This is a band that everyone needs to check out – Chthonic! Chthonic, is an Asian Band from Taiwan that plays vicious blackened death metal with some slight leanings of asian music thrown in. A folk metal band some people call them. I am hesistant to call them that on this cd however, for it is so much heavier than most folk metal that it’s not funny. This cd’s music is very death metal oriented, far more so than any of their other cd’s.
The First Track, Blooming Blades, is an example of why no one should call this cd folk metal! It’s do brutal It can only be death metal. Maybe Oriental Death Metal is a better name for them, but even that is misleading, because oriental usually in music means middle eastern music influenced NOT asian music influenced. It is still a great song with a sick chorus. The Second Song, Hearts condemned is actually more black metal than death metal and sounds really somber. The Er-hu (Asian Stringed instrument that kind of sounds like a deep fiddle) helps to make this sound sad. The next song however is my favorite on the cd, and it’s called “venom in my veins”. This song totally kicks ass!
The riffs here are catchy as fuck and it’s so heavy! Incredible song!
The Fourth Song, The Aroused, is actually a bit slower and is more dark sounding musically and lyrically. It is good, but isn’t really their best song. The song after that sing-ling temple is a skip for me. It’s super heavy but has very little good melodies. The one after that, 1947 is an instrumental in traditional asian music with no guitars. It is actually quite good and sad sounding.
The Next song 49 Theurgy Chains, is another awesome song from this cd. The riffs are so catchy and heavy. The melodies are great too. The Song after that, called Rise from the shadows is another pretty good song by them. It’s heavy as hell and has good melodies. The song after that is actually one of their heaviest songs, entitled bloody waves of sorrow. This is the last song on the cd I like. There are 3 other songs but I am not a big fan of any of them. This song however is quite good. It has 2 halves, a very heavy first half and a lighter, more melodic second half with female vocals. That second half is why I like the song but the first half is kind of forgettable.
Overall, this is a great introduction to Asian Metal for people who want to try it. I would also recommend Demonic Resurrection, and Valendusk as well for Asian metal bands to check out. Overall – 8/10
