Taiwanese extreme metal band CHTHONIC (pronounced thon-ick), unveil its vicious seventh studio offering, Bú-Tik. With this album, the band continues its self-dubbed “Orient metal.” The band smartly blends melodic death metal and symphonic black metal with an ancient, oriental atmosphere. Chthonic is known for its anti-government stance as they bring political awareness about their country’s history and its tragic events through its music and lyrics. Bú-Tik is based on the story of the 228 Massacre, an anti-government uprising in Taiwan in 1947. Within its ten tracks, the band captures the aggression and violence of the historic event. Keyboards supply a lot of the melodies and the band’s use of the erhu, a Chinese two-stringed violin, adds loads of flavor to their Asian sound. Blistering symphonic elements and multiple tempo changes combined with crunchy, modern metal riffs decorate ’Supreme Pain For The Tyrant.’ Freddy Lim’s harsh barks take on an almost Dani Filth-style. ‘Defenders Of Butik Palace’ is dramatic and epic with its ominous keyboard melodies and crushing riffs amidst female background vocals. Oriental-styled instrumentals bookend the album as the opening intro, ‘Arising Armament, ties in with CD closer, ‘Undying Rearmament,’ which is decorated with timpani, flutes, tribal drums, gongs, erhu and horns. It’s is a nice conclusion to a great and diverse extreme metal album.