The Terminals

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

The Terminals  —  an influential garage-rock and post-punk band formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in the late 1980s .....
Members of the group over time have included ..... Stephen Cogle (Vocals), Peter Stapleton (Drums), Mick Elborado (Keyboards), Susan Heney (Bass), Brian Crook Guitar/Vocals), Maryrose Crook (Bass), John Chrisstoffels (Cello/Bass, Ross Humphries (Guitar/Vocals) and Nicole Moffatt (Violin/Vocals)

The Terminals emerged from the city's famous underground indie scene and are closely associated with Flying Nun Records.  Founded by vocalist Stephen Cogle and the late drummer Peter Stapleton.  Longtime keyboardist Mick Elborado has also been a key pillar of the group.  Known for a dark, brooding, and atmospheric rolling thunder pop-rock sound driven by deep, fiery vocals, gritty organs, and free-range guitars.  Members share a musical family tree with other seminal Kiwi underground bands like The Pin Group, Scorched Earth Policy, and Dark.

The Terminals has often been described as a Kiwi supergroup of the post-punk era, they emerged from the ashes of several prominent local experimental bands, but unlike many of their contemporaries from the famous Dunedin Sound or Flying Nun Records roster who embraced sweet, jangly pop, The Terminals leaned heavily into dark wave, garage punk, and gothic post-punk.  Their signature sound combined cavernous, fiery vocals and gritty songwriting with tense, swirling organ and keyboards, free-range, screeching guitar feedback and moody violins along with heavy, thudding percussion that critics likened to mausoleum doors slamming.

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