CHTHONIC, the Taiwanese metallers led into action by bassist Doris Yeh, recently entered the studio to complete work on their new album, Takasago Army, scheduled for release via Spinefarm Records in June 2011.

Produced by Rickard Bengtsson (ARCH ENEMY, NEMESIS, etc.) at Sweet Spot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden, this 10-track outing completes a trilogy of Chthonic releases, telling a story that binds together the band’s Seediq Bale and Mirror Of Retribution albums, released in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

Says Doris: “The Takasago Army was a Taiwanese troop of Japanese force/Axis powers that fought in the Pacific War/World War II between 1940-1944. The Takasago soldiers were descendants of a brave and powerful people from the mountains of Taiwan, people with a strong warrior tradition. They impressed their rivals with their cunning, tenacity and skill on the battlefield, and they became the most revered and most feared combat unit in the Japanese Imperial Army.”

At their recent UK shows (a Hammerfest appearance plus a headline date at the Underworld in London), Chthonic announced that Takasago Army would not only see the band producing their most brutal compositions to date, but would also see them further exploring the concept of ‘Orient Metal’.

Explains Doris: “We have been categorized as black metal, death metal, melodic death, symphonic black metal and folk metal by different critics, and we appreciate that it's very hard to put us into a precise genre; on the one hand, we are inspired by some western metal music, but on the other, we are influenced by traditional Asian music forms, such as pentatonic scales, ‘enka’ music, and Taiwanese opera.

“When we were writing this new album, we tried to find the perfect balance between these two traditions, so that is why we’ve decided to use the ‘Orient Metal’ banner to define what we do. Plus, it provides a reference point for other Asian bands who want to head in the same direction…

“Take it from me, Takasago Army is going to be epic!”

Chthonic are currently lining up festival shows for the summer, after which Seediq Bale will be re-issued via Spinefarm in expanded form.