#14: Chthonic (閃靈)
Among the many Asian metal acts I’ve listened to, for me, Chthonic’s style is the most trenchant.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives)
Country of origin: Taiwan
Location: Taipei
Status: Active
Formed in: 1995
Genre: Melodic Black/Death/Folk Metal
Lyrical themes: Taiwanese myths and legends, Anti-fascism, History
Current label: Ciong Zo
Years active: 1995-present
Chthonic’s melodic black/death metal, which is combined with dramatic symphonic touches and the erhu’s sorrowful and desolate tones, is one heck of an epic package that gets me animated all the time. Their music, starting from Mirror of Retribution (2009) and onwards, somehow evokes a feeling of struggle and longing. It kind of makes sense since the band members’ political views and their material touch on anti-facism and draw from the difficult experiences of Taiwan’s aboriginal ethnic groups. Because of this highlighting of the culture and history of the Austronesians of Taiwan, as a Filipino, i feel a special connection to the band’s music.
Chthonic uses a number of folk instruments like the Chinese erhu or hian-a, zithers (not sure if guzheng or koto), as well as the indigenous pgaku flute.
Favorite Albums:
- Takasago Army (2011)
- Battlefields of Asura (2018)
Favorite Songs:
- Broken Jade (Takasago Army)
- Legacy of the Seediq (Takasago Army)
- Blooming Blades (Mirror of Retribution)
- Defenders of Bu-tik Palace (Bu-tik, 2013)
- A Crimson Sky’s Command (Battlefields of Asura)
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