Facebook YouTube Bandcamp Twitter Terminatryx iTunes Terminatryx Pinterest Terminatryx Instagram Mail


live archive




> 2010 <


SAILOR'S GRAVE
18 DECEMBER 2010
@ Harley Davidson Club House
Sailor's Grave


The final TERMINATRYX show for 2010 will be at the SAILOR'S GRAVE
pre-party for the International Tattoo Convention.
Some special guests will join TERMINATRYX on stage, thus far incl. previous guitarists Brett and Malcolm.

The Bands:
TERMINATRYX
PEACHY KEEN
THE GREAT APES


The Venue:
Harley Davidson Club House,
Canterbury Street, Cape Town, ZA

Time & Cost:
8:30pm / R30

Click Here
to RSVP at the Facebook Event




LOVECATS
5 NOVEMBER 2010
@ MERCURY LIVE

43 DeVilliers Road, Zonnebloem, Cape Town

lovecats

The LOVECATS animal charity live concert will feature:

TERMINATRYX
COLD HAND CHEMISTRY
WITNESS TO WOLVES
and
The BLACK ORCHID BURLESQUE Troupe

Guitar give-away from Paul Bothner Music
This event will also be the official after party of the South African HORRORFEST


LOVECATS Facebook Event Page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16 1794403837977


S.A. HORRORFEST & THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE
31 October 2010
Labia Theatre, Orange Street, Cape Town

makabra
The 6th annual South African HORRORFEST will again feature the highlight of the
TERMINATRYX-driven THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE,
performing a new soundtrack to a classic silent horror movie live to the screen, this time THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA,
on Halloween night, Sunday 31 October, 9pm @ The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town, ZA.
Tickets: R45 each. Booking: 021 424 5927
Phantom Sambuca is also on board with drink specials at the Labia Theatre's licensed bar + give-aways.

www.HORRORFEST.info



MAKABRA ENSEMBLE
at Oppi Koppi, Northam, Limpopo - 7 August 2010
For the second year in a row, the TERMINATRYX-created project THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE
will perform one of their live movie soundtrack creations - this time for MACISTE IN HELL.
Booking essential.
www.OppiKoppi.co.za


TERMINATRYX LIVE AT NOISEFEST VII


2 - 3 APRIL 2010
@ Gotham / Gandalf's / ROAR
Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town, ZA.
This weekend festival will feature around 30 bands and 6 DJs across these 3 connected venues.
TERMINATRYX and AXXON will encapsulate the Industrial and EBM contingent,
performing at GOTHAM on Friday 2 April, 10pm

click here for the Facebook Event


On 31 March, TERMINATRYX will appear on UCT Radio to promote the show.


Saturday 20th February
TERMINATRYX
supporting the original '80s Cyber-pop icon
MARTIN DEGVILLE
>
SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK <


on the Cape Town leg of his South African Tour
SAT 20 FEB @ EVOL (aka Hectic on Hope / Stag's Head)
69 Hope Street, Gardens, Cape Town, ZA.

This show will see the debut of live rendition of TERMINATRYX remixes
"Venus Rising" (by Industriezone)
"SleepWalkers" (by iRONic)
Virus" (by Axxon)

Click here for the TX / SSS Facebook Event



Saturday 30th January
FIRST TERMINATRYX SHOW OF 2010 !


The first explosive TERMINATRYX show for 2010 will be at the legendary
METAL 4 AFRICA Summerfest
on January 30th @ the Klein Libertas Theatre, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, ZA.
This will be the first time TERMINATRYX plays this prestigious extreme music festival,
and it will also be the first time a female-fronted Industrial flavoured band spices up the line-up.
In addition to TERMINATRYX, the full day event will also feature:
Ministry Of Lost Souls, Regicide, Infanteria, Dark Heritage, A Walk With The Wicked,
Azrail, Empery (Joburg), and Revenge By Dawn.
Not to be missed!
Click here for more info & RSVP at the Facebook Event




> 2009 <


Saturday 31 October
LAST TERMINATRYX SHOW FOR 2009
Click the image below for info on the collaborative TERMINATRYX movie soundtrack project,
now known as THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE,
performing a new, original soundtrack to the screening of the infernal classic
MACISTE IN HELL
at the 5th annual South African HORRORFEST Film Festival (Halloween 2009):





TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU
Live Movie Soundtrack Performance @ OPPI KOPPI - 8 August '09

FLAMEDROP PRODUCTIONS and the South African HORRORFEST present :
the NOSFERATU live soundtrack performance at OPPI KOPPI (7-9 August).

click here for extended info

TERMINATRYX and special musical guests from LARK and DAWN TREADER will perform an original soundtrack to the screening of the classic 1922 silent vampire film NOSFERATU, at the 2009 OPPI KOPPI music festival - in conjunction with the DVD release “TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU” which contains the full feature film and its new soundtrack (as performed live at the South African HORRORFEST Film Festival).

The musicians partaking in this unique audio-visual experience are Paul Blom, Sonja Ruppersberg, Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe, Sean Ou Tim and Matthijs Van Dijk.

This will only be the second time ever this soundtrack is to be performed live to this legendary movie’s screening, and is an unforgettable and unique audio-visual experience as the innovative original soundtrack breathes new life into the enthralling visuals with a blend of voice, bass guitars, samples, electric guitars, electric violin, beats, electronics, drums, woodwind instruments, flutes and more.

This version of the live NOSFERATU soundtrack will contain most of the original audio creations, but there will definitely be fresh inclusions.

Venue : Oppi Koppi Farm, Northam, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Date : Saturday 8 August 2009
Time : 10:20pm on the Levi's Stage (see website for any changes)
Festival Info : http://www.OppiKoppi.co.za
Tickets : http://www.tunegum.co.za

FACEBOOK EVENT:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106214952285


Order the “TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU” DVD on-line at:
www.OneWorld.co.za

South African HORRORFEST:
http://www.HORRORFEST.info

Since late-2009, this Terminatryx-driven audio-visual collaboration is known an THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE


24 April 2009
TERMINATRYX LIVE
@ ROAR


The only TERMINATRYX live show for April 2009 will be at R.O.A.R. on Friday the 24th
together with 5 other bands
Doors open 7pm / R30 / drink specials

R.O.A.R. - 299 Lower Main Rd., Observatory, Cape Town, ZA

See the Facebook Event for more details:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=69520808601



Friday 13 March
KOPSKOOT! CD LAUNCH



TERMINATRYX / VAN COKE KARTEL / K.O.B.U.S.
live on stage @ THE EYE OF HORUS
(Corner John Raglan- & Merriman Streets, Bellville, Cape Town, ZA)
Friday 13 March
Doors open: 8:30pm / Show Time: 9pm
R40
Contact: 082 9288337
Website: www.flamedrop.com/kopskoot
RSVP at the Facebook Event

KOPSKOOT! (translated: "Headshot!") is the heaviest Afrikaans compilation ever,
featuring 16 blistering tracks, including the 3 bands performing at this first launch show.
CDs and T-shirts will be on sale at the venue.
CDs also available in-store or on-line at
OneWorld.co.za




TERMINATRYX & NUL
LIVE

An Industrial revolution!

Friday 6 February, 9pm
@ R.O.A.R.
(299 Lower Main Rd., Observatory, Cape Town, ZA)
R20


Check out the Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49717601769




> 2008 <



THE "TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU" DVD LAUNCH!
in conjunction with the PATH OF SIN Fetish calendar launch (& The Warinsane)

Saturday 20 December, 9pm
@ R.O.A.R. / Gotham / Gandalf's
(Lower Main Rd., Observatory, Cape Town, ZA)
R30



Live on stage: TERMINATRYX and THE WARINSANE

TERMINATRYX CDs, DVDs & T-shirts will be on sale + Path Of Sin Calendars

T


In August 2008 TERMINATRYX
will be supporting two international acts performing
live in Cape Town within a single week!


TERMINATRYX with SHEEP ON DRUGS
@ ROAR - Lower Main Rd., Observatory, CT
cell: 072 136 1833
dark.helmet@polka.co.za

TERMINATRYX with VNV NATION
@ The Goth Industrial Gathering -
Tafelberg Tavern, off Hope Street, Gardens, CT
www.subterania.co.za





TERMINATRYX album launch - CAPE TOWN
Friday 4th JULY @
The LABIA Theatre
68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
9pm / R30


Friday 4th JULY will see the official Cape Town launch of the long anticipated TERMINATRYX album at the legendary Labia Theatre - on stage and on the big screen!
This unique double feature will include a multi-media live performance by TERMINATRYX + a sneak preview of the forthcoming werewolf movie SKINWALKERS,
two weeks before its official countrywide Ster Kinekor cinematic release.

Seats are limited for this once-off double feature spectacular - booking essential. Booking opens from 1 July at The Labia Theatre (021 424 5927) - or e-mail for more info (info@flamedrop.com).

TERMINATRYX CDs and merchandise will be on sale, and the first 10 CDs sold comes with a WILDFIRE Tattoo or Piercing Voucher.

The Labia is a licensed venue and drinks from the bar can be taken into the theatre.

The TERMINATRYX album was released by ENT Entertainment in May 2008 - if your record store does not stock it, demand it!
Distributed by IRIS - catalog # CDENT 010

Also available form indie stores like High Fidelity (JHB), Mabu Vinyl (CT) and on-line stores including:
www.subterania.co.za (incl. international orders)
www.kalahari.net
www.oneworld.co.za





TERMINATRYX
Gauteng Album Launch Pix


For pix of the 30-31 May Gauteng album launch by Trevor Charles Miller, check out the TERMINATRYX
Facebook Group


and pix by Dr. Death at the
Zeplins Gallery



TERMINATRYX Live at ROAR
FRIDAY 6 JUNE
Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town - upstairs from Gandalf's

A melting-pot of Metal genres from all corners of South Africa:

TERMINATRYX
Industrial-Metal
(Cape Town)

EREBUS
Black Metal
(Johannesburg)

CONTRAST THE WATER
Metal
(Durban)


Facebook Event Link




TERMINATRYX ALBUM LAUNCH DATES




TERMINATRYX Album launch shows are set for May - July 2008:

Please Note: The show at Zeplin's Rock Shack has been switched to ZEPLIN'S THE CLUB

Flamedrop- & VanniePadaf Productions will host the co-operative Gauteng shows

Friday 30 May @ ZEPLIN'S THE CLUB - 384 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
(with RUNICA and PLASTICOMA, + DJ SINISTER JOE) - www.zeplins.co.za / www.runica.co.za
(Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=17317446693)

Saturday 31 May @ Back 2 Basix at the edge of Melville, 167 Perth Rd, Corner Kingsway and Lancaster Road, Johannesburg
(with RUNICA and DJ SINISTER JOE) - www.back2basix.co.za
(Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13995004538)

Cape Town Album Launch - Friday 4th July @ The Labia Theatre (68 Orange Street, Gardens) – TERMINATRYX on stage and on the big screen in a double feature of a different kind!
The show will be followed by a special sneak preview screening of the new werewolf movie Skinwalkers, two weeks before its Ster Kinekor cinematic release! Limited seats - booking essential (booking will be open at the Labia Theatre 1st July – Tel: 021 424 5927 / or e-mail info@flamedrop.com for info
(Facebook Event coming soon)

• A pre-launch show will happen a week before the main Cape Town event on Friday 6 June with Contrast The Water (Durban) and Erebus (Johannesburg) @ ROAR (Lower Main Road, Observatory, CT).
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14490291771
While not performing at the Metal 4 Africa Winterfest (Klein Libertas, Stellenbosch) on Sat 7 June, there will be a TERMINATRYX presence.

Updates will appear here and other profile pages.
CDs and merchandise (incl. T-Shirts) will be on sale at the shows.


> 2007<

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Blog review by Something Wicked Magazine Editor Joe Vaz
Saturday, November 17, 2007:

Having missed last year's HORRORFST Finale of Terminatryx and Lark's original, live soundtrack to Nosferatu, I made damn sure I didn't miss this year's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I'd only ever seen snippets of the film on YouTube and, like all 70+ year old black and white silent movies it looks cheesy, corny and quite silly. But all that changed on the 31st of Oct 2007. Watching a classic like Caligari in a darkened theatre with a live 21st Century soundtrack suddenly brings back the scale of this picture.

What a fucking masterpiece - instead of giggling at the screen I found myself suddenly entranced. Hanging on every (written) word. The score, composed and performed by Paul and Sonja from Terminatryx, Sean and Fuzzy from Lark, and The Crackpot Realist was beautifully pieced together, altogether haunting and kickass with a combination of acoustic and electronic sounds with vocal contortions supplied by Sonja and one of The Crackpot Realist's collaborators. What they manage to achieve is to completely revitalise this classic.

For the first time I found myself completely enthralled by a silent movie - marvelling at the stylistic approach to the film making, finding the obvious inspirations of such great genre directors as Tim Burton and Sam Raimi.
With their soundtrack they managed to make classic breathe again, resurrecting it for a new generation of film-makers to marvel at the magic of the silver screen.



T E R M I N A T R Y X
will be joining
K . O . B . U . S
at MERCURY LIVE on 13 October 2007






Sadly
WITCHFEST 2007
planned for Saturday 29 September, Pretoria, South Africa
has been canceled...

See www.witchfest.co.za for details






For the 2007 South African HORRORFEST
members of TERMINATRYX and LARK (+ others to be confirmed) will be performing an original live soundtrack to the screening of the German classic The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari.
It will be the closing show of the festival which runs from 26 - 31 October (at the Labia Theatre, Orange Street, Cape Town).

For details and a list of the movies confirmed thus far, check out:

www.HORRORFEST.info
or
www.MySpace.com/SAhorrorfest



For updates & news on the European trip & Nosferatu performance at the HorrorFest,
check out the
info page


The first TERMINATRYX live show for 2007 in South Africa will be at the RAMFEST
( for more details: www.audiomatik.co.za )

 

> 2006 <


TERMINATRYX LIVE UPDATE (Nov '06)
The
TERMINATRYX European trip was a blast.
On returning to South Africa, it was straight into the last planning stages of the SA Horror Fest (www.horrorfest.info). This weekend long celebration of Horror on screen, in print, photography and games, had its climax on Monday night the 30th of October at the Labia Theatre, when TERMINATRYX performed an awe-inspiring live soundtrack to F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent classic Nosferatu. Joining them on stage were the fantastic talents of Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe (on upright bass, flute, duduk and theremin), with fellow LARK member Sean Ou Tim on samples. Matthijs Van Dijk played the electric violin and Francois Breytenbach Blom (KOBUS! / V.O.D / DIE KRUIS) supplied adequate atmospheres on the keyboards. The venue was just a few seats shy of a full house and the audience was blown away. Plans for further performances are curently in the works, so stay tuned if you missed out.


NOSFERATU Live Performance (Oct '06)
For the 2006 South African Horror Fest, TERMINATRYX (and special guests) will perform an original live soundtrack to F.W Murnau's 1922 vampire classic NOSFERATU (30 October 2006, Labia Theatre, Orange Street, Cape Town, South Afrcia - 9pm).


TERMINATRYX HEADS TO GERMANY (& the UK) ! (Sept '06)
TERMINATRYX has been invited to play the South African showcase at POPKOMM in Berlin, Germany, on 21 September 2006. The venue is the Duncker Club, 9pm sharp
(64 Duncker Street, 10439, Berlin, Germany) - Free Entry

The line-up will be the stripped-down TERMINATRYX, consisting of Sonja (vox) and Paul (bass, programming, backing vox), with Diccon Harper (
V.O.D, ex-Demoniac, ex-Dragonforce) on 8-string bass. As with the last few shows we won't be using a drummer (the programming taking care of all that). Our guitarist couldn't make the trip, and with Paul's bass mostly acting as a low tuned guitar, Diccon's addition for this rare line-up will prove to be a bassed-up affair in deed!
Labels & press, please e-mail requests for multi-media promo disc -
info@flamedrop.com
A pre-Popkomm London show has also been added: Tuesday 19 September, 9pm at The ALMA (95 Church Road, Upper Norwood, SE19 2TA) - Entry is Free.




> 2005<


Saturday 17 December 2005
After a long absence on the live circuit, offering the SA music community a peek at the TERMINATRYX sound with German Darkwave masters Diary Of Dreams on the Dream Collector tour, they're back.
And, yes, that is terminatrYx - Since its inception in 2002 far too many uses of the term has crawled from the woodwork, including the third part of a certain cyborg movie, clubs and manga flicks. This new spelling changes nothing to the phonetic sound of the name, nor that of the music produced!
The web address can be accessed via both www.terminatryx.com or www.flamedrop.com/terminatrix .


For the whole of 2005 Terminatryx pondered the idea of a regular rock oriented live show series featuring female fronted bands. The first VENUS RISING show is now a reality and will feature TERMINATRYX, LARK and MITSOO. The rich blend of industrial metal, gothic-eklecto, glitch opera and pop-punk is sure to be a highlight for the holiday season. The first chapter of VENUS RISING will go down Saturday 17 December, 9pm at the MERCURY LIVE, Cape Town (021 465-2106). R30 entry with band merchandise on sale. And yes, a JHB leg is being planned. Stay tuned for more details.
www.flamedrop.com/venus

26 August 2005
Sculpting their recordings at their own time and pace, TERMINATRYX chose to blend back into the live realm with the V.O.D / Springbok Nude Girls membered act Kobus! (www.kobusmusic.com)
This show will erupt on Friday 26 August 2005 in The Hidden Cellar at De Akker, Dorp Street, Stellenbosch. For this show no live drummer will be used and guitar duties will be performed by Brahm.


TERMINATRYX LIVE CONFIGURATION
for the
DREAM COLLECTOR TOUR 2003

pic by H.J. Blom
( back l-r ) :
MALCOLM (guitar) - SONJA (vox)
PAUL (bass & backing vox) - RONNIE (drums)
( front ) :
BRETT (guitar)
:

pix by H.J. Blom

[ for more pix, check out the gallery ]

The entire TERMINATRYX performance from the
Dream Collector Tour
has been edited.
Contact for info
on obtaining a VHS, CD-Rom or DVD copy.

THE CALL
When around September 2003 the call came from Alter Ego with the offer to fulfill the task of opening act for German Darkwave gods Diary Of Dreams (together with locals Mr. Barleycorn), the pros and cons had to be weighed. Christina had just informed the band that her model work commitments would prevent her from being an active member of the group. This wasn't too great a blow as Sonja covered all the lead vocals in any case, Christina's additions not instrumental in the bands overall sound. (She is however still a great fan and may appear as guest on some of the recordings).
official flyer

Pragmatically the bliss & drag factors of this live undertaking had to be considered. Having over a decade's live experience and touring Europe with VOICE OF DESTRUCTION, Paul knew that whatever can go wrong, usually does. This in mind, TERMINATRYX took the leap and confirmed their involvement with the DREAM COLLECTOR TOUR 2003, using it as a live sampler.
Plans to launch into the live arena were only etched for somewhere in 2004. This opportunity put the recording process on hold and shifted the focus of the master plan. With Christina no longer involved, Sonja was merely going to maintain her role as lead vocalist, the task of backing vocals falling on Paul. Recruiting another female backing vocalist was discarded due to logistics and just another factor that can go wrong. After rehearsals it was also deemed unnecessary - the only factor it would enhance being a visual one of an extra lady - but, six people on stage was also just too much.

pic by H.J. BlomBATTLE PREPARATION
Guitarist Tom had to travel to the USA exactly over the mid-November tour period. For the live scenario TERMINATRYX could hardly just have Sonja on vocals, Paul on bass & back-up vocals with a backtrack…
Recruitment of a full live band kicked in and the choices were fairly obvious and swift. Brett (good friend of Paul & Sonja) was approached to fill in on guitar. As bizarre luck would have it, there was a chance that he also needed to be in the States over the same period! It was a maybe, though. But, he got so into the idea he discarded the trip and splashed out on a Jackson guitar and a Behringer V-Amp2. Having mainly been an acoustic player (but an extreme metal fan) and always had the dream of playing live, it was a hard offer to pass up. Besides his 6-string abilities, Brett was instrumental in keeping the band's spirits high when enthusiasm faded. Before Brett's 110% commitment, Malcolm (Grämlich guitarist and old friend of Sonja) was called in, in the event that Brett had to fly abroad. If Brett didn't have to go, then there are two guitars - which became the case. For live drums, friend & Grämlich co-member Ronnie was called upon. All agreed without any contracts having to be signed.
With the shows about two months away, the band knew better than to rest on their laurels. Practice space was booked at one of the very few rehearsal spaces in Cape Town for around twice a week (a huge gap in the market), with extra time thrown in for less amplified, close quarter interaction in getting the songs down.
The set-list had to be selected from over a dozen tracks. Favourites, most appropriate and completed songs were considered. Science-Friction would be the intro, followed by We Come In Peace, flowing into Sleepwalkers, punching into CONsume and blasting through Tabloid Android, only to be wound down by the closing hardcore ambient instrumental Absinthminded.

official flyer

For the samples and programming the obvious choice was to play it off disc - but the unstable nature of the format was too risky, holding the danger of skipping and all other possible disasters resulting in sheer embarrassment - everything that can go wrong…
Paul then asked Brett whether they could utilise his Mac laptop, playing the tracks from its more reliable hard drive. Paul constructed a 25-minute track, each of the songs' backing tracks linked with ambient sound FX, movie samples and digital bridges to ensure a constant flowing episode without cuts and stops. At the rehearsal rooms the Mac held up fine without any glitches - problem is, if the power source is interrupted and the mains get disconnected, skipping may occur when the computer switches to battery power…
The TERMINATRYX songs do not feign to be super-complicated tracks, but the unconventional structure of the compositions and rhythmic approach (Paul originally a drummer) posed more difficulty than expected from the outset. Time was all that was needed, so none was wasted.
The quintet plugged away until the night before the first show in Cape Town to iron out any creases. A lot of time, energy, frustration (and money) went into making this first live introduction as memorable as possible. But even if you know all your notes and hit them, the technical realm can still fail you…and will. There was no time for planning onstage theatric devices and no lighting engineer to trigger specific thematic requirements.
A final technical rider and questions were sent to Alter Ego three weeks prior to the first night, but never reached its destination - technical unreliability and a set-up for disaster? Possibly, but not.

pic by H.J. Blom D-DAY
- Saturday 8 Nov. 2003

Leading up to the shows, the last two weeks were a tense ball of anticipation, preparation and last minute necessities. Flyers were printed, First Fix sampler CDs still had to be made together with its special limited edition zip bags etc. (only making it to the Gauteng dates).
With the band & equipment at the Mercury Live in Cape Town at 4 o' clock the afternoon as instructed, TERMINATRYX was only up for sound-check at around 8! After the equipment set-up there were just a few minutes left for a check. The house engineer got edgy when Sonja's vocal FX pedals had to be sorted, leading to an unsatisfactory compromise that happened at every venue of the tour. The distorted FX pedal had to be removed from the loop, eliminating the essential diversity in vocal attack and leaving it with a uniform, constant delay effect - not the way it's 'sposed to be. Sound-check was over in a flash and they wanted the band on at 9:30. Ha! It was around 8:45 and everyone still had to go home, get dressed and get back in time. No time for dinner, that's for sure - a Jack Daniels had to do. The band was back at 9:15! Sonja couldn't warm up her voice, Paul didn't re-check if his bass was tuned, but the unit pulled it off.
No-one had a clue what TERMINATRYX sounds like (expecting a Gothic endeavour), so it was quite a daring feat to come on first as the heaviest band of the night. The rush of the day didn't leave any time for nerves and TERMINATRYX took the stage for the very first time with conviction and intent. But, the audience (not full capacity yet) listened intently, many really getting into it with no "boo's" or disdain. From the outset the plan was to infiltrate those in the Gothic / Darkwave community who may have a wider musical sense and harder taste. It seemed to work, as full-on Goths were getting down to the sound!

first fix click for details on the FIRST FIX cd

ON THE GAUTENG FRONT
Logistically the Durban show was too impractical for the TERMINATRYX members, so it got bypassed. Brett, Sonja, Paul and Ronnie were flying up to Gauteng on Wednesday 12 November to catch the Hartebeespoort Dam party. The party got canned so they were stuck in the hotel for two days more than necessary, making the best of it by acclimatizing, chilling and enjoying each other's splendid company. Malcolm and his girlfriend drove up early Thursday the 13th, making good time by arriving that same night. Accommodation plans fell through, so the band booked themselves into the hotel for the duration - better in the long run, all centred as opposed to scattered about in different lounges across Gauteng. pic by H.J. Blom With no rehearsal space, the members got together in room 319 for an acoustic jam, just making sure everybody still has it together. Luckily the hotel was only a few km's from the venue, the Boulders Mall in between, where most breakfasts were had. Cabin fever fractionally kicked in at times, but at least the rooms had TVs.

Sting. Midrand. Friday 14 Nov. 2003.

Again it was the long wait that led up to a rushed 10-minute soundcheck, much to the band's annoyance, but soundman Danie did the best he could under the circumstances. This night the venue didn't fill up entirely and as the second song rolled in all monitors disappeared, making the entire experience a frustrating guessing game, not sure whether the entire system took a dive. Much cursing followed the show. It was found that the monitor pre-amps kept on tripping. Everything that can go wrong…
Regardless, there were many people in the audience who really got into the band, buying CDs on the strength of a show which the band felt was lacking, their sound not represented as it should've been.

Same venue. Saturday 15 Nov. 2003.

The helpful guys from Mr. Barleycorn had the same sound problems and took it upon themselves to bring amps for onstage monitoring - without the back-tracks most of the members are lost, but especially both bands' live drummers who need to follow in order to have the rest of the band members follow them in turn. Even with the amps brought in, things wouldn't quit crashing. Again there was a mere 20-second soundcheck and besides Sonja's vocal FX compromise, Paul's bass guitar wouldn't make a peep - cables switched, pedals bypassed etc. - eventually the guitar's canon output was used, but only worked through the distortion pedal used for Paul's vocals in stead of the Metal Zone and Hyper Fuzz pedal combo for the authentic TERMINATRYX sound. (The bass guitar is the instrumental focal point in TERMINATRYX, the proper set-up comprising of 2 bass outputs: the jack output passing through the two FX pedals, while the canon output delivers a constant clean bass sound). Compromise. Four perfectly fine guitar cables simply wouldn't work. With the makeshift monitors sorted, suddenly it wouldn't co-operate! The speculation is that the mains plugs for were insufficient for the pedals' power supplies. By then it was believed that the club was jinxed, and TERMINATRYX was on in 15 minutes! At least now the band knew what to expect, no sound surprises, and brought their outfits to the venue, knowing there wouldn't be time to head back to the hotel. The place was packed to capacity, the entire dance floor in front of the stage filled to the front. With just vocals and backtrack coming through the monitors (in a limited capacity), the three guitarists had to try and hear themselves coming through the PA, bouncing back from the bar and absorbed by hundreds of bodies.

The laptop held up, the band members didn't throw onstage tantrums when things fucked up and conducted themselves professionally under these tense circumstances. The crowd was amazing, reacting very positively to something they'd never heard before, also making this clear afterwards.

TERMINATRYX entered into the live arena with no expectations or illusions and exit the other end satisfied with their performance and many ideas on how to tackle it next time.
Stay tuned to find out when that next time will be.

- DJ Hova
pic by H.J. Blom

AFTERMATH
> TERMINATRYX made their live debut with a well established and respected European act /
> got acquainted with fellow countrymen Mr. Barleycorn /
> had a tumultuous "holiday" /
> got their particular style, sound and attitude exposed to a large alternative audience in one go /
> accomplished something as a unit which they were on the verge of turning down /
> had a blast regardless of all the hitches, logistic nightmares and cost incurred - accumulative costs which could've funded the pressing of a vast amount of CDs

COMMENTS
[ randomly noted after the shows ]
"Your music is totally different."
Some young lads (three or four of them in a Death Metal band with Gothic undertones) had the stunning Sonja sign their ID books for them !
"It's so cool to finally have a woman doing something like this!"
Brett asked a girl outside the Sting venue (waiting for her lift) whether she enjoyed the show. She was right in front of Brett's stage position the entire night, but didn't recognise him! Her reply: "I didn't like the first band (Terminatryx), but I like Mr. Barnacle. Diary Of Dreams is great!"


access passes

[ check the gallery for more pix ]

gallery




HOW THE LIVE SET-UP CAME ABOUT
The October 2003 Pre-Tour Press release



Unexpectedly, while still in the process of completing the first TERMINATRYX recordings, the Alter Ego Record Company approached the group with an offer that would be very hard to pass over.

European Darkwave masters DIARY OF DREAMS were set for a countrywide tour of South Africa in the first half of November 2003.
TERMINATRYX was invited to perform as support. This placed the group in a bit of a flux - as live performances were not being considered until early 2004. The band wanted to land their live show with a bang - so why not like this? The rapidly escalating interest and buzz around the phenomenon will now give those intrigued enough an added reference point.

Even though the music of TERMINATRYX contains more extreme and genre-crossing elements than straight Darkwave, Gothic and EBM, there are certain elements that fans of these sonic movements can identify with in the TERMINATRYX philosophy. By accepting this live offer, TERMINATRYX will use the opportunity to test the waters and see how this portion of the alternative nation will react to the dark tones within the maelstrom.

In order to turn the experience into a show, some additional personnel had to be recruited for the live TERMINATRYX incarnation. One problem faced the band, though - Tom had to be in the USA over that period. In steps Brett (very close friend of Paul & Sonja) to fill in on guitar. But how's this for bizarre - Brett may also have to be in the States over that period on totally unrelated business… What are the freaking odds?! So, the TERMINATRYX crew decided, what the hell, throw in another guitarist! The honour fell upon Malcolm. Thus, if Brett has to fly, there's still one guitar - and if he doesn't, there will be 12 strings in stead of 6!
The live drumming element will be supplied by Ronnie (both he and Malcolm being ex-Gråmlich members and old friends of Sonja).
{Newsflash: Brett got so into the music that even if the US trip comes up, he'll be postponing it...}

NOTE:
Work and contract obligations have made it difficult for Christina to commit as backing vocalist. Thus Sonja will fulfill all lead vocal duties with Paul on bass guitar and backing vox. The thought of recruiting a replacement received some serious consideration, but this was deemed unnecessary in the short preparatory time space - although the option has not been discarded completely.

So, the recording process will be put on hold as rehearsals for the live set ensues.

The controlled recording project has now been given additional voltage, the beast arising to make itself heard - alive!

Plans to have merchandise and a pre-release sampler available at the shows will be followed through as far as possible.


TERMINATRYX will play the Cape Town and Midrand shows with Mr. Barleycorn (who will also play the Durban show)

SAT. 8 / 11/ 2003
MERCURY LIVE - Cape Town
(43 de Villiers Str, Zonnebloem)

TUES. 11 / 11 / 2003
BURN NIGHT CLUB - Durban
(112 Umbilo Rd.)

FRI. 14 / 11 / 2003 & SAT. 15 / 11 / 2003
STING LIVE VENUE - Gauteng
(Value Faire Centre, Old PTA Rd., Midrand)

15 / 11 / 2003
Official After Party
ZEPLINS Night Club
(Cnr. Church & Bosman, Pretoria)

Book at COMPUTICKET (ltd. tickets at the door)

For further details on venues, times & ticket booking, check out:
www.alter-ego.co.za


[ Logos, Web Design & Digital Pix by Paul Blom ]



click below to explore Flamedrop.com



©
2003-2007 Copyright Flamedrop Productions