relentless recurrence - album review - EU Jacksonville 9/6/07

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relentless recurrence

by christina wagner

Artist:
ChthoniC

Title:
Relentless Recurrence

Release Date:
06.26.07

Label:
Deathlight Records

      When I was first asked to write a CD review for a Taiwanese metal band, I thought it was a joke. For once in my life, I was wrong. Dubbed the “Black Sabbath of Asia,” ChthoniC (pronounced THON-ick), have exploded all over the map rocking deals with Hot Topic, boasting the title of the first Asian group to land Ozzfest and, all in all, simply melting our faces off with their unique and epic contribution to the black metal genre.

      I’m not sure why they chose to give me Relentless Recurrence to review, but I’ll take it. The opening track is an almost-introduction to their roots, putting a spin on traditional Taiwanese jams to start out the roller coaster they will soon send us on. You don’t really miss much as far as lyrics go, but how many memorable phrases have you really heard through metal lyrics? They could be singing about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for all I know, I just need them to bring the me-tal. And ChthoniC does just that.

      The second track of the album, ‘Onset of Tragedy,’ takes you for a turn, pulling out influences that reflect a combination of operatic metal and the Street Fighter theme music. I’m not usually a fan of the whole male-screaming, woman-singing combo, but these guys know how to pull it off. The whole album truly tells a story that is constantly moving like a well-planned set list through haunting chord progressions and chilling (translated) lyrics.

      “Tragic disaster dismemberment of fate, Anti-justice by Gods in Empryean, Malignity impenetrate straight to mane, the fatal power growing with the deadly hates.” That is Metal in any language.

      Their style is truly the beauty and the beast with an overwhelming variety of sound and unconventional usage of a few instruments. ChthoniC found a way to tie it all together without being too busy and without dropping the hammer of their Taiwanese metal. Check out myspace.com/chthonictw for a little taste.

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