Takasago Army

Takasago Army is the sixth studio album by Taiwanese extreme metal band Chthonic, released in 2011. The title is a reference to the Takasago Volunteers in the Imperial Japanese Army, recruited from the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes during World War II. Takasago (Chinese: 高砂, Japanese: タカサゴ) is an ancient Japanese name for Taiwan. This album serves as the final record in Chthonic's "Souls Reposed" Trilogy.[6]

Takasago Army
Takasago Army Album Cover
Studio album by
ChthoniC
ReleasedAugust 2011 (EU)
September 6, 2011 (US)[1]
RecordedSpring 2011 at Sweet Spot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden[2]
Genre
Length40:37
LabelSpinefarm
ProducerRickard Bengtsson
ChthoniC chronology
Mirror of Retribution
(2009)		 Takasago Army
(2011)		 Bu-Tik
(2013)
Singles from Takasago Army
  1. "Takao"
    Released: June 7, 2011
  2. "Broken Jade"
    Released: July 6, 2011
  3. "Quell The Souls In Sing Ling Temple"
    Released: November 17, 2011
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blistering[4]
Rock Sound[3]
Revolver[5]

Background

Theme

The album's front cover art depicts a WWII Takasago Army volunteer marking himself as "Seediq" (an act forbidden by the Japanese), although he is now serving in the Japanese military. This illustrates 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."[7]

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."[8]

Takasago Army was co-produced by Chthonic and Rickard Bengtsson, Mastered By Mats "limpan " Lindfors

Promotion

Music Videos

Music videos have officially been released for the singles "Takao",[9] "Broken Jade",[10] and "Quell The Souls In Sing Ling Temple" 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 its debut on YouTube.[11]

Both "Takao" and "Broken Jade" 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.[12]
The band donated 10% of the ticket sales made on their Taiwan performance at the Sound Livehouse to the Taiwanese Old Soldiers Cultural Association.[13]

Chthonic (with special guest Randy Blythe of Lamb of God) performed 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.[14] The concert was divinely approved of by the temple's deities and drew in over 1,000 fans from across the world.[15]

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.[16]

Chthonic and Kiuas supported Turisas in the "Stand Up Fight" tour through the U.K. which began on October 27, 2011, and ended November 17, 2011.[17]

Chthonic took part in the "Khaos Over Europe Tour" with Warbringer, and Arch Enemy from December 7, 2011 to December 22, 2011.[18]

Track listing

Personnel

As it is listed in the CD liner notes.

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 Tian - 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 Mats Limpan Lindfors
  • Released by Spinefarm Records/ Universal Music

References
  1. http://www.theprp.com/2011/08/15/news/chthonic-to-release-takasago-army-in-north-america-next-month/
  2. http://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.com/2011/09/chthonic-interview.html
  3. Cartey, Richard (July 30, 2011). "Chthonic - Takasago Army". Rock Sound.
  4. http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/23798/tempidx/4/menuid/2. Reviewed by Sarah Heitman. Retrieved: September 29, 2011.
  5. http://www.revolvermag.com/reviews/review-chthonic-%E2%80%93-takasago-army.html/
  6. https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150202621017190. Retrieved: October 7, 2011
  7. http://www.deadpress.co.uk/6597/track-by-track-chthonic-takasago-army/
  8. http://en.metalship.org/interviews/191
  9. Video on YouTube
  10. Video on YouTube
  11. http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=415&tab=news Retrieved September 23, 2011
  12. Video on YouTube
  13. http://www.gigguide.tw/event-3973&lang=0
  14. https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=270445849650127. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  15. Loa Iok-sin (2011-10-24). "Temple hosts heavy metal band". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  16. http://www.antimusic.com/news/11/june/16Arch_Enemy_Khaos_Tour_To_Feature_DevilDriver,_Skeletonwitch_and_Chthonic.shtml
  17. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=70692
  18. http://www.theprp.com/2011/06/01/news/arch-enemy-set-for-khaos-over-europe-tour-with-warbringer-chthonic/
  19. http://www.deleted-but-not-forgotten.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=136
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