ChthoniC (閃靈樂團)

ACTIVE PERIOD – 1995 – 現在 (95– current)
STYLE – 黑金屬 (Black Metal) / 交響黑金屬 (Symphonic Black Metal) / 民謠金屬 (Folk Metal)
ORIGIN – 台北，台灣 (Taipei, Taiwan)
WEBSITE – ChthoniC 閃靈
MYSPACE – ChthoniC on Myspace
INDIEVOX – 閃靈 on Indievox

介紹
2007年被紐約時報盛讚「Ozzfest最佳演出樂團之一」的閃靈，是在台灣已經成立了已超過十年的樂團。曾參加過日本的富士音樂祭、從台灣總統手中得到有台灣葛萊美之稱的金曲獎最佳樂團，受邀參加美國Ozzfest、德國的 WACKEN OPEN AIR、法國坎城MIDEM音樂展，被Revolver列為年度最受矚目樂團，Terrorizer、Metal Hammer、Rock Sound、Kerrang等雜誌華盛頓郵報、洛杉磯時報頭版以及ABC電視台等國外媒體報導讚譽，閃靈堪稱代表亞洲金屬樂派的重要勁旅。

雖然閃靈成軍曾受到許多歐洲Black Metal樂團的啟發，但十多年來閃靈的作品則以台灣神話、傳說、歷史為主題，並融合台灣小調與五聲音階的旋律特色，與傳統Black Metal的反基督、撒旦主題相去甚遠，國際的樂評也曾試著以Black Metal、Death Metal、Folk Metal等各種不一樣的風格來標籤閃靈，很莫衷一是。閃靈除了重金屬原有的憤怒與邪惡以外，還獨有一種悲傷的情緒，這不需要用傳統西方的重金屬分類，這 是閃靈特有的台灣重金屬。

從第一張專輯《祖靈之流》描述祖先來台、第二張專輯《靈魄之界》以原住民神衹與漢人神衹的戰爭、第三張專輯《永劫輪迴》以台灣民間傳說林投姐為故事發展為全新創作，到第四張《賽德克巴來》以台灣原住民對抗日本殖民為故事，閃靈以東亞歷史文化為根基從事神 話的音樂再創作獲得許多樂界人士的青睞。2009年八月由Spinefarm / Universal Group所發行的第五張專輯《十殿》，更是以東方的地獄觀為創作主軸，結合真實歷史屠殺事件「二二八」為背景所完成的全新創作，其音樂性與故事性都較以 往更為具爆發力，亦是閃靈目前為止最滿意一張專輯。

BIOGRAPHY
TAIWAN IS a country where history and folklore work very much hand in hand, and both of these elements are central to the latest studio album from that country’s premier metal outfit, Chthonic (pronounced ‘Thonic’).

Formed in 1995, five-piece set-up Chthonic (a name deriving from a Greek word signifying spirits of the underworld) have delivered an 11-track body of work that touches on both the spirit and mortal worlds, with loss of national identity and the sometimes turbulent history of their homeland recurring themes.

With Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano at the production & mixing helm, ‘Mirror Of Retribution’‘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.

“Musically, we tried to move the band to a whole new level,” continues Doris. “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…”

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

Source – ChthoniC 閃靈

BAND MEMBERS / 樂隊成員 –
Vocalist / Er-hu – 林昶佐 (Freddy Lam)
Guitarist – 劉笙彙 (Jesse)

Bassist – 葉湘怡 (Doris Yeh)

Drummer – 汪子驤 (Dani)
Keyboard – 高嘉嶸 (CJ)
Former –
Su-Nung, The Bloody String – hena (2006–2009)
Alexia – keyboard (2004–2006)
A-Jay – drums (1999–2005)
Luis – keyboard, vocals (2003–2004)
Sheryl – keyboard (2002–2004)
Vivien – keyboard (2001–2002)
Ambrosia – keyboard (1996–2001)
Null – guitar (1999–2000)
Wang – drums (1998–1999)
Zac – guitar (1998–1999)
Yu – bass (1997–1999)
Ellis – guitar (1996–1998)
Terry – drums (1996–1998)
Man 6 – bass (1996–1997)

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY / 歷年專輯 –
1999 – 1st Album – 祖靈之流 (Where the Ancestors’ Souls Gathered)
2000 – 2nd Album – 靈魄之界 (9th Empyrean)
2002 – 3rd Album – 永劫輪迴 (Relentless Recurrence)
2005 – 4th Album – 賽德克巴萊 (Seediq Bale)
2009 – 5th Album – 十殿 (Mirror of Retribution)
2011 – 6th Album – 高砂軍 (Takasago Army)

ASSOCIATED ACTS / 相關團體 –