There can be few bands that can call upon the Erhu to bring that certain something to enhance a song, let alone a band making their way in the world of Metal. Of course we know there is only one Metal band, and a Taiwanese Metal band at that, that use such an instrument to be part of their arsenal; and that is Chthonic. To be fair however apart from the bands use of eclectic musical instruments, a rather striking image and the fact they are more than likely the only Asian Metal band you could name there is little else most of us could say about the band. A stark statement when you consider ‘Mirror Of Retribution’ is their forth full length album.

OK it has been four years since the bands last effort ‘Seediq Bale’, which broke them outside their native Asian market, so you can maybe the passage of time is an excuse for the lack of knowledge about the band or perhaps the shifting focus over that time of the Metal world. Either way Chthonic have some ground to make up if they are to remain in the conscience longer than the press bombardment that surrounds this album.

The band has until this point used not only their music as a means of projecting the themselves but also some very clever marketing and some very vocal political views to ensure the gaze of the music press has been cast upon them. ‘Mirror Of Retribution’ is I feel about to break that cycle and firmly fix the band in the minds of the Metal masses for all the right reasons. The overall style and flavour of the album is not a million miles away from the bands previous effort and still appears to call upon some Cradle of Filth influences along the way but does have a certain something that stops you in your tracks and makes you take notice.

Freddy Lim’s political stance still forms part of the bands lyrics and is what stands the band apart from an array of bands swimming in the same pond, choosing to take the path less walked and avoid the gore fuelled themes. The novelty factor that has served Chthonic so well so far in their career is beginning to wear a little thin so it is just as well that they have turned out a new album of some merit and while ‘Mirror Of Retribution’ is not going to stop the world spinning on it’s axis, it is certainly a step in the right evolutionary direction.