CHTHONIC and Mariska join forces on a powerful new extreme metal track

Taiwan’s biggest metal band CHTHONIC and Finnish artist Mariska released a surprising collaboration last week, the single “Näin Määrättiin”. The track also marks the first time Mariska has appeared on an extreme metal song.

While the new song was inspired by the final words written by Taiwanese political prisoners to their loved ones before their executions, vocalist Freddy Lim discovered that, despite the historical differences between the two countries, Finland’s history also contains similarly heartbreaking stories of separation, loss and survival. As Freddy looked further into the subject, he made a surprising discovery: during the Winter War, Finnish resistance was frequently covered in Taiwan Minpao, the first newspaper founded by Taiwanese people. At the time, Finland’s struggle against overwhelming odds provided inspiration and encouragement to Taiwanese readers. Many of those readers would later become political prisoners in the late 1940s.

The idea that people on opposite sides of the world could share the same emotions and struggles – and even inspire one another – deeply moved Freddy. Around the same time, he got to know Mariska and became interested in her art and poetic approach to songwriting.

“This takes me back to my good old punk hardcore days; it’s a really interesting experience!” Mariska says. “When I first listened to CHTHONIC, their powerful music and videos made a deep impression on me. So when they got in touch and suggested a collaboration, I agreed almost immediately.”

“I hope listeners can feel the sadness of the song, but also find comfort in it. Death is something we all have to face sooner or later, and none of us can avoid it.”

The band’s other key songwriter and guitarist Jesse Ulas Liu adds:

“I think this is CHTHONIC’s first love song. It is a love song filled with conflicting emotions – sadness, guilt, regret, despair and hopelessness. Although you can still hear the style that is characteristic of CHTHONIC, we have also brought in many new elements. I hope our fans will find it refreshing.”

During the songwriting process, bassist Doris Yeh once again completed Freddy and Jesse’s original demo and helped shape the song, much as she has done with the band’s most recent releases.

“We no longer rush music out in the same way we used to. Now we finally have the opportunity to work carefully on each song, one at a time. I really appreciate that we are still able to make music together, so I wanted to think carefully about every detail,” Doris Yeh says, adding that she also discovered a surprising connection with Mariska through her well-known song “Terveisin Doris”.

CHTHONIC’s members are currently, quite literally, spread across opposite sides of the world, with Freddy and Doris living in Helsinki while the rest of the band are based in Taipei.

“Freddy still sends messages on every possible communication platform!” Dani laughs. “It still feels like he is right here with us. But that’s a good thing. That attitude keeps us moving forward and makes us create new music.”

The music video for “Näin Määrättiin” premiered at the Dark Horse Video Show of the Air Guitar World Championships and at the Oulu Music Video Festival.

Freddy Lim, who currently serves as Taiwan’s representative in Finland, has taken part in several events in Oulu this year as part of the European Capital of Culture programme, where he has given talks and presentations.

“At the previous events, I have mostly expressed my thoughts through words. Thanks to this kind invitation, I now have the opportunity to express my feelings through music as well,” Freddy Lim says.