ChtoniC Ready for Retribution, Continues Freedom Fight

Taiwanese-based, corpse-paint slathered, symphonic black metallers ChtoniC infuse new life into socially conscious music. The band, known for its incorporation of traditional Taiwanese instruments into a nefarious sonic stew, has completed a new album, 'Mirror of Retribution,' which was produced by Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano; ChtoniC are looking for a label to release the record this summer. When not writing and rehearsing, bassist Doris Yeh acted in her first movie. Her bandmates, namely vocalist Freddy Lim, continue their work with human rights and freedom issues between the Chinese and the Tibetans that plague their local region.

Yeh told Noisecreep, "For the memorial year of the Tibetan invasion, ChthoniC pushed so hard about the issue of 'Panda is from Tibet, not China' to reveal the bloody killing and disregard of human rights from China's government." When Chinese officials gifted Tibet with two pandas as a show of friendship, it was seen as a bit of an insult by Tibetans, as pandas have been Tibetan mascots for thousands of years and a portion of Tibet whose name translates to "The Place Where Panda Lives" was cut in half by Chinese government after the 1949 invasion and officials began using pandas, long associated with Tibet, as political tools.

Yeh also placed her band in a cultural context, saying, "For ChthoniC, culture is the soul and soil of the music. What we are doing is not just writing songs or playing in front of the fans to get compliments. We want to respect every culture and let people have their own freedom, inside their mind and inside the place where they standing." Lim has said that he may even paint his face like a panda on stage as a symbol of how China has tried to distort Tibetan identity.