Taiwan's CHTHONIC Completes Work On New Album

Asian symphonic black metal band CHTHONIC, which made international headlines by championing Taiwanese democracy from the Ozzfest and Wacken Open Air stages last summer, has finished recording its new concept album, "Mirror Of Retribution", in Los Angeles with producer (and ANTHRAX guitarist) Rob Caggiano (CRADLE OF FILTH, BLEEDING THROUGH). This marks the band's first-ever recording sessions in America.

"We had a good time working in Denmark for three albums, but we had some exciting chemistry between us and Rob, a new producer with a fresh vision and a fresh environment," says CHTHONIC vocalist Freddy Lim. "We like Rob's past work very much — especially the depth and strength of all the different instruments — and as a huge fan of ANTHRAX, it was our pleasure to work with him."

Since wrapping up its 2007 "UNlimited" tour, which included 60 North American concerts, high-profile festival appearances and European tours with ENSIFERUM, MARDUK and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, CHTHONIC has been busy both musically and politically. The group's members have been active in Taiwan's recent presidential elections and Freddy Lim was even an official "youth spokesperson" for the pro-democracy DPP political party. Thanks in large part to his efforts, the youth vote (ages 20-29) for the DPP candidate — originally estimated to be just 20% — ended up being 56%.

CHTHONIC's previous studio effort, "Seediq Bale", was recorded in 2005, although it was not released outside of Asia until more than a year later. Since then, the band has seen the international reissue of 2002's "Relentless Recurrence" and a live CD/DVD ("A Decade on the Throne"),as well as the European compilation, "Pandemonium", which featured re-recorded versions of older CHTHONIC tracks.

While the band was pleased to have their music finally available worldwide, they're anxious for their newfound fans to hear their new material. "Although it's still symphonic and extreme, it is a new style of metal for us," Lim says. "There are more Oriental tastes, different genres of metal being mixed, and more emotional fluctuations in the music."

In the meantime, bassist Doris inked an exclusive worldwide deal with ESP. She will be featured in the 2009 catalog. Doris also appears on the cover of the November issue of FHM Taiwan. The issue soon climbed to the top of the Internet sales chart during the first week.

CHTHONIC has been touring around the world in the past few years with lots of media attention. Among all the excellent members, Doris's unique style is often favored by the international media. FHM approached Doris for her dual images of sexy fierceness and intrinsic charm.

During this photo op, Doris tried for the first time to wig her hair short. The stylists also provided a wide selection of wardrobe to make Doris a sweet girl next door, as well as the seductive goddess from the underworld. The most impressive piece was a black leather top with only two straps. The photographer was amazed by Doris's attractive silhouette in this piece, thus decided the cover photo. Doris later told the interviewer, "I had never exposed myself so much since the nude photos my parents took when I was three-month-old."

The feature and photo shoot with Doris has done so well (she is the number one girl in FHM Taiwan history) that it will be picked up by the FHM magazines of Australia, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Mexico and Singapore as well!

When asked why she agreed to FHM's proposal, Doris said, "I do not set limits for my life. Limits and standards are man made. Though human as I am, I do not want to limit my ideas to make music, to care about politics, just to think and to live."

"Mirror Of Retribution" is scheduled for release in April 2009.

Freddy Lim was interviewed a few months ago by Germany's The Hard Way. Watch the chat below.