Taiwan's leading Metal band, CHTHONIC, founded in Taipei during 1995, are a radical extreme Metal band employing theatric use of face paint onstage and flavouring their music with a generous infusion of Black and Folk Metal alongside oriental sounds including East Asian pentatonic melodies, Oceanic drums and frontman Freddy's employment of an ancient two stringed violin, the Er-hu.

The group's opening line-up would comprise frontman Freddy, with guitarist Ellis, bassist Yu, keyboard player Ambrosia and drummer Terry. Wang would then take over the drum position and Zac would be added as second guitarist. CHTHONIC's opening album would be 1999's 'Where the Ancestors' Souls Gathered', subsequently embarking upon a tour of fifteen colleges and universities throughout Taiwan. For those shows the CHTHONIC roster saw Freddy and Ambrosia joined by an all new cast of guitarist Null, bassist Doris and drummer A-Jay.

The follow up, '9th Empyrean' now with Jesse installed on lead guitar, saw both Far Eastern and Western releases, the latter through the US based Nightfall label. Although dealing in mythology the band proved unafraid to take on the authorities with this outing, the album describing an epic battle between Chinese Han spirits and the spirit gods of Taiwan's aboriginal people.

The band, having replaced Ambrosia with Vivien, debuted in North America in 2002 with an appearance at the 'Metal Meltdown' festival before travelling onto Japan in August where, united with DARK FUNERAL, the group performing in Nagoya, Osaka, Nagano and Tokyo. The year closed with a special one off performance seeing CHTHONIC onstage with the world renowned lion drum performers and a classical Chinese orchestra group at the National Taiwan University. The group would return to the USA in 2003 for a gig at the 'Milwaukee Metalfest' event. The band's third album, 'Relentless Recurrence' - a concept piece themed on an old Taiwanese ghost story 'Natao-ji', was recorded at Borsing Studios in Århus, Denmark. Luis would then take the keyboard role.

During August 2003 the band scooped the 'Best band' accolade at the 14th 'Golden Melody' awards, generally acknowledged to be the biggest music award of mandarin countries. CHTHONIC scored another major coup when their track 'Satan's Horns' was chosen as the theme tune for the Taiwanese version of the major horror flick 'Jason Vs. Freddy'.

CHTHONIC released its fourth album, 'Seediqbale', on October 3rd 2006 through Down Port Music. Throughout the summer months of 2007 the band toured the USA as part of the OZZY OSBOURNE headlined 'Ozzfest' dates. The group also partnered with NILE for a series of 'Off-Fest' dates.

Following a 'Farewell To The Old Style' concert on 23rd May 2009, CHTHONIC adopted a striking new look with ancient Kuan-Jiang-Shoe facial masks, described as being according to traditional "Taoist curse words" to "create their own unique based on their own culture and characteristics".

Having signed to Finnish label Spinefarm Records, CHTHONIC's next album, 'Mirror of Retribution' produced by ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano, was scheduled for release in the U.S.A. on 18th August 2009. The group, partnered with SATYRICON, BLEEDING THROUGH and TOXIC HOLOCAUST, teamed up for a North American tour commencing 25th September at Baltimore, Maryland's Sonar venue.