Chthonic (band) - Activism and Lyrical Themes

Activism and Lyrical Themes

Chthonic singer Freddy Lim is notably active in the Taiwanese political scene and supports that country's independence movement. Lim is also active in the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Amnesty International (serving as President of that group's Taiwan chapter since 2010), and other non-governmental human rights organizations. In 2003 and 2009, he promoted the Free Tibet Concert in Taiwan. In 2007 Lim and other artists organized an international music festival to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 228 Incident, entitled "Spirit of Taiwan: With Justice We Cure This Nation." Chthonic was then named "Best International Artist" at the Tibetan Music Awards.

In addition, bassist Doris Yeh has endorsed the Awakening Foundation, a women's rights organization in Taiwan. In February 2009, Lim and Yeh protested with human rights activists at the Taipei zoo panda exhibit, which symbolizes China's attempts to establish soft power relations with Taiwan. In August 2009, many aboriginal villages in Taiwan were heavily damaged by Typhoon Morakot, and Chthonic donated the proceeds from two concerts to an aboriginal organization. Lim personally carried supplies into the disaster areas. In March 2011, after the northeastern Japan earthquake, Chthonic raised and donated over one million NT$ for relief efforts.

During Chthonic’s 2011 North American tour, they received a threatening letter from unknown Chinese persons. The band is also banned in parts of China for their political views.

The band's lyrical themes mostly surround the defiant spirit of early Taiwanese colonizers, fictional wars between aboriginal gods and Han Chinese gods, Taiwanese folklore and mythology, and historical events such as the Wushe Incident, the 228 Incident, and the formation of the Takasago Volunteers. Prior to the album Seediq Bale most of the band's lyrics were written in Classical Chinese, which is rarely used in contemporary Chinese or Taiwanese music, and sung with Mandarin pronunciation. Starting with the album Mirror of Retribution the lyrics are written and sung in Taiwanese. Some songs may also include verses in Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, or Taiwanese aboriginal languages. Starting with Seediq Bale the band has released alternate version of their albums for the international market, with some songs remixed with English lyrics.