Chthonic are back with their seventh album. As per usual the band fuses together hints of black metal, Taiwanese folk metal and symphonic orchestration however Bu Tik marks the pinpoint whereby the band have found the balance between drama and music to it's full potential. What makes Bu Tik stand out from its predecessors are songs like 'Rage Of My Sword' that embody the sense of new found confidence Chthonic emit within this album. Themes such as protest, defence and defiance revolving around their Taiwanese ancestry really give this record a sense of depth and drama. 'Next Republic' and 'Supreme Pain for the Tyrant' demand your attention from the start, only to blow you away with an epic and memorable chorus. It ends on a high-note with `Defenders of Bu-Tik Palace': a furious up-tempo blazer with furious vocals and plenty of melodic guitars throughout an epic-sounding structure that swells you up and forces your head to bang. Chthonic will undoubtedly earn more oriental fans with the release of this album without displeasing their long term fans.

 

8/10