Takasago Army is the sixth studio album by the Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

ese black metal

Black metal

Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....

 band ChthoniC

Chthonic (band)

Chthonic is a Taiwanese metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including the classical Asian instrument erhu...

. The title Takasago Army refers volunteer soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army, recruited from the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes during World War II. Takasago

Takasago

Takasago may refer to:*Takasago, Hyōgo, a city located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan*Takasago International Corporation, a company producing chemical flavorants and fragrances*Takasago , a Noh play by Zeami, or one of the lead characters in it...

 (Chinese: 高砂, Japanese: タカサゴ) is an ancient Japanese term to refer Taiwan. Chthonic's Takasago Army serves as the final record in the 'Souls Reposed' Trilogy.

Theme

The albums front cover art depicts a WWII Takasago Army volunteer marking himself as "Seediq" (an act forbidden by the Japanese), although he is now serving the Japanese military, illustrating the conflict many of these soldiers had with their identity as Japanese soldiers and their heritage as Taiwanese Seediq warriors.

According to the band's press release statement, "This album, ‘Takasago Army’, seeks to expose the part of Taiwan’s history that the government attempts to cover up through the interior conflict on identity of former Taiwanese soldiers. The album also seeks to showcase the quest of the Taiwanese for values and dignity as human beings through the tragic roles of the Taiwanese during World War II. Bridging the story of the fourth album ‘Seediq Bale’, which took place in 1930, and the story of the fifth album ‘Mirror Of Retribution’, which took place in 1947, the latest album ‘Takasago Army’, which recounts the story that occurred from 1940 to 1945, was actually the last puzzle of Chthonic‘s trilogy."

Recording and Production

In an interview with Metalship, Freddy Lim commented on the band's songwriting process for Takasago Army saying: "In the early years, we played a kind of metal like the western kind. And the more we played, the more we put Taiwanese elements into the music. All particularly in the new album Takasago Army, the whole “writing” philosophy has been changed. We used to write metal, and then add some Taiwanese feelings and emotions, but this time I write Taiwanese songs. Basically they all are Taiwanese songs, Taiwanese folk songs or Taiwanese pop songs, I don’t know how to define them, and then Jesse and I made them heavier. Now, we start to have another writing process, that is more natural."

Takasago Army was co-produced by Chthonic and Rickard Bengtsson.

Music Videos

Music videos have officially been released for the singles "Takao" and "Broken Jade" respectively.

The first video released, "Takao", was recorded in one 26 hour session. The video received over 15,000 views during the first few days of it's debut on YouTube

YouTube

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.

Both videos were directed by Chuang Chih-Wen.

Headlining Tours

Chthonic played a series of headlining shows across Asia in the "Chthonic Heavy-Armed Tour 2011" which spanned from July 10, 2011 to August 7, 2011.

The band has pledged to donate 10% of the ticket sales made on their Taiwan performance at the Sound Livehouse to the Taiwanese Old Soldiers Cultural Association.

Chthonic (with special guest Randy Blythe of Lamb of God) are scheduled to perform at the Sing-Ling Temple in Puli, Taiwan, a historical landmark that is referred to on their albums "Takasago Army" and "Mirror of Retribution", on October 22, 2011. The concert was divinely approved of by the temple's deities and drew in over 1,000 fans from across the world.

Supporting Tours

Chthonic toured with Arch Enemy, Devildriver, and Skeletonwitch, in the "North American Khaos Tour 2011" from September 8, 2011 to October 4, 2011.

Chthonic and Kiuas will support Turisas in the "Stand Up Fight" tour through the U.K. from October 27, 2011 to November 17, 2011.

Chthonic will take part in the "Khaos Over Europe Tour" with Warbringer, and Arch Enemy from December 7, 2011 to December 22, 2011.

Taiwanese version

digipak

Digipak

Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...

1. "冥河島" – 2:15
2. "殘枝" – 4:21
3. "皇軍" – 4:19
4. "震洋" – 3:44
5. "南十字星" – 3:53
6. "薰空" – 5:38
7. "玉碎" – 5:43
8. "歸根" – 1:24
9. "大黑天" – 4:02
10. "鎮魂醒靈寺" - 5:18

English version

jewel case

1. "The Island" – 2:15
2. "Legacy Of The Seediq" – 4:21
3. "Takao" – 4:19
4. "Oceanquake" – 3:44
5. "Southern Cross" – 3:53
6. "KAORU" – 5:38
7. "Broken Jade" – 5:43
8. "Root Regeneration" – 1:24
9. "MAHAKALA" – 4:02
10. "Quell The Souls In Sing Ling Temple" - 5:18

Japanese version

jewel case

1. "The Island"
2. "Legacy Of The Seediq"
3. "Takao"
4. "Oceanquake"
5. "Southern Cross"
6. "KAORU"
7. "Broken Jade"
8. "Root Regeneration"
9. "MAHAKALA"
10. "Quell The Souls In Sing Ling Temple"
11. "Mirror Of Retribution (live recording at LOUD PARK 2010)" [Japanese ed. bonus track]
12. 49 Theurgy Chains (live recording at LOUD PARK 2010)" [Japanese ed. bonus track]
13. "Takao (Single Version)" [Japanese ed. bonus track]

Chthonic

• Freddy, Left Face of Maradou – vocals, Er-Hu
• Jesse, the Infernal – guitar, backing vocals
• Doris, Thunder Tears – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Dani, Azathothian Hands – drums
• CJ, Dispersed Fingers – keyboards, synthesizer

Guest Musicians

• Su-nung Chao - Hena Player
• Pitero Wukah, Mahon - Pgaku Flute (The Island, Southern Cross, Root Regeneration)
• Yu Tien - Guest Singer (Takao)
• Chan Ya Wen - Guest Singer (KAORU)
• Pitero Wukah - Spoken Word (Root Regeneration)

Production

• Doris Yeh - Coordinator
• Oink Yang-de Chen - Artwork
• A-Ling Tseng - Photographer
• Produced by Chthonic and Rickard Bengtson
• Mixed by Rickard Bengtson
• Mastered by Mat Limpan Lindfors
• Released by Spinefarm Records/ Universal Music