Taiwanese blackened death metal outfit Chthonic have teamed up with Finnish rapper and singer Mariska for a new single, “Näin Määrättiin.”
The collaboration carries a significant historical connection between Taiwan and Finland, with the song inspired by the final words Taiwanese political prisoners wrote to their loved ones before their executions.
While researching the subject, Chthonic vocalist Freddy Lim discovered a connection to Finland’s own history. During the Winter War, stories of Finnish resistance against the Soviet Union were reportedly covered by Taiwan Minpao, the first newspaper founded by Taiwanese people. Those stories of resistance provided inspiration to Taiwanese readers, some of whom would later become political prisoners in the late 1940s.
That shared history of separation, loss, survival and resistance ultimately helped inspire the collaboration between Chthonic and Mariska.
For Mariska, the project also marked her first appearance on an extreme metal song.
“When I first heard Chthonic, their powerful music and videos made a deep impression on me. So when they contacted me and suggested a collaboration, I agreed almost immediately.”
Mariska also described the experience as a return to her punk and hardcore roots, adding that she hopes listeners can find both sadness and comfort within the song.
Guitarist and songwriter Jesse Ulas Liu described “Näin Määrättiin” as what he believes is Chthonic’s first love song, although one shaped by grief, 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.”
Bassist Doris Yeh also played a key role in shaping the track, refining the original demo written by Freddy and Jesse. Yeh explained that the band now has more time to work carefully on individual songs rather than rushing new material.
Interestingly, Yeh also discovered a connection with Mariska through the Finnish artist’s song “Terveisin Doris.”
The members of Chthonic are currently spread across the globe, with Freddy Lim and Doris Yeh based in Helsinki, while the rest of the band remain in Taipei.
The music video for “Näin Määrättiin” premiered at the Air Guitar World Championships and the Oulu Music Video Festival in Finland.
You can stream “Näin Määrättiin” below.
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