Terminus Episode 85 - Rotting Kingdom, Encoffination, Downcross, Perceptions of Torment, Paimon Gate

As Terminus trundles its massive bulk toward something resembling a conventional schedule again, we present an oldschool episode with a bunch of records, a bunch of different sounds, and a lot of confused late-night cackling regarding goats and the docking thereof. The opening ceremonies today are conducted by one Paimon Gate, a brand new project who blow the hinges off the barn door with their debut demo of primitive yet ornate black/death in the vein of Profanatica. Keep your eyes on this one- a full length will almost undoubtedly be an album of the year contender when it arrives.

Following this is the new split by Rotting Kingdom and Encoffination, personal favorites of TBMG and TDMG respectively. A well-arranged split always functions as a complete piece unto itself, and such is the case here, presenting two distinct sides of the doom/death coin: RK explore a nuanced take on the more melodic Peaceville sound while Encoffination suffocates the listener with nihilistic minimalism. Party music it's not, but it's a great disc for the seasoned listener.

Next up to bat is Downcross, a Belarusian duo who explore various fringes of black metal styles wrapped around an 00s trenchcoat black'n'roll core. Don't let that descriptor scare you away- this is subtle and rich music which employs its rock techniques in service of fascinating, eccentric tracks. Every track on Hexapoda Triumph could be the seed of a new band unto itself, and to hear all of these ideas bundled together and presented as a distinct unit is something of a revelation.

Concluding is, of course, more brutal death, this time courtesy of deep south butcherers Perceptions of Torment. Longtime friends of TDMG, PoT finally present a concise, punchy debut record of Texas-style brutal death. Ripping technical tremolo riffs whip across a surface of mechanical blast beats which periodically dissolve into crushing NYDM breakdowns suitable for mosh pit homicide- in short, it's everything a growing Terminator needs.


0:00:00 - Intro/Paimon Gate - Seven Legions (Nuclear War Now)

0:23:01 - Rotting Kingdom / Encoffination - Wretched Enigma of Salvation (Selfmadegod Records)

1:01:00 - Interlude - Rigor Sardonicous - “The Dead” fr. Principia Sardonica (Paragon Records, 2004)

1:08:05 - Downcross - Hexapoda Triumph (Cavum Atrum Rex)

1:49:01 - Interlude - Ashes - “Beloved Dust” fr. Ashes (Malignant Voices, 2019)

1:56:54 - Perceptions of Torment - Elegance in Postmortem (Sevared Records)

2:40:03 - Outro - Big K.R.I.T. - “Hometown Hero” ft. K.R.I.T. Wuz Here (Nature Sounds, 2010)

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