Metal and Rock music is considered to have a rebellious character and is always critical to the system. Freddy Lim, the lead vocalist of Taiwanese metal band, turned the rebellious spirit into action–he ran and won two consecutive parliamentary elections to try to reform the system.
Taiwan has become a focal point of the world in recent years as it fends off the military threat from authoritarian China and is well-positioned in the high-tech chip supply chain. After Freddy, the lead vocalist of Chthonic, entered the Parliament in 2016, his story has been widely covered by international news outlets, such as CNN, BBC, The Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, the DPA, and ARTE, among many others. Freddy’s story was also told in two documentaries, “Metal Politics Taiwan” by German director Marco Wilm and “Invisible Nation” by American director Vanessa Hope.
Freddy pushed for legislations to make Taiwan’s first country in Asia to have marriage equality and to better protect indigenous rights. He also pushed for passage of budgets to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He advocated “transitional justice”, demanding that government declassify files from the authoritarian era in the past, so that there may be truth and justice in the society. In 2023, unexpectedly, declassified files revealed the sorrowful and previously unknown past of Freddy’s family.

Combining history and mythology, it was perhaps not merely coincidental that Chthonic’s music told the sorrowful yet brave stories of Freddy’s grandparents. Freddy was deeply shocked when he learned that. Overwhelmed by complicated emotions, he decided to end his 8-year service in the parliament, and announced that he would not seek reelection. He reunited with partners in Chthonic to resume music creation. He will show the up-and-downs of his journey as a politician through music.

Before Freddy got into politics in 2016, Chthonic’s albums include Seediq Bale (2007), Mirror of Retribution (2009), Takasago Army (2011), and Bú-Tik (2013) were all released by Spinefarm/Universal Music, with positive feedbacks from music critiques. From Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic in Japan, to Ozzfest in the US, Download in the UK, and WOA in Germany, Chthonic has been to major music festivals around the world, and has had toured hundreds of shows in Europe, North America and Asia. It has also worked with many internationally renowned artists—Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe, Trivium’s Matt Heafy, guitarist Marty Friedman..etc. In Taiwan, several of Chthonic’s albums were on the pop-music charts, and the band has been awarded the “Golden Melody Award”-the Taiwanese version of the Grammy Award.

Chthonic’s lyrics are inspired by Taiwanese mythology, folk stories, and history, and the music incorporates elements of traditional Taiwanese folk music, enka, and sorrowful melody from Taiwanese opera, accompanied by traditional Taiwanese musical instruments. Also integral parts of Chthonic’s music are elements from contemporary symphonic black metal, melodic death metal, blood-boiling riffs and solos. Critiques have tried to label Chthonic’s music as black metal, death metal or folk metal, but Chthonic has opted for simply “metal” for its simplicity and genuineness.

Chthonic has been operating in a low-profile manner as Freddy served in the Parliament, and other members also started other music-related careers. This year, as Freddy officially stepped down from his parliamentary seat, Chthonic members have now got back together to write new songs. They are soon to start a new chapter of their voyage through time and space. They are also soon to resume their international tours!