Taiwan’s CHTHONIC, the black metal band that has already broken down musical barriers in its homeland, is continuing to make its international buzz with an invitation to perform at this year’s MIDEM 2007 in Cannes, France, and the Independence-D festival in Tokyo.

With MIDEM’s history of over 40 years, Taiwan’s press and record labels have been allying themselves in the recent years in a bid to establish an exclusive stage to showcase Taiwan’s music artists. This year the Taiwan representation office once again stepped forward to propose a major stage, this time suggesting Chthonic to the organizers. After listening to Chthonic’s music, the French organizers extended an invitation to Chthonic to perform. Two other Taiwanese artists, LIM GIONG and HO HAK, were added to the program, which has been dubbed Taiwan Beat.

Taiwan Beat will take place at the Palais des Festivals - Méditerranée on January 22. Performances will run from 8:15 to 11:15 p.m., with Chthonic performing first.

Following Chthonic’s promotional activities in France, the band will head to Japan, where their latest album, “Seediq Bale,” has been released through Howling Bull in a CD/DVD/collectible Japanese plate edition. In Japan, Chthonic will take part in the Independence-D music festival organized by the Federation of Music Producers Japan. Chthonic will perform on February 2 at the Shibuya Cyclone and February 4 at Studio Coast.

Chthonic’s current schedule looks to keep increasing. The band members have already started working on new material, hoping that the album which is set to release before the year-end internationally, will also allow 2007 to be Chthonic’s most fruitful yet.