Quick – name off your five favorite Taiwanese bands! OK, so you might not have heard of any bands from Taiwan – until now that is. ChthoniC are putting the concept of Taiwanese metal on the playing field. And they do it with style. Their particular breed of music falls into the form of extreme Goth metal. While you will hear things that remind you of Cradle of Filth, they only start there. Indeed, they infuse classical elements and epic metal textures into their sound. Add in some alternating soaring female vocals and Asian violin and you'll see that this is a sound all their own. I'd have to say that while only Nixon could go to China, only ChthniC could pull off this musical mix. The sound is oppressive, but also extremely powerful. The pounding is unrelenting, but yet they weave enough melody and power into it that it doesn't really seem “scary.” Yes, this sound is dark and brutal, but it's got a velvet edge to it. If you like extreme metal, do yourself a favor and check these guys out. You won't hear anyone else who sounds quite like this and I'm betting you'll really like it. ChthoniC will be playing (along with Nile and Death) at Forest Hills Lodge on the 10th of this month. This CD would be a great way to get ready for the show.