Archive for Taiwan

Chthonic announced as main support to Satyricon on 36 date Euro tour

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on 16th September 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Symphonic orient metallers Chthonic have been announced as main support on Satyricon‘s 36-date European tour which will kick off on 7th November in Copenhagen, Denmark. The tour will see Chthonic visiting a number of European cities as well as their return to the UK since their Download appearance earlier this year. Chthonic‘s bassist Doris Yeh comments:

This is our first European tour following the release of our current album, Bu-Tik, and it’s great to be able to visit so many places. For some countries, like Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Italy and Spain, it will be the first time Chthonic has been there, so we are very excited to play for those fans we haven’t had the chance to reach in the past.

UK tour dates are as follow:

SUN 10 NOVEMBER / ACADEMY 3/ MANCHESTER
MON 11 NOVEMBER / THE LIMELIGHT / BELFAST
TUE 12  NOVEMBER / BUTTON FACTORY / DUBLIN
THU 14 NOVEMBER / O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON / LONDON

Chthonic online:

http://www.CHTHONIC.tw
http://facebook.com/CHTHONIC
http://facebook.com/CHTHONICtw
http://youtube.com/CHTHONICtw

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Epica thanks fans for support and begin to look to the future

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 10th July 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

In a recent statement released by Dutch symphonic metal band, Epica, the band thanked fans and began discussing their future plans. The full statement is as follows:

Our show at Graspop on the 30th of June marked the end of the “Requiem for the Indifferent” touring cycle. We would like to thank all our loyal fans who have, once again, carried Epica to the next level. Our world-tour promoting Requiem for the Indifferent has given us a ton of wonderful new memories. We played a lot of new places like Australia, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Belarus and Dubai and welcomed new fans at every one of the 100+ shows of this world-tour. A new milestone for us was reached during Retrospect, the celebration of our 10th anniversary! We will never forget being on stage with this huge orchestra and choir in front of the 4500 fans from all over the world.

As you know we will take a step back from playing live shows for the upcoming months since Simone & Oliver and Coen & Linda are expecting children.

During this period we will be finalizing our live CD, BluRay/DVD Retrospect, which will be released in the autumn of this year. Besides that we are in the pre-production phase of the 6th Epica studio album which we will start to record at the end of this summer and which will be released in spring 2014.

We can’t wait to share the Retrospect show and our new music with you all and we hope to see you on the road in 2014!!

Love, EPICA

Epica online:

http://www.epica.nl
http://www.facebook.com/epica
http://www.youtube.com/epica
http://www.twitter.com/epica
http://www.myspace.com/epica

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Taiwanese metal band and activists Chthonic release illustrated book based on their songs

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 27th June 2013 by Contra Mundi

Those familiar with Chthonic will know that their songs incorporate all matters political and historical and promote them to people who otherwise may not have had a clue about the rich and diverse culture the band come from. By getting the events depicted in their songs made into fine works of art emphasises the unique outlook that Chthonic have on the world, but also provides a visual aid to what can sometimes be complex themes and fascinating pieces of history and folklore. They’ve incorporated the talents of the famous Taiwanese arts group Yamyoukan to bring the songs to life, and the result is the truly stunning book Unsealing the Bú-Tik.

Included in the 32 pages of illustrations is the headhunt from Seediq Bale(2005), the departure of the Takasago Army from the album Takasago Army (2011), the final battle at Sing Ling Temple from Takasago Army (2011) & Mirror Of Retribution (2009); all of which are brought to vivid and visceral life and will enchant any fan of their music, but also fine art enthusiasts. The book also features artwork from Chthonic’s new album Bú-Tik(2013) which is available now for purchase. Fans can purchase the book at this location.

Chthonic’s bassist Doris Yeh and singer Freddy Lim have made contributions to the book in the form of their own drawings, which will feature side by side with the other pieces.

Doris had this to say about the art book:

It has always been our dream to turn the stories behind our music into images; I feel so moved as I hold this illustrated book in my hand…

Chthonic’s drummer Dani also commented:

I’m really grateful that Yamyoukan invited us to take part in the drawing process, so that I could pick up the drawing pen again. It’s always been a passion of mine…

Chthonic appeared for the second time at Download festival this year and have played at Bloodstock in 2012 where Dan Mullins [My Dying Bride] came in as guest drummer and the whole crowd were informed by Freddy Lim of the lack of a Taiwanese team in the Olympics; who instead had to be called Chinese Taipei. The Bloodstock crowd responded in force to chanting ‘Taiwan’ to the band and showing their support for the political battle still on-going between China and Taiwan.

At Download 2013 Chthonic played with a six-piece Taiwanese orchestra which would have been an astounding spectacle to behold and would have brought energy to their material that has never been witnessed on these shores.

A full UK tour is currently being planned for autumn 2013.

Chthonic online:

http://facebook.com/CHTHONIC
http://facebook.com/CHTHONICtw
http://youtube.com/CHTHONICtw
http://www.CHTHONIC.tw

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Chthonic announce 24 hour stream of Bú-Tik via Soundcloud

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 4th June 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Taiwan’s premier metal unit, Chthonic have announced a 24-hour stream of their seventh studio album, Bú-Tik, via Soundcloud.com to celebrate its release in the UK. Listen to Bú-Tik in full here, at this location.

Recorded at Sweden’s Sweetspot Studio by producer Rickard Bengtson, who also worked on 2011’s Takasago Army, Bú-Tik sees the band returning to the scene with their signature brand of symphonic ‘oriental metal’, as they choose to define it; as usual, the musicians continue on their mission to build awareness of the myths of Taiwan and the tragic events in their country’s history.

Bú-Tik – based around the story of the 228 Massacre, the Bú-Tik Palace and the Mirror Of Retribution – highlights “righteous violence and justifiable defence”; once more, it takes the listener deep into the folklore & history of exotic Taiwan. Chthonic’s bassist and spokesperson, Doris Yeh comments:

We are very proud to present Bú-Tik to the world; it talks about self-defence, righteous violence and the armed spirits! With this album, we have pushed ourselves to achieve new heights – heights we’ve never imagined before! We are leading metal fans to the next episode of Chthonic!

Track listing is as follows:

01. Arising Armament (intro)
02. Supreme Pain For The Tyrant
03. Sail Into The Sunset’s Fire
04. Next Republic
05. Rage Of My Sword
06. Between Silence And Death
07. Resurrection Pyre
08. Set Fire To The Island
09. Defenders Of Bu-tik Palace
10. Undying Rearmament (Outro)

Bú-Tik is available in both physical and digital formats now, via Spinefarm Records.

On the front of live performances, Chthonic are confirmed to play on the Pepsi Max Stage on Saturday 15th June at the Download Festival 2013, set to take place over the weekend of June 14th – 16th at its historical stamping ground of Donington Park. Chthonic last appeared at Download in 2011, but for this follow-up show they are returning in greater numbers, the plan being to utilise the skills of the oriental orchestra to help bring their brand of symphonic oriental metal to the UK masses: Doris states:

This is the first time we’ll have played with the orchestra outside of Taiwan. We’re really hoping to present a show that people will be talking about for some time to come…

Tickets for Download 2013 are available at this location. Plans are currently being discussed for an autumn UK tour.

Chtonic online:

http://chthonic.org
http://facebook.com/chthonic

 

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Chthonic announce release date for upcoming album, Bú-Tik

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 22nd April 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Taiwanese metal band, Chthonic, have confirmed June 3rd as the release date for their seventh studio album, Bú-Tik, via Spinefarm Records.

Recorded at Sweden’s Sweetspot Studio by producer Rickard Bengtson, who also worked on the band’s 2011 Takasago Army, Bú-Tik sees the band returning to the scene with their signature brand of symphonic “orient metal”, as they choose to define it; as usual, the musicians continue on their mission to build awareness of the myths of Taiwan and the tragic events in their country’s history.

Bú-Tik – which is based around the story of the 228 Massacre, the Bú-Tik Palace and the Mirror Of Retribution – highlights “righteous violence and justifiable defence”; once more, it takes the listener deep into the folklore and history of exotic Taiwan.

Bassist and band spokesperson, Doris Yeh, stated:

We are very proud to present Bú-Tik to the world; it talks about self-defence, righteous violence and the armed spirits! With this album, we have pushed ourselves to achieve new heights – heights we’ve never imagined before! We are leading metal fans to the next episode of Chthonic!

Track listing is as follows:

01. Arising Armament (intro)
02. Supreme Pain For The Tyrant
03. Sail Into The Sunset’s Fire
04. Next Republic
05. Rage Of My Sword
06. Between Silence And Death
07. Resurrection Pyre
08. Set Fire To The Island
09. Defenders Of Bu-Tik Palace
10. Undying Rearmament (Outro)

The first single, Defenders Of Bú-Tik Palace, will be made available digitally shortly via Spinefarm Records, with a very special video to follow. Doris explains:

For this clip, the first in a series of four, we decided to put ourselves through one month of martial arts training, to prepare ourselves properly. Finally, a couple of days ago, we filmed the video over a 24 hour period, and we are all now covered in bruises and completely exhausted… it’s not easy to go at it for such an extended period!

One the live front, Chthonic are confirmed to play on the Pepsi Max Stage on Saturday June 15th at Download Festival 2013, set to take place over the weekend of June 14th – 16th at its historical stamping ground of Donington Park.

Chthonic last appeared at Download in 2011, but for this follow-up show they are returning in greater numbers, the plan being to utilise the skills of the oriental orchestra. Doris commented:

This is the first time we’ll have played with the orchestra outside of Taiwan. We’re really hoping to present a show that people will be talking about for some time to come…

Tickets for Download 2013 are available at this location.

From Fuji Rock and Loud Park in Japan, through to Ozzfest in the US, Bloodstock and Download in the UK, and Wacken Open Air in Germany, Chthonic have already made their mark around the world, touring in over 30 countries, picking up awards (including the Golden Melody Award – the Taiwanese equivalent of a Grammy), featuring on magazine front covers, supporting political causes, releasing photo books, appearing in the charts and of course making powerful, unique music steeped in their own culture. Plans are currently being discussed for an autumn UK tour.

Chthonic online:

http://chthonic.tw/
https://www.facebook.com/chthonictw
https://twitter.com/CHTHONICtw

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Epica confirmed for Asia shows in 2013

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 20th December 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Dutch symphonic metal outfit Epica, who have just finished their France and UK tour with Stream of Passion, have been confirmed for three shows in China and Taiwan in April 2013. All three shows will be the first ever Epica shows in China and Taiwan.

Dates are as followed:

April 2013

11 – Yu Gong Live House, Beijing, China.
13 – Mao Live House, Shanghai, China.
14 – KHS Hall, Taipei, Taiwan.

Further info on Epica’s 2013 shows and tour dates can be found at this location.

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