3/16/14

Interview: Terminus

 
Terminus from Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a band to keep your eyes on if you're into classic heavy metal, check out their music on the bandcamp-player below. Answers by vocalist James Beattie.

When I first heard your tape "Into Exile", I really had a hard time to categorize the music, other than it sounded very damn good! The music feels quite general, still somehow it sounds very unique. How would you describe the music of Terminus, and which are your major influences?

- I would describe our music as a bit of a mixture between '80's US metal and the NWOBHM. I think it's fair to say that the NWOBHM influence is most apparent in the vocals. Musically our big influences are bands like Iron Maiden, Attacker, Slough Feg, Savage Grace, Solstice/Isen Torr...I could go on, but you get the idea!!!

- Vocally I worship Solstice, Marquis De Sade/Sanctus, Warlord and Virtue. There are of course many more, but those examples will probably give your readers a good idea of what to expect.


I haven't studied the lyrics that closely, but I get the feeling that there's some sort of futuristic concept involved, since some certain terms (and names?) are being repeated several times in the four songs. Is that the case (and if it is, tell us more about the story)?

- The entire demo was based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation. It is essentially the story of the fall of a Galactic Empire, and the turmoil that surrounds its rebuilding. The central character to the first story "The Psychohistorians" develops a scientific method of forecasting future events and the powers that be fear what he has to say. He ends up exiled along with a group of followers and he devises plans to shorten the coming age of chaos.

- I read somewhere that Asimov was inspired to write it upon reading the history of the fall of the Roman Empire.


How did you came up with the name Terminus? Are you aware of the band Terminus 5 from Ireland, who apparently released an album in the 80's?

- The first I have heard of Terminus 5 is right now!!

- Terminus is the name of the planet that the central character from "The Psychohistorians" is exiled to. It fits in with the overarching concept of the tracks on the demo.


You announced recently that you'll release a split 7" with Portugal’s Ravensire. How come you chose to co-operate with them, are they a band that you think you can relate to, musically?

- Ravensire have become firm friends of ours over the last year. We came into contact with them because Nuno enjoyed our stuff and made contact with us. The feeling was entirely mutual as I had bought their "Iron Will" MCD and loved it. We were offered the opportunity to release a 7" single and we liked the idea of doing a split release. RAVENSIRE were top of our list to work with, so we were very very pleased that they agreed to it. We even managed to meet up with Nuno for beers when he was in Dublin. That was a messy train ride home!

- Ravensire and Terminus sound very different from one another, but there is no doubt in my mind that the two bands have an almost identical attitude in terms of where we see ourselves in the Heavy Metal Underground.


Will your contribution, the song "Centaurean" be exclusive for this release only, or could it possibly be included on future works as well?

- At present we have no plans to use the song again. But if the 7" should sell out, it may surface at a later date.


The coverart of your side of the split indicates that there's some sort of sci-fi based story behind that song as well, is that right?

- Absolutely! This time is based on M John Harrison's "The Centauri Device". This story follows the exploits of an absolute fucking loser called John Truck who gets into all sorts of scrapes trying to locate an alien weapon for the human government/military. He didn't have a great start in life bless him.


To conclude it then, what does the future hold for Terminus? Could the next release possibly be a full-length album?

- A full length album is next on the agenda. The songs from the demo will most likely be recorded again and given a better sound. We hope to begin recording by early 2014. We won't be rushing it.

- Other than that we want to play more gigs, especially some of the festivals, so if you could have a word in the ear of those fine folk at Muskelrock, we'd be much obliged! Haha!

/H

https://www.facebook.com/terminusni


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