Apparently massively popular back home in Taiwan, "melodic" black metallists Chthonic continue up the ladder toward global success, as their 2009 release, Mirror of Retribution, was released via the Spinefarm label (which is linked to the rather large distribution company Fontana Universal). Produced and mixed by Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, Mirror of Retribution follows the same sonic path as their previous albums -- textured, almost symphonic, and utterly brutal, as evidenced by such tracks as "Blooming Blades" and "Venom in My Veins." As with earlier releases, Chthonic don't shy away from including "messages" in their songs, and this time around the tragic 228 Incident (also known as the 228 Massacre) is supposedly referenced in the album's lyrics -- "supposedly" because without the aid of a lyric sheet, good luck trying to decipher what is being screamed. But unlike quite a few other extreme metal acts, Chthonic manage to stand out on Mirror of Retribution by adding goth, symphonic, and prog elements into the proceedings -- without ever losing the intensity of their full-on metallic attack. And because of that, Mirror of Retribution is certainly Chthonic's most fully realized -- and strongest -- album released thus far.
On Chthonic's fifth release overall, 2002's Relentless Recurrence, the group (whose name is Greek for "Of the Underworld" although the band is from Taiwan) continue merrily along on their symphonic black metal path. Growled male vocals, melodic female vocals, goth keyboards, crunchy metal riffs, face paint -- yep, all the necessary ingredients are here for a commendable black metal fiesta. As mentioned earlier, Chthonic is one of the first Taiwanese black metal bands to make a splash worldwide -- as several of their releases were issued domestically for the first time via the SPV label in 2007 (to coincide with the band securing a spot on that summer's Ozzfest) and judging from such tracks as "Grievance, Acheron Poem," they should have no problem winning over Stateside fans who are keen on metal best suited for listening to in an old time castle. Nothing too fancy or notably groundbreaking here: just workmanlike, straight-ahead metal.
ChthoniC's melodies can be characterized as extreme metal with a central inspiration and folklore coming from the black metal movement. The music swings from cool despair to the ...
You can say what you want about Taiwan's top symphonic black metal export, Chthonic, but if there's one universal agreement, it's that the group never skimps on lavish packaging, especially their three-disc live set, Decade on the Throne. Comprised of two audio CDs and a DVD, the set comes in packaging that resembles a hardcover book, but when you open it, you discover the aforementioned audiovisual goodies. Recorded at Huashan Culture Park in Taipei, Taiwan on February 3, 2006, the group celebrated their tenth anniversary by inviting both the Taipei Ladies Choir and the Oriental Orchestra to partake in the festivities. The result is an even more over the top and bombastic Chthonic performance than usual. While never taking away from all the death metal growls and thrash metal riffing. Nearly all of the liner notes inside the set are in Taiwanese, so unless you have a translator present, good luck deciphering it all. But Decade on the Throne certainly proves once and for all that black metal is a universal language embraced by the metal masses throughout every single time zone.
Track #
Track
Time
Composer
1
Intro (Live)
4:51
Chthonic
2
Indigenous Laceration (Live)
3:53
Chthonic
3
Progeny of Rmdax Rising (Live)
4:14
Chthonic
4
Breath of Ocean (Live)
3:07
Chthonic
5
Decomposition of the Mother Isle (Aboriginal Gods Enthroned)(Live)
4:42
Chthonic
6
Grab the Soul to Hell (Live)
4:54
Chthonic
7
Guitar Solo (Live)
3:51
Chthonic
8
Drum Solo (Live)
1:51
Chthonic
9
Vengeance Arise (Live)
4:07
Chthonic
10
Bloody Gaya Fulfilled (Live)
6:17
Chthonic
11
Fuck or Die (Live)
1:11
Chthonic
12
Piano and Keyboard Solo (Live)
1:30
Chthonic
13
The Gods Weep (Live)
5:29
Chthonic
14
Oriental Violin Solo (Live)
2:29
Chthonic
15
Guard the Isle Eternally (Live)
8:46
Chthonic
16
Where the Utux Ancestors Wait (Live)
3:59
Chthonic
17
Floated Unconsciously in the Acheron (Live)
5:45
Chthonic
18
Grievance, Acheron Poem (Live)
2:40
Chthonic
19
Onset of Tragedy (Live)
7:31
Chthonic
20
Relentless Recurrence (Live)
8:25
Chthonic
21
Quasi Putrefaction (Live)
7:23
Chthonic
22
Exultant Suicide (Live)
4:49
Chthonic
23
Indigenous Laceration (DVD)(Live)
N/A
Chthonic
24
Progeny of Rmdax Tasing (DVD)(Live)
N/A
Chthonic
25
The Breath of Ocean (DVD)(Live)
N/A
Chthonic
26
Decomposition of the Mother Isle (Aboriginal Gods Enthroned) [DV
ChthoniC's melodies can be characterized as extreme metal with a central inspiration and folklore coming from the black metal movement. The music swings from cool despair to the ...
Symphonic black metal will always be first and foremost associated with Norway, a locale that seems to spawn a new band sporting ghoulish face paint every bloody day. But by 2007, the style had long crossed over into other faraway territories, as evidenced by the emergence of Taiwan's Chthonic. Already a sensation back home, the group -- led by singer Freddy Lim -- has been issuing albums on a regular basis in Taiwan since 1998. But it wasn't until 2006 that Chthonic issued their first proper U.S. release, Seediq Bale. Starting things off are three videos (as a result, when played on a standard CD player, for the first three tracks you hear, literally, nothing), before the metallic onslaught begins. What results is your standard/pro-sounding symphonic metal -- no big surprises or detours -- as evidenced by such ditties as "Progeny of Rmdax Tasing" and "Bloody Gaya Fulfilled." In fact, the only thing that's different about Chthonic is that the vocals alternate between being sung in English and Taiwanese -- but since most of Lim's vocals are growled, he could be speaking in Martian, and you wouldn't know the difference.
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