Battlefields of Asura

Description

'Battlefields of Asura', the award-winning album by CHTHONIC released in 2018, will be reissued on vinyl in September 2026 via Svart Records. CHTHONIC is a Taiwanese metal band formed in Taipei in 1995; its members are now spread between Helsinki and Taipei. Their 2018 album, 'Battlefields of Asura', was critically acclaimed and awarded: it allowed the band to win its second Golden Melody Award, the Taiwanese equivalent of the Grammy Awards. The lyrics of CHTHONIC draw their inspiration from mythology, folklore, and the history of Taiwan, while the music incorporates elements of traditional Taiwanese music, enka, and the melancholic melodies of Taiwanese opera. These sounds are enriched by the use of traditional instruments such as the 'hena' and the 'koto'. The band's sound identity also relies on elements of symphonic black metal and melodic death metal, as well as intense riffs and solos. While critics have attempted to classify CHTHONIC into death metal, folk metal, or black metal categories, the band has preferred the simpler label of "metal." They have performed at many major festivals around the world - including Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic in Japan, Ozzfest in the United States, Download in the United Kingdom, and Wacken Open Air in Germany - and have toured extensively in Europe, North America, and Asia over the years. Before this album, CHTHONIC was under contract with Spinefarm Records / Universal Music Group, a label with which they released three albums and undertook international tours. After their European tour in 2014, the band decided to slow down, and singer Freddy Lim began a political career. Elected to the Taiwanese Parliament in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, he has worked for LGBTQ rights and gender equality - helping to make Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage - while advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and other human rights-related causes. During this time, the band continued to work on new songs and released 'Battlefields of Asura' in 2018 in Taiwan and Japan. The album uses metaphors around human ideals and philosophies through the representation of Taiwanese deities. Musically, it blends elements of East Asia with a mythological and ritual atmosphere. The lyrics explore themes such as resistance, freedom, brotherhood, and protection. The Asian audience may find a deep cultural resonance, while international listeners will be captivated by the richness of its spiritual and mythological universe. The album also includes collaborations with Randy Blythe (of Lamb of God) and Hong Kong pop singer Denise Ho. CHTHONIC and Lamb of God formed close friendships during Ozzfest 2007. In 2011, Randy participated as a special guest at CHTHONIC's concert "Final Battle at Sing Ling Temple" and even visited Taiwan while Freddy was serving in Parliament. Denise Ho, an award-winning cantopop singer, was also featured on the BBC's "100 Women" list in 2016. She is currently facing political pressure in Hong Kong and is being banned from traveling abroad. Finally, the album will be released on vinyl in Europe and North America in 2026, marking the band's return to these markets thirteen years after the release of *Bu-Tik* (2013). The vinyl edition will also offer a specially updated version of the original cover, an additional asset for collectors. Side A: Drawing Omnipotence Nigh / The Silent One's Torch / Flames Upon The Weeping Winds / A Crimson Sky's Command / Souls Of The Revolution Side B: Taste The Black Tears / One Thousand Eyes / Masked Faith / Carved In Bloodstone / Millennia's Faith Undone / Autopoiesis