Chthonic

Infusing ethnic elements into metal is a recurring sound in the global scene, yet Chthonic cross boundaries with their Zen-like heaviness. A cliché symphonic death track introduces the album, "The Island," layered with notes of Taiwanese flutes and traditional erhu, before "Takao" and "Southern Cross" plunge deep into distorted riffs and guttural vocals sung in Taiwanese. Major double bass work on "Kaoru" showcases drummer Dani's percussion skills, which practically dominate the rest of the ensemble with sheer precision. The sound on "Mahakala" reflects the inspiration of the Takasago Army; its theme derived from soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army recruited from Taiwanese aboriginal tribes during WWII. On their sixth studio release, Chthonic have come a long way since appearing on Sam Dunn's Global Metal soundtrack and having bassist Doris labelled one of the Hottest Chicks in Metal. These Taipei warriors are more than images of intrigue.