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ALBUM REVIEW-CTHONIC-CTHONIC MEGAPORT 2021

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Taiwanese Extreme Metallers' Cthonic release a special live album Cthonic: Megaport 2021 via Spinefarm Records today (May 19th). The band made history with its first post-covid 19 performance in a country that proved successful in its battle against the turgid disease.

The Megaport festival was held over two days in March that took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Cthonic formed in 2006 by singer Freddy Lim before he departed to take a seat in the Taiwanese Parliament. The band were joined on this tour by Audrey Tang, the group's biggest fan, who happens to be the Digital Minister in the Taiwan government. Cthonic combine modern symphonic black metal with traditional Taiwanese folk music. They are renowned for writing lyrics about folklore, mythology and enka, using instruments like Hena, Zhing and Pgaku flute.

The show begins to thunderous applause as the ominous sounds of drums and string arrangements greet them. The orchestral version of "Tekao" settles any nerves before "Oceanquake " erupts the crowd into a frenzy. Audrey Tang samples the atmosphere...and her vocals with a trade-off between herself and Freddy Lim over heavy electric guitars. 

 The band aim to tell stories of past ventures through their own brand of extreme Metal, which seems to enlighten the crowd. "Supreme Pain For The Tyrant" begins with traditional wind instrumentation segues into Lim blasting harsh vocals over odd time signatures, crushing basslines and hard-hitting drums. "Set Fire To The Island" feels like a perilous journey met by two ferocious vocalists. The music conveys to the listener they really understand the meanings of the lyrics to the performers involved. Other highlights include the highly- charged atmospheric "Millenia's Faith Undone" and the original version of "Tekao" Overall, Chthonic put on an energetic show that is bound to win over foreign supporters. The band's brand of black metal and traditional music is a telling introduction. Words by Anselm Anderson


Megaport 2021 is available digitally and as a special limited “anti-epidemic bundle” including a physical CD, CHTHONIC medical-quality mask, a CHTHONIC mask lanyard, large and small CHTHONIC mask containers and a small CHTHONIC spray can for sanitiser will be available. Orders are available at https://ciongzo.com/en/product_detail.php?id=602.


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