Order the new CD, Mirror Of Retribution by Chthonic and get a limited* autographed CD booklet with purchase!

Taiwan is a country where history and folklore work very much hand in hand. Both of these elements are central to Mirror of Retribution, the latest studio album and Spinefarm Records debut from the country's premier metal outfit, Chthonic (pronounced "Thonic").

Chthonic (deriving from a Greek word signifying spirits of the underworld) along with producer/mixer Rob Caggiano (Anthrax guitarist) have delivered an album that touches on both the spirit and mortal worlds, with loss of national identity and the sometimes turbulent history of their homeland appearing as recurring themes.

With Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano at the production and mixing helm, Mirror Of Retribution's "Where The Ancestors' Souls Gathered' sees the award-winning musicians further developing a style that started with the '99 album , blending full-on metal of the darker persuasion with traditional Taiwanese instruments such as two-string violin, the hena.

"The story behind this album combines true historical fact with an ancient myth of hell," explains bassist and band spokesperson Doris Yeh. "Amongst other things, we make reference to the famous '228 Massacre,' which was the biggest-ever massacre in Taiwanese history. Tens of thousands of Taiwanese were killed by the Chinese army. The final battle of the event occurred in the middle of Taiwan, where 40 local militia attempted to resist 2,500 soldiers from the Chinese army. In the end, the militia lost their lives near the Sing-Ling Temple."

Never ones to shy away from a just cause, Chthonic - in particular front man Freddy Lim - have been consistently active on the political front at home, whilst away from their hometown of Taipei they have also appeared at the Wacken Festival in Germany, and toured as part of Ozzfest in the US, becoming the first Asian extreme metal band to make such a mark.

"Musically, we tried to move the band to a whole new level," explains bassist and band spokesperson Doris Yeh. "In the past, we've been described in various ways, as 'symphonic black metal' or 'melodic death', the word 'folk' has also been applied at times - but this was our chance to establish a new place for ourselves in the extreme metal genre."

Just one listen to the brutality and technical proficiency of Mirror of Retribution, and you'll know exactly why Chthonic are going to be the next kings of the global extreme metal scene.

*Offer valid only with purchase of Mirror Of Retribution. This special offer is valid for both domestic and international orders. CDs shipping with promotional material are limited to (5) per customer. Autographed Digipaks will be available while supplies last, newburycomics.com will post information when autographed booklets are sold out.