SONJA (lead & backing vocals) / PAUL (bass, guitars, drums & programming, keyboards, backing vocals) / For live performances TERMINATRYX utilised various additional members which can fluctuate the line-up from 2 to 5 members. The 2008 line-up includes extra players Ronnie (on drums) and Patrick (on guitar) for live shows.
Influences
CINEMATIC PREFERENCES:
Bladerunner, Tetsuo The Iron Man, The Terminator, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Alien series, Phantasm, Sick, Ghost In The Shell, all David Lynch (especially Lost Highway, Eraserhead, Wild At Heart, Mulholland Drive), Bram Stoker's Dracula, Night Of The Living Dead, Dawn Of The Dead, Day Of The Dead, all David Cronenberg (especially Shivers, Videodrome, The Fly, Naked Lunch), Natural Born Killers, 007, The Eye, all Stanley Kubrick (especially A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove), Once Upon A Time In The West, The Good The Bad & The Ugly, Vincent Price, The Wild Bunch, all Terry Gilliam (especially Time Bandits, Brazil, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas), Pulp Fiction, Withnail & I, Scarface, Mad Max series, Bad Taste, Braindead, original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Maniac, RoboCop, Matrix series, Godfather series, Hellraiser, Nightmare On Elm Street, The Wedding Singer..........
MUSICAL PREFERENCES:
Ministry, Einsturzende Neubauten, Fear Factory, Slayer, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Rammstein, The Cramps, Tom Waits, Sex Pistols, The Exploited, Dead Kennedys, Metallica, Slipknot, Diamanda Galas, John Zorn, Pain Killer, V.O.D (Voice Of Destruction - South Africa), Ween, Mambo Kurt, Fantômas, Mr. Bungle, Radiohead, Kiss, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault, Kreator, Tenacious D, System Of A Down, Sisters Of Mercy, Joy Division, Strapping Young Lad, Wagner, Mozart, Kobus!, Bauhaus, Iron Maiden, Bloodhound Gang, The Prodigy, Ralph Myerz, Massive Attack, Nirvana, Groinchurn, Man Or Astroman, Diary Of Dreams, Type O Negative, A.C. /
Sounds Like
Unlike anything you'd expect from South Africa.
Listen and decide for yourself.
TERMINATRYX - (pronounced: terminaytrix).
South Africa's only female fronted alternative band with electronically infused industrial metalscapes.
2009 HORRORFEST promo clip, directed by Paul, featuring Sonja (to be expanded into a TERMINATRYX music video or short film):
TERMINATRYX CD Order:
http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=1_8&products_id=3919
TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU DVD Order:
http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=33_36&products_id=4846
TERMINATRYX T-shirts (CDs & DVDs) can be ordered from:
http://www.subterania.co.za
TERMINATRYX CDs and DVDs can also be ordered from:
http://www.kalahari.net
X-TERMINATE!
The first seeds of Cape Town based TERMINATRYX (pronounced "terminaytrix") germinated around 2002 when lead vocalist Sonja Ruppersberg and friend Christina Storm sat around musing on how cool it would be if they had a band with two female vocalists packing more than just a punch or an edge.
But, while it can hardly be faulted, two hot front-ladies can only get you that far. In stepped Paul Blom (extreme music veteran of V.O.D - Voice Of Destruction, F8, & K.O.B.U.S. fame), and created a tester track for them by programming a tune and adding bass guitar to it, turning into the song We Come In Peace.
It all seemed rather promising, but a name had to be chosen. So, instead of a single concept, several layers were combined to include a range of movies, fetishes and mythical locations to encapsulate the specific mood. Movies like Tetsuo The Iron Man, The Terminator, The Matrix, and the Nexus replicants from Bladerunner / a strong female presence of the dominatrix / the river Styx - All of this fused to create the TERMINATRYX phenomenon.
In the early stages, around 2003, Christina left for other commitments, Sonja flying solo as lead vocalist since then. First guitarist Tom Somers left for Scotland which led to songwriter Paul taking care of all the instruments (including guitars, bass, drums, programming, keyboards and backing vocals).
The duo of Sonja and Paul is enhanced with additional personnel when it comes to live performances. The first of these came in 2003 when TERMINATRYX was chosen as support for German Darkwave legends Diary Of Dreams on their South African tour. The 8-song repertoire at that stage was expanded to include over an album's worth, with pre-production samplers making the rounds.
The sound also took shape to create a unique Industrial-Metal blend with female lead-, and male backing vocals, which is quite rare in Southern Africa.
2004 they used TERMINATRYX and F8 music in their short film, imPERFECTION (set for a remix at the 2008 X FEST, late March).
The debut album release was always on the horizon, but time simply seemed to dissolve with Paul & Sonja's other activities including the creation of film festivals like the annual South African HORRORFEST four years ago (for which Sonja is also the poster-girl) and the new X FEST.
In between rare live performances which included appearing at the Popkomm festival in Berlin, Germany (2006), TERMINATRYX also performed two original live soundtracks to silent horror classics NOSFERATU, and THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI at the 2006 and 2007 S.A. HORRORFEST - together with collaborators like Simon Ratcliffe and Sean O'Tim of LARK fame (on upright bass, flute, theremin, percussion), as well as Matthijs Van Dijk (on electric violin). HÄXAN, another legendary silent film, will get a modern audio make-over performed to the screen by TERMINATRYX, Simon, Sean and maybe a few other collaborators at the 2008 HORRORFEST.
(http://www.HORRORFEST.info / http://www.XFEST.org)
In 2007 Simon showed interest in mixing the anticipated TERMINATRYX album with Simon at his Cape Town based Sound & Motion studios. The proposed timeframe passed and early 2008 they put their collective foot down and booked the studio for March. Paul produced (and executive produced together with Sonja) and recorded all the tracks at Flamedrop Productions. Mixing commenced with Simon at S&M early March with the album released mid-May 2008 thru ENT Entertainment, and followed with launches in both Cape Town, johannesburg and Pretoria (Zeplins).
Live highlights of 2008 included the Cape Town album launch (4th July) where TERMINATRYX performed at the Labia Theatre in the 200-seater cinema with a huge synced-up video projection show accompanying the entire performance. The show was followed by a sneak preview of werewolf movie Skinwalkers - a new kind of double feature! Within a single week in August, TERMINATRYX performed as support for two international acts visiting South Africa independently - incl. Sheep On Drugs (16 Aug) and VNV Nation (22 Aug).
Halloween 2008 also saw the release of the TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU DVD, featuring music videos, live clips, photo galleries, their short film imPERFECTION, and the classic 1922 silent vampire film NOSFERATU with the new TERMINATRYX soundtrack (as performed live to the film's screening at the 2006 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival, together with special guests).
With a natural aversion to cheap commercial sentiments and a blind consumer society, TERMINATRYX is truly a unique South African audio adventure, looking at the world with a satirical eye as they take the listener through a juxtaposed range of sonic intensity and calm, fusing technology with the organic in a David Cronenberg vs. H.R Giger trip.
In a televised talent show, and mock reality drenched commercial media decline, TERMINATRYX is not merely a breath of fresh air, but a long awaited new direction out to rattle the cage just enough to make a saturated public stand still and think, "hey, there's more to it than this..." - even if for only a moment.
But as we know, a moment can be a multitude of infinities - depending on the way you look at it.
Below is the TERMINATRYX video clip for MIDNIGHT, featuring new album audio mix
TERMINATRYX 2007 BIOGRAPHY >>>>>>>
While the South African musical landscape consists of varied styles and genres, TERMINATRYX couldn’t find one catering to their specific taste. So, in 2002 they decided to set out and create their own by blending their love of hard- and electronic music, with that of the moods created by sci-fi / horror / extreme movies, and a touch of sexually charged danger to initialize their own dark edged rock movement.
Since then they have slowly cultivated and sculpted their sound, systematically shaping these creations which encapsulate a wide range of moods and subjects, from socio-political & protest grievances, the media & consumerism, to alien visitation, an alternative to the traditional love song, instrumentals and fictional / fantasy trips. A strong sense of individuality, free speech and free choice filters throughout. Categorization has been difficult with the band’s dark flavoured blend of female-fronted, electronically infused metalscapes – they’re quite content with this non-labeled state.
The rock community has never looked favourably upon bands with female vocalists, but in the case of TERMINATRYX, SONJA projects sensuality while delivering the musical message, without weak attempts at being the “rock goddess” – she simply is without trying!
Furthermore she does not endeavor to emulate the voice of any other singers out there, as her vocals join forces with the music to become a part of its essence, as opposed to fighting for attention.
The other key component of the TERMINATRYX collective is PAUL. Drummer of South Africa’s most influential Metal band V.O.D - VOICE OF DESTRUCTION (www.VOICEofDESTRUCTION.com), the band lived in Europe for a few years in the mid ‘90s, recording in the UK for their German record label and also embarking on a full European tour with Katatonia and In The Woods during 1996. While on this tour, PAUL purchased a bass guitar with which to give life to the songs in his head. This led to the forming of his solo project F8 (pronounced “fate”) in 1998 - www.MyNoise.co.za/F8 .
In 2002 however, together with SONJA, the seed for TERMINATRYX started germinating. Between 2002 and 2005 several guitarists came and went. During this period (key songwriter) PAUL took up the guitar himself, handling all of the musical aspects, from bass & guitar, to drums, programming, keyboards (and backing vocals).
In 2003 the first ever TERMINATRYX live shows erupted in support of German Darkwave gods Diary Of Dreams on their South African tour.
For live performances the core configuration of PAUL & SONJA can be joined by various additional members, from extra guitarists to live drummers to add to the programmed tracks & loops. The live set-up can range from 2 – 5 members (or more if need be – this opportunity arose with the live soundtrack performance TERMINATRYX delivered for the screening of the 1922 silent classic NOSFERATU at the South African HORROR FEST – www.MySpace.com/SAhorrorfest ).
South African live shows were put on hold in preparation for the TERMINATRYX performance at the South Africa day of POPKOMM 2006 at the DUNCKER CLUB in BERLIN, Germany – 21 September 2006 (64 Duncker Street, 10439, Berlin, Germany).
(See the events chapter at www.roadshock.com).
On their return to home soil, TERMINATRYX performed a live original soundtrack to F.W. Murnau’s silent 1922 vampire classic Nosferatu at the annual South African Horror Festacular over the Halloween period (27-30 Oct), incorporating additional guest artists, violinist Matthijs Van Dijk, Francois Blom (of V.O.D, DIE KRUIS, and KOBUS!) ..boards, and from LARK, Sean & Simon on everything from samplers and upright bass, to flute and the theremin. It was an awe-inspiring experience and more shows are being planned.
(Paul & Sonja are also the key organizers of the Horror Fest). www.MySpace.com/SAhorrorfest www.HORRORFEST.info www.SHADOWREALMinc.com
Pre-produxion samplers, First Fix v.1.0, First Fix v.2.0 and First Fix v.3.0 has been circulated since 2003, and a CD / DVD promo package with sample trax, live footage, music videos, European footage, Nosferatu performance extracts, stills and a short film imPERFECTION (by PAUL, starring SONJA and featuring TERMINATRYX music) will be completed by June 2007.
Mid-late 2007 will also see TERMINATRYX putting the finishing touches to their debut album, tentatively self-titled.
TERMINATRYX has been played and featured on everything from South African and online radio shows, to KERRANG Radio.
The first live show for 2007 was as the closing band for Ramfest.
TERMINATRYX is an evolving entity and its philosophy partially comprises the following:
It is compelled to create music with which they can identify, even if it is not generally accepted by the wider community / Its inherent intensity is a natural one created by their perception of the world around them / It tackles issues without being preachy / It kicks hard without drowning the key purpose in sheer volume / It utilizes technology without being overtaken by it or losing its humanity and organic essence / It contains catchy elements without attempts to scam listeners into a blatant commercial trap / It exudes a confident sexuality and sense of empowerment as part & parcel, not a mere overblown selling point...
Taking the abovementioned into account and the fact that TERMINATRYX takes both subjective and objective standpoints, it is everything but neutral.
A paradox? Perhaps...
An enigma? Maybe...
A phenomenon? By far…
You be the judge.
thanx for the add!! we hope you enjoy our stuff! leave us a comment what you think of it!check our CD VERMAECHTNIS and our video here at myspace!! the new cd "FORBIDDEN ANGER" will be out in october. for more infos and merch check www.damnmetal.de
Available from Ibex Moon Records: THORNAFIRE - "Vorex Deconstrucción" CD DREAMING DEAD - "Within One" CD HOD - "Serpent" CD RAPE PILLAGE & BURN - "Songs Of Death, Songs Of Hell" MCD GOREAPHOBIA - "Mortal Repulsion" CD ASPHYX - "Death...The Brutal Way" CD
I do not really want to perform live here because I do not feel like I get the respect that all true artists and musicians deserve. But I would like for Kira and I to have more knowledge, like even play a private party over there.
Thanks for the add! Team Cybergeist is a collaborative music project featuring members of Dope, Stone Sour, Morbid Angel, Kittie, Genitorturers, Godhead, PIG, Dark New Day, Saliva, Crossbreed, Adema, Pigface, KMFDM, and many more!!!
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