. Serce na stos
7. Słowa pełne słów
8. Ktoś zamienił
9. Już nie z Tobą
10. Upiór w operze
11. Armia
12. Człowiek i Bóg
13. Bramy galaktyk
14. Noc już woła
CD 2
1. Dorosłe dzieci
2. Wybieraj sam
3. This war machine
4. Mówili kiedyś
5. Jaki był ten dzień
6. Kawaleria szatana cz. II
7. Sztuczne oddychanie
8. Breaking the law

Piąty żywioł / The fifth element
It is the 12th studio album in the history of the band, and the second one recorded with the vocalist Tomek Struszczyk. A few months after the Polish language version was released, an English version also appeared.
English version: “The fifth element”
Release year: 2014
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Think and fight
2. Taste of forever
3. Heart on the pyre
4. The fifth element
5. Smash the wall
6. Handful of sand
7. Relentless
8. Amalgam
9. Light up the night
10. This war machine
11. Blues measured by the clock ticking
12. Smash the wall (acoustic)

Polish version: “Piąty żywioł”
Release year: 2013
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Myśl i walcz
2. Cień wieczności
3. Serce na stos
4. Piąty żywioł
5. Przebij mur
6. Garść piasku
7. Niezłomny
8. Amalgamat
9. Rozpalić noc
10. This war machine
11. Może tylko płynie czas

Strażnik światła [Guardian of light]
This is the first album with the current singer, Tomek Struszczyk, who joined the band in 2007. It is also the first concept album in the history of Turbo. The whole release is over 60 minutes of classic hard & heavy.
Release year: 2009
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Prolog
2. Na progu życia
3. Szept sumienia
4. Strażnik światła
5. Na skrzydłach nut
6. Niebezpieczny taniec
7. Obietnica lepszego dnia
8. Tunel
9. Na przekór nocy
10. Noc już woła
11. Epilog

Tożsamość / Identity
After the relatively innovative album Avatar, the band returned to classic heavy-metal. This release also received very positive feedback from the music industry. A year after the Polish language version was released, an English version also appeared.
English version: “Identity”
Release year: 2005
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Legend of Thor
2. Maqmra
3. The man and the God
4. Paranoia
5. Eneida
6. Hermitage
7. The scroll
8. Opened doors of the city

Polish version: “Tożsamość”
Release year: 2004
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Paranoja
2. Samotnia
3. Legenda Thora
4. Człowiek i Bóg
5. Eneida
6. Maqmra
7. Pismo
8. Otwarte drzwi do miasta

Avatar
Ten years after release of the previous CD, the band recorded modern material in two language versions: Polish and English. The album was recognized with the nomination for the prestigious award of the Polish phonographic industry Fryderyk 2002. The song “Upiór w operze” [Phantom of the opera] was voted by Metal Hammer readers as the best song of the year. In addition to own compositions, the band published 3 cover songs.
Release year: 2001
Label: Metal Mind Productions
1. Armia
2. Upiór w operze
3. Sen
4. Granica
5. LSD
6. Katatonia
7. Awatar
8. Embrion
9. Fałsz
10. Burn – Deep Purple cover
11. Lęk
12. When a blind man cries – Deep Purple cover
13. Neon knights – Black Sabbath cover

One way
This is the 8th studio album of Turbo and another English-language production.
Release year: 1992
Label: Carnage Records
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Introduction
2. End user
3. Regression
4. Mental alienation
5. Blasphemy
6. Refuse to live
7. One way
8. Forgetfulness
9. The viper
10. Scum
11. Disaster area

Dead end
Another English-language album by Turbo and at the same time the first one after changing the band’s line-up down to four. This release received very positive reviews in the British music press.
Release year: 1990
Label: Under One Flag (Music for Nations)
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Introduction
2. Everyone
3. Barbaric justice
4. Blind alley
5. Annihilate
6. Enola Gay
7. Evolution
8. The raven
9. Dead end
10. Mortuary
11. Prophetic sound

Epidemie / Epidemic
The CD was released in two language versions.
English one was published in 1989, and a year later Polish version came to the market. Style of the material differs from Turbo’s previous achievements and can be considered as prog metal.
Polish version: “Epidemie”
Release year: 1990
Label: Metalmuza
1. Salvator Mundi
2. AIDS
3. Ocean łez
4. Pętla czasu
5. Szalony świat
6. Anty R.J. Ewa
7. Rozkosz i ból
8. Gniazdo smutku
9. 13.12.88

English version: “Epidemic”
Release year: 1989
Label: Metalmaster
1. Salvator Mundi
2. AIDS
3. Ocean of tears
4. Loop of time
5. Crazy world
6. Anty N.R. Eve
7. Pleasure and pain
8. Den of sorrow
9. 13.12.88

Alive!
The first live album of Turbo. It was recorded during two performances in Spodek Arena, in Katowice (December 30, 1986 and March 3, 1987).
Release year: 1988
Label: Tonpress
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Seans z wampirem
2. Kawaleria szatana cz. I
3. Ostatni grzeszników płacz
4. Syn burzy
5. Ostatni wojownik
6. Żołnierz fortuny
7. Anioł zła
8. Planeta śmierci – bonus song in 2001 edition

Last warrior
Turbo’s 5th CD is the English version of the album called “Ostatni wojownik”. Thanks to the excellent reviews, the group played a joint tour in Hungary with the German band Kreator. The material recorded on this album was often compared to Brazilian Sepultura (debuting at the time).
Release year: 1988
Label: Noise Records
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. The last warrior
2. Berud’s sword
3. The trojan horse
4. Seance with vampire
5. Tempest’s son
6. Goddess of confusion
7. Angel from hell

Ostatni wojownik [Last warrior]
The material was recorded in 1987, however the album appeared in stores two years later. This is a thrash-metal album and it helped the band signing a contract with a West German label called Noise Records. It was a significant happening in the Polish music industry at the time.
Release year: 1987
Label: Pronit
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Ostatni wojownik
2. Miecz Beruda
3. Anioł zła
4. Seans z wampirem
5. Bogini chaosu
6. Koń trojański
7. Syn burzy – bonus song in 2001 edition

Kawaleria szatana [Satan’s cavalry]
This release by Turbo is considered by many to be the most important heavy-metal album in Poland.
Release year: 1986
Label: Pronit
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Żołnierz fortuny
2. Dłoń potwora
3. Sztuczne oddychanie
4. Kometa Halley’a
5. Kawaleria szatana cz. I
6. Wybacz wszystkim wrogom
7. Kawaleria szatana cz. II
8. Ostatni grzeszników płacz
9. Bramy galaktyk

Smak ciszy [Taste of silence]
As for those times, the album was initially produced in very small volume of just few thousand copies. Compared to the previous release, it is characterized by more mature arrangements and better sound quality.
Release year: 1985
Label: Klub płytowy “Razem”
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Smak ciszy
2. Już nie z Tobą
3. Wybieraj sam
4. Czy mnie nie ma
5. Słowa pełne słów
6. Wszystko będzie ok
7. Jaki był ten dzień
8. Cały czas uczą nas
9. Wariacki taniec
10. Narodziny demona

Dorosłe dzieci [Adult children]
The first and most important album in the history of Turbo. The music appeared to be very innovative as for those times and the situation of the Polish music industry. The title track has become not only one of the most important and greatest hits of the early 80s, but also of all Polish rock music.
Release year: 1983
Label: Polton
Label (reissue): Metal Mind Productions
1. Szalony Ikar
2. Przegadane dni
3. W sobie
4. Ktoś zamienił
5. Pozorne życie
6. Toczy się po linie
7. Nie znaczysz nic
8. Mówili kiedyś
9. Dorosłe dzieci