TERMINUS: extreme metal podcast

In one sense, this episode took two weeks to record - in another, it took nearly twenty years. Terminus Extreme Metal Podcast is proud to present MONVMENTVM - our full examination and critique of the discography of one of the bands most central to the podcast's artistic vision, Spite Extreme Wing. From the earliest demos to the final notes of Vltra, join your intrepid hosts as they perform the first ever English-language deep dive on one of the finest bands that heavy music has ever produced. 0:00:00 - Intro/Background/History 0:29:44 - Magnificat compilation (Beyond…. Productions, 2003 / Behemoth Productions, 2007 reissue) 1:11:53 - Non Dvcor, Dvco (Behemoth Productions, 2004) 2:13:55 - Kosmokrator [Magnificat II] (Behemoth Productions, 2005) 3:10:11 - Vltra (Avantgarde Music, 2008) 4:11:31 - Outro - “Il sole di notte e la rivolta / The sun in the night and the revolt,” fr. Non Dvcor, Dvco Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

On today's installment of Terminus we get two dramatically different sides of Teutonic black metal, both of unquestionable interest to all burly, woodcutting Terminators. First: the return of Rostorchester, whose brand of heavily emo and punk-infused black metal achieves its full potential- mostly by becoming primarily an emo band!* Next: the debut full length of Ad Mortem, who follow closely in the footsteps of friends Totenwache in refreshing the Sargeist style with a steelier and more stoic German countenance- when they're not partying, of course. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:04:10 - Rostorchester - Der Zinnen Sang vom Niedergang (BergStolz) 0:53:43 - Interlude - A Pregnant Light - “Babychain,” fr. Broken Play (Colloquial Sound Recordings, 2019) 0:59:39 - Ad Mortem - In Honorem Mortis (Purity Through Fire) 1:37:59 - Outro - Mavorim - “Krieger, Voran!,” fr. the Verbrannte Erde split w/ Totenwache (Independent, 2018) *CORRECTION: At the start of the Rostorchester review, we refer to a Youtube comment by Antimessiah. This was actually a fake account! See the thread on the Rites of Pestilence upload, where the real Antimessiah drops in to set the record straight. Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

On today's installment of the world's only extreme metal podcast, we come with three triumphant returns by three favorites of the show- this is one for the record books, folks, with one of the strongest lineups of records in a single episode we've ever featured. First up: the shocking return of Mutiilation, whose 17 year absence seemingly never occurred as Meyna'ch presents six tracks of caustic and necro French black metal in a style nearly forgotten.* Next up: another massive comeback by Brodequin, whose custom brand of blast-oriented brutal death is expanded upon with clearer production and a more pronounced sense of melody. Rounding things out: Coffins returns with more Coffins. No further explanation is required. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:54 - Mutiilation - Black Metal Cult (Osmose Productions) 1:04:31 - Interlude - Hell Militia - “Born Without Light” fr. Last Station on the Road to Death (Debemur Morti Productions, 2010) 1:10:22 - Brodequin - Harbinger of Woe (Season of Mist Underground Activists) 1:56:25 - Interlude - Cinerary - “Undying” fr. Rituals of Desecration (Deepsend Records, 2001) 1:59:48 - Coffins - Sinister Oath (Relapse Records) 2:48:28 - Outro - Grudge - “Altar of Asphalt,” fr. D.D.D.H. - Doomed to Death, Damned in Hell split w/ Coffins and Anatomia (Grindmind Records, 2007) *CORRECTION: When discussing Mutiilation's weird choice of cover art, TBMG misattributes the Baphomet statue to the Church of Satan (Anton LaVey). He meant to say "The Satanic Temple," a social justice NGO that's only been around for about a decade. Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

After an impromptu spring break (caused by technical issues, sorry guys), Terminus is back with an alumni-focused episode for the dedicated fans. After a mini-review by TBMG on noble dungeon synth barbarian Uppstigning, we revisit two bands near and dear to the show's cold, black heart. First: the return of Anahata, whose burly, powerlifting heavy/power metal has been infused with a tremendous dose of prog and a massively increased structural scope. Next: Syndexioi, who emerge slightly from the caverns with a sound louder, larger, and much more immediate than their first. Listening recommendation for this episode: clench your fist out in front of you at roughly eye level and roar. 0:00:00 - Intro/Uppstigning - Rite of Passage (Independent) 0:18:44 - Anahata - Syncretic Sovereignty (Independent)* 1:12:37 - Interlude - 3 Inches of Blood - “Axes of Evil” fr. Advance and Vanquish (Roadrunner Records, 2004) 1:17:06 - Syndexioi - Devouring Slumber (Independent) 2:00:18 - Outro - Elffor - “Infernal Woods” fr. Son of the Shades (Northern Silence Productions, 2008) *CORRECTION: Anahata's drums were NOT programmed. **FUN FACT: Uppstigning also contributed the synth intro / outro on the Anahata record. We had no idea! Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

In this 2020-style installment of Terminus, we check in on two bands with unique methods of incorporating various post- materials into extreme metal. First: the return of They Came From Visions, who we covered in 2020, back with a much matured sophomore recording which takes traditional, folkish Slavblack and laces it with biting, anxious dissonance. Speaking of dissonance: the new record by Convulsing, a favorite of The Death Metal Guy, whose direct and forceful style of dissodeath belies a prog metal heart and a brutish OSDM sense of rage. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:05:09 - They Came From Visions - The Twilight Robes (Eisenwald) 0:48:22 - Akercocke - “A Skin for Dancing In,” fr. The Goat of Mendes (Peaceville, 2001) 0:55:40 - Convulsing - Perdurance (Independent) 1:39:30 - Haunter - “Shrouded Moor” fr. Thrinodίa (Red River Family Records, 2016) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

It's been a black year for Terminus so far- at least in terms of its metal. Why not switch things up a bit before we turn irrevocably to corpsepainted autists? On today's episode, your hosts explore two records of elitist, oldschool-minded death metal in radically different idioms. First: Drowned, who combine Tampa and Swedish styles into something resolutely minimal and traditional yet shockingly abstract. Second: Unaussprechlichen Kulten, who tap into the earliest strains of melodic death metal and lace it with explosive and dense guitar arrangements which suggest a debt to the prog rock of old. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:02:06 - Drowned - Procul His (Sepulchral Voice Records) 0:44:27 - Interlude - Darkthrone - “As Desertshadows” fr. Goatlord (Moonfog Productions, 1996) 0:49:07 - Unaussprechlichen Kulten - Häxan Sabaoth (Iron Bonehead) 1:35:37 - Outro - Totten Korps - “Hastur’s Voice Echoes in Our Minds” fr. Supreme Commanders of Darkness (Apocalyptic Productions, 2015) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

"Hipster black metal"- a term that inspires tremendous derision, even within the halls of this very podcast. But what if we were to confront the phenomena head-on and truly evaluate its potential? Today we have a triumvirate of records that could all be labelled as "hipster BM" in some sense, but with radically different takes. Hauntologist, a fresh spinoff of Mgla, plays heavily in the realm of goth and post-punk. Departure Chandelier returns from a long absence with something heavier, more primitive, and Bathorian, eschewing much of its melodic past. And returning from even longer: Vemod rises from the grave, reinterpreting grandiose post-rock song structures with the raw power of early Enslaved. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:02:53 - Hauntologist - Hollow (No Solace) 0:42:37 - Departure Chandelier - Satan Soldier of Fortune (Nuclear War Now) 1:11:36 - Interlude - Dzlarv - “Untitled 2” fr. 1996 Demo (Independent, 1996) 1:17:04 - Vemod - The Deepening (Prophecy Productions) 2:06:37 - Outro - Sólstafir - “Pale Rider,” fr. Köld (Spinefarm, 2009) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

In the fractured and diffuse world of extreme metal circa 2024, very few people could be considered a "pillar" of the scene- but one among those is Yosuke Konishi of stalwart label Nuclear War Now! In this interview, your hosts enjoy a leisurely chat with the proprietor of the label, Never Surrender fest, and his newest venture: Helios Press, which seeks to bring vinyl production back stateside in what may be the most ambitious and challenging move yet in an already impressive career. WE WON'T STOP UNTIL WE'RE DEAD! 0:00:00 - Interview 1:06:55 - Blasphemy - "Weltering in Blood" fr. Live Ritual: Friday the 13th (Nuclear War Now, 2001) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

Today's Terminus dispatch: an episode with a much more positive tone than our last. This installment features two Terminus veterans returning with multifaceted and excellent records, proudly continuing traditions of understated greatness. First up: the return of Inquisition, whose new record reaches backward into the band's catalog for a restored aggression but also peeks into the future with an array of unusual non-metal guitar influences. Second: Narbeleth, coming in hot off the tremendous success of their previous record, choose a more difficult path, where their unique style of Franco-Finnish black metal plays with the edges of strange rhythm and dissonance, making for music as tense and fearful as it is ecstatic and Dionysian. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:02:43 - Inquisition - Veneration of Medieval Mysticism and Cosmological Violence (Agonia Records) 0:59:18 - Interlude - Inquisition - “Baptized in Black Goat Blood,” fr. Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer (No Colours Records, 2004) 1:03:01 - Narbeleth - A Pale Crown (Folter Records) 1:51:00 - Outro - Narbeleth - “Moon of A Thousand Shapes,” fr. Svmma Cvm Nox Arcana (Folter Records, 2021) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

AS THE DARKNESS CREEPS OVER THE INTERNET, AND THE SILENCE REACHES THE PODCASTS, WE WILL AWAKE AND RISE... Welcome back to the 2024 season of Terminus! Your intrepid hosts have risen from their dreaded tombs once again to provide the world's most crucial critical analysis of extreme metal records. Our first episode of 2024 covers two records from the waning days of 2023 which have received a lot of attention from our fanbase. Flaming Ouroboros has finally dropped their much-anticipated debut full length- is it a new heigh for outlaw rock, or does it slip over the edge in its dangerous dance with emo? In the other corner, the return of Finnish stalwarts White Death- is their sophomore release a powerful return to traditional Finnish black metal, or merely an exercise in self-congratulation? Find out the answers to these questions and more on a new year of TERMINUS! 0:00:00 - Intro 0:04:22 - Flaming Ouroboros - Anthems for Brotherhood (Death Hymns) 0:59:18 - Bronson - “Quelli Come Noi” fr. Brucia (Rupe Tarpea Produzioni/One People, One Struggle Records, 2018) 1:02:34 - White Death - Iconoclast (Werewolf Records) 1:47:14 - Behexen - “Fist of The Satanist,” fr. By The Blessing of Satan (Woodcut Records, 2004) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

You wanted the worst? You got the worst! It's time for the annual TERMINUS OMEGA episode where your intrepid hosts debate the best extreme metal records of the year. This time, we did our end of year episode as a livestream on Youtube, but we're republishing it here for our podcast platform listeners. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and by the end- maybe we'll all learn something. Enjoy, terminators, and see you in mid-January after our winter break. Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

It's almost Christmas time here at Terminus, so what better way to celebrate the (un)holy trinity than with a triple threat of records focused on grinding dissonance? First up is the return of TDMG favorite Demoncy who go back to basics on Black Star Gnosis with their evergreen style of primitive US black/death metal. Next is Yersin, back on the show for the first time since 2020 with a refinement of their unusual style of crustblackdeathhardcore, pulling as much from Nails as Slavic BM. Wrapping things up is Blood Serpent from the Vietnamese House of Ygra collective, who debut with a record of war metal which, while losing none of the inherent aggression, pursues deeper territories inspired by some of the oldest ideas in 80s metal. This is our last main episode of the year, but it's not quite over yet: next week, on December 27th, at 8 PM EST, is the livestream for our annual Terminus Omega, where we enumerate the definitive best records of the year. Join us on Youtube Live for the festivities- this has been a great year for music and we're looking forward to celebrating it with all of you who have listened throughout it. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:05:51 - Demoncy - Black Star Gnosis (Dark Descent Records) 0:52:45 - Interlude - Hell Rot - “Goat Chapel” fr. Vomit Altar (Independent, 2006) 0:55:33 - Yersin - The Scythe is Remorseless (Trepanation Recordings) 1:32:36 - Blood Serpent - Bestial Extermination (House of Ygra) 2:04:44 - Outro - Aura Noir - “Black Metal Jaw,” fr. The Merciless (Tyrant Syndicate Productions, 2004) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

A year and a half in the making, the time has finally come for Terminus to reconvene with the members of Mormegil, formed from the ashes of the late Cromlech. What ensues: a rollicking conversation covering Cromlech's "Ascent of Kings," songwriting techniques on an epic scale, the ambitions of continuing band Mormegil, and how the ghost of AFI haunts us all. Break out the mead, boys: it's time for another hangout with our favorite Canadians. 0:00:00 - Interview 1:43:15 - Cromlech - "Turambar (Master of Doom/By Doom Mastered) fr. Ascent of Kings (Hessian Firm, 2023) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

The boys are back in town with a long and girthy 2020-style episode centered around 4 black metal releases from the deep underground. First up is a patron submission in Guerrero Nómada, a modern one-man black metal project which adds touches of emo and classic heavy metal into its stomping heathenism. Next is a new entry from Holland's Zwotte Kring collective in The Color of Rain, where our Dutch friends take a stab at bringing the black metal (and metalcore) back to post-black metal. Side B: the return of Kampfeswut who further iterates on their grinding style of explosive black/folk/power/melodeath/anything as long as it's FAST. And finally, we send you out with Forest Thrall, a promising outlaw rock upstart who breaks the psychedelic primitivity of Blazebirth Hall into even more molecular fragments. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:08:21 - Guerrero Nómada - Cuatro Partes del Mundo (Independent) 0:49:20 - The Color of Rain - Oceans Above (Void Wanderer Productions) 1:21:15 - Interlude - For the Fallen Dreams - “Brothers in Arms” fr. Changes (Rise Records, 2008) 1:24:14 - Kampfeswut - Die Rückkehr des Barden (Acid Vicious) 2:00:00 - Forest Thrall - Amidst Pines (Death Prayer Records) 2:49:47 - Outro - Skuggeheim - “Å Gå I Gl​ø​ymsle” fr. Ekko frå fortid - Fase fem av fem (Terratur Possessions, 2023) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

After a week of epic, thrashing black/death Americana, we bring you a week of epic, thrashing brutal death. First up, we finally get a new release from The Death Metal Guy's favorite Colombians, Internal Suffering. Where a lot of modern BDM exists in a virtually self-contained sonic universe, nestled between tech-death and slam, Internal Suffering proudly trace their heritage to Morbid Angel. This influence is especially clear on Rituals, where they strip down their song structures to let the riffs shine through. Second, we ponder the metamorphosis of Long Island's Afterbirth, pioneers of brutal death now venturing into more proggy, cinematic territory. This could be terrible, but it isn't, and it may well be a masterpiece. In But Not Of is an uncommonly well-rounded record that speaks to every facet of teenage alienation, but from the vantage point of older, wiser men. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:03:45 - Internal Suffering - Rituals (New Standard Elite) 0:45:25 - Interlude - Carnivore Diprosopus - “Creation of a Sadistic Empire” fr. Condemned by the Alliance (Sevared Records, 2013) 0:49:39 - Afterbirth - In But Not Of (Willowtip Records) 1:48:53 - Outro - Lykathea Aflame - “To Give” fr. Elvenefris (Obscene Productions, 2000) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

On today's installation of Terminus, two different sorts of returns: Arghoslent, back from the grave, and Strix Askesis, back on the show. Arghoslent are back from 15 years of slumber with a new record of... deathened heavy metal(?) while Strix Askesis refine their sound and explore new territories between black metal and hard rock. Does Arghoslent's unique sound stand the test of time, standing shoulder to shoulder with their previous work? And can Strix Askesis square the circle of Blazebirth Hall and the heaviest of 90s hard rock? (Spoilers: no and yes respectively.) 0:00:00 - Intro 0:04:02 - Arghoslent - Resuscitation of the Revanchists (Weltenfeind) 1:00:06 - Interlude - Abominant - “Left to Rot” fr. Onward to Annihilation (Deathgasm Records, 2013) 1:03:31 - Strix Askesis - Becoming Thunder (Independent) 2:05:25 - Outro - Furia - “Opętaniec” fr. Novel (Pagan Records, 2014) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

TBMG is out sick this week, so while the cat is away, the... cat-owner will play? On this solo venture, The Death Metal Guy gives a quick rundown of some of his favorite power electronics albums, with an ear for the links between this style of music and extreme metal. Take the stuff you love from Terminus and make it even noisier, more inaccessible, and thematically repugnant- what's not to love? 0:00:00 - Intro 0:15:09 - Hunting Lodge - Will (S/M Operations, 1983) 0:27:40 - Whitehouse - Bird Seed (Susan Lawly, 2003) 0:44:52 - Navicon Torture Technologies - Pure-Skin (NCC, 2006) 0:58:38 - Deathpile - G.R. (Hospital Productions, 2003) 1:11:57 - Outro - Humiliate - Belle of the Ball (Independent, 2017) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

On today's two-banger, both your intrepid hosts get to play show and tell with the latest releases from bands they love deeply. Side one: TBMG presents the newest record by Primordial, which shows the band investigating the murky territory between hard rock, heavy and black metal, Celtic folk, and all points in between, in a record as dense as it is long. TDMG brings on the new album by Profanatica, which goes CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG. All is right with the world. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:09:54 - Primordial - How it Ends (Metal Blade Records) 1:07:34 - Interlude - Primordial - “The Heretic’s Age,” fr. Storm before Calm (Hammerheart, 2002) 1:13:51 - Profanatica - Crux Simplex (Season of Mist) 1:54:54 - Outro - Havohej - “I Arose, Part 2” fr. Dethrone the Son of God (Candlelight Records, 1993) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

Terminus is back with its first interview in a long while- and who better to bring the series back than Ron Vento, mastermind behind Imperial Crystalline Entombment and Aurora Borealis. I.C.E. recently released their 20 year-delayed followup to 2004's debut with Ancient Glacial Resurgence, an uncompromising but remarkably entertaining record which breathes new life into a nearly forgotten style of USBM. Join Ron and TDMG as they explore the new I.C.E. record, the history of the band, his work in Aurora Borealis, the changing landscape of black metal, and whether I.C.E. ACTUALLY sounds like Immortal. 0:00:00 - Interview Part 1 0:20:12 - Imperial Crystalline Entombment - "Of Blizzards and Banshees" fr. Ancient Glacial Resurgence (Debemur Morti, 2023) 0:24:27 - Interview Part 2 0:44:19 - Aurora Borealis - "The House of Nimrod" fr. Prophecy is the Mold in Which History is Poured (Hammerheart Records, 2022) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com

It's been a little while, but for good reason: we're back with a HUGE, sprawling 4 record show with some old favorites and perhaps some new ones for all ye Terminators. Today, we're split roughly in half between black metal and grind. Side one: Gridlink returns from their long absence with an exquisite record of technical and melodic grind, while fiendish upstarts Trichomoniasis horrify with a bloated slab of grinding gorenoise. Side two: returning veterans Sielunvihollinen presents a new record of confounding but exciting black/heavy metal while Ynkleudherhenavogyon enters the arena with brackish but subtle storming pagan black metal. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:09 - Gridlink - Coronet Juniper (Willowtip Records) 0:41:07 - Sielunvihollinen - Helvetinkone (Hammer of Hate) 1:19:08 - Interlude - Ashbury - “The Warning” fr. Endless Skies (Ashbury Music, 1983) 1:23:05 - Trichomoniasis - Makeshift Crematoria (New Standard Elite) 2:00:48 - Ynkleudherhenavogyon - Honan Bleydh II (BC - Inverse Solar Reqvriem / tape - Analög Ragnarök / LP - Urtod Void / CD - Dark Adversary) 2:44:29 - Outro - Forest - “The Flames and The Ash before Horizons Opened Wide,” fr. Forest (Independent, 1996) Terminus links: Terminus on Youtube Terminus on Patreon Terminus on Instagram Terminus on Facebook thetrueterminus@gmail.com