Metalheads, politicians and old Taiwanese folk come together

By YuLing Koh Hsu Dani Azathonian Hands (drums), Su-Nung the Bloody String (hena), Doris Thunder Tears (bass), fan Ken Pierce of Piercing Metal, Freddy the Left Face of Maradou (vocals), CJ Dispersed Fingers (keyboards) and Jesse the Infernal (guitar) after a show in New York City. They have spurred 16-foot mosh pits in California. Fans have asked them to bite their necks (a girl fan got a kiss on her cheek instead). They keep smiling despite flat tires, lost instruments and having their masks confiscated at international security. They have compelled our Taiwanese parents to attend their concerts and endure hours of aural abrasion to show their support for Taiwan. Heavy metal god Ozzy Osbourne invited them to join Ozzfest as Chthonic (THON-ick, Greek for spirits of the underworld), the first Asian metal band to play the metal festival. Not only are they Taiwanese, metal and “black” metal, they are political. Rousing yet beautiful heavy metal anthems, guttural growls mixed with Taiwanese myth and history simultaneous with educating a whole new demographic about Taiwan’s struggle to defeat diplomatic isolation. “I think it’s great Chthonic is incorporating mythology and music with politics,” said Mike B. Walker, 18, of Kew Gardens. “I didn't know anything about Taiwan before I started researching Chthonic lyrics. Taiwan has its own government, pays its own taxes, has its own army and has its own language! It’s silly. Death to China and death to false metal!” Chthonic is reaching fans that are generally not aware that Taiwan has been self-ruled since nationalist forces fled there in 1949 after losing civil war with communist forces in China. It had a United Nations seat as the Republic of China until 1971 when China asserted sovereignty and threatened military action if Taiwan tried to secede. “Our priority to is play metal and play music, to make noise for our fans. And then, as Taiwanese citizens, we have to pay attention to the international situation,” said Freddy Lim, lead singer for Chthonic. “Any painter, teacher, anyone, everyone has to give a shit about your country. We are not politicians so we use our career to fight as best we can.” Chthonic opened for Nile last Wednesday night at BB King Blues Club in New York City with “Indigenous Laceration” off the latest record, Seediq Bale. Some fans were screaming along, singing about the aboriginal Taiwanese Seediq tribe whose rebellion against colonial rule was violently crushed by the Japanese army in the 1900s. Revolver magazine praised Seediq Bale as "a booming blend of beautiful brutality and theatrical gloom." Chthonic’s debut album, Where The Ancestors' Souls Gathered, describes the perilous sea journey between China and Taiwan. Sophomore recording 9th Empyrean, told of an epic battle between Chinese Han spirits and the spirit gods of Taiwan's aboriginal people. Relentless Recurrence was inspired by a Taiwanese folk legend about a demonic ghost that seeks revenge. Even the face paint derives from Taiwanese folklore and art. Corpse paint allows some gods the power to judge good and evil. Fans quickly agreed that the use of the hena, a traditional Eastern two-stringed violin, adding a female element (the bassist is female) and having a cause makes Chthonic innovative and refreshing in the black metal world that is usually anti-Christian or simply mythological. "Chthonic is worthy of being called the Black Sabbath of Asia," said Kurt Williams, 21, of Brooklyn. "I mean, that’s a heavy pressure to have, but I think Chthonic incorporates so many different elements while still being so musically talented, that they can pull it off. I love it. Americans are loving them." They ended the night with “UNLimited Taiwan." The rate of hairwhipping and headbanging rose exponentially as Freddy sang and screamed about how the U.N. is limiting Taiwan’s unlimited potential to rise up in the international community. Chthonic headlined a special show just blocks from the U.N. on Sunday at Highline Ballroom in New York City and just days before the 62nd United Nations General Assembly session opens. New Jersey-based rock group Hsu-nami opened. Hsu-nami also features the hena in their music. Chthonic is continuing to tour nationwide with Cradle of Filth before its European tour with Finnish folk-metal band Ensiferum begins. Email admin@taiwaneseamerican.org with subject line "Chthonic" for a chance to win an autographed CD or autographed paper Chthonic dolls. Send your email by October 13, and we'll randomly pick our winners. *EDIT* Congratulations to Catherine C. of Cambridge, MA for winning the prize! Check out their tour diary and see if you recognize any of the Taiwanese and Taiwanese-American folks that have helped them along the Ozzfest tour. Become their friend on MySpace Los Angeles Times feature on Chthonic International Herald Tribune feature on Chthonic Washington Post feature on Chthonic New York Times feature on Chthonic Here is the band website. Do not be afraid.

Perspectives on Taiwan and the United Nations: A Personal Journey

by Iris Ho On September 15, I will be in New York to take part in the “UN for Taiwan” rally that will take place simultaneously with the one held in Taiwan. I have been looking forward to this event and am excited to see many friends there! It has been 35 years since the people of Taiwan have had any representation in the United Nations. Accordingly, Taiwan is not a member of any other UN-affiliated organizations, such as the World Health Organization, which failed to provide any medical assistance to Taiwan when SARS took 80 Taiwanese lives a few years ago. Year after year, the UN voted down proposals submitted by Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to discuss Taiwan’s UN representation in its annual gathering every September. This year, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon rejected Taiwan’s UN application outright without forwarding it to the Security Council as mandated by the council’s rules and procedures. Throughout my life, international relations have always been my passion. I pursued a minor in international relations for my undergraduate studies at National Cheng-chi University in Taipei. I was fascinated by the history, the grand missions and the humanitarian accomplishments of international organizations, such as the United Nations, as taught by my Taiwanese professors and from what I read in the text books. I memorized with enthusiasm everything we learned about all the good deeds done by the United Nations. My dream was to work in the United Nations one day. In my junior year in college, I had a chance to live in Cambridge, UK for a summer. One weekend, all my friends planned to visit Spain, however, I was the only one from Taiwan and the only one who had to apply for a visa. The Spanish consulate told me that because Spain and Taiwan did not have diplomatic relations, I could not get my visa in time before my friends left for Spain. I was left alone in a big empty house while my friends waved goodbye and were on their way to drink Sangria, dance the Flamenco and visit the famously unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. I then realized that, as a Taiwanese national, I would never be able to work for the United Nations – simply because Taiwan is not a member state. I had believed that the United Nations existed to protect the weak, to right wrongs and injustices, and to assist those in need. I thought all people around the world could belong to the United Nations as the organization claims in its Charter. Apparently this did not apply to the people of Taiwan. This year, for the first time ever, the Taiwanese government attempted to apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan." Over the past decade, Taiwan's government pushed for the Republic of China's "returning" to the UN. Anyone with a tiny sense and understanding of world affairs would know that the older approach would never work. Today's Taiwan is a democratic and prosperous nation with a population larger than two thirds of the members of the UN. The name "Taiwan" is associated with many success stories known throughout the international community. Acer, BenQ, Chien-Ming Wang and many more – all "Made in Taiwan." Ugly politics and naked Chinese intimidation stand in the way of Taiwan's accession to the UN. What upsets me even more is that the United States, the country where I reside today, repeatedly rejects Taiwan's plans of holding a referendum on this issue next spring. A referendum is the most basic democratic mechanism representing a people's will. It was the generation of Taiwanese democracy activists before us who sacrificed their lives and freedom, so that the people in Taiwan today could participate in peaceful referendums and free elections. How can the United States, while it champions global freedom and democracy, not support a referendum in Taiwan? If China were OK with the Taiwanese UN referendum, would the US then be OK with it as well? If the answer is yes, when did the redline of China become the redline of the US? Getting Taiwan into the United Nations is hard. In a way, we have the whole world against us. But I believe in the spirit of Taiwan – the determination, the perseverance and the fortitude of the people of Taiwan. I yearn for the day when Taiwan is admitted to the UN and when a future generation with the same passion for international affairs as I have, will be able to serve in the United Nations, proudly, for Taiwan. If you are equally passionate about Taiwan’s membership in the UN or other international organizations, I encourage you to send an email to the US Government through www.capwiz.com/fapa or join me and other community members at the rally this Saturday in front of the United Nations in New York. Iris Ho grew up near Snake Alley in Taipei. She holds a Masters degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and currently works at the Formosan Association for Public Affairs' Headquarters in Washington, DC. FAPA is a grassroots organization that promotes support for Taiwan on Capitol Hill.