Based around the theme of the Taiwanese soldiers under Imperial Japan in World War 2, Chthonic’s new album Takasago Army takes the band to new heights, delivering an astonishing concept album, which although tells the story in detail is never the less putting the musicianship second. This blackened death metal masterpiece is Chthonic’s 6^th studio album and is by far their best and boldest effort to date. Still incorporating political messages within razor sharp guitar riffs, mind blowing blast beats and demonic vocals, Chthonic have done what they do best…… Deliver all things brutal!

The best bit about all of Chthonic’s songs is the use of classical Asian instruments that add a little bit more kick and authenticity to the music. Calling in guest musicians to play such instruments as Hena in all the songs and the Pgaku flute in ‘The Island’, ‘Southern Cross’ and ‘Root Regeneration’, Chthonic have gone full out to ensure that Takasago army sounds as musically orientated as possible, blending in every part to form a web of jaw dropping polyrhythm’s that will leave the listener in awe at the sheer awesomeness of the strange and wacky sounds jumping out at them.

Chthonic are a crushingly heavy band and there is not one song on Takasago army that let’s down the pounding rhythm of the album. From when the samurai sounds of ‘The Island’ kicks in, to the marching beat of ‘Quell the Souls in Sing Ling Temple’, Chthonic are always punching through the sounds, delivering aggressive guitar riffs, extremely loud shredding guitar solos and a voice which could sonically obliterate a building in every single song. It goes perfect with the classical Asian instruments which are softly playing the surreal melody line over the brutal battle metal chants in the background.

Usually, concept albums don’t go down well with people, as bands put more time and effort into the story behind the album, instead of concentrating on the music on the album. This isn’t the case with Takasago Army, which is unlike any concept album you have laid your ears on before. Even if you didn’t know what this album was about, you would be concentrating more on the music anyway, because each part has been well written, well recorded and extremely well played, to form this album which is a hybrid of black metal mastery.

Takasago Army is a must have for anybody who calls themselves a metal fan. It’s heavy, it’s fast, it’s historically accurate and above all it is one of the best records of 2011, sounding like World War 2 is going on in your ear drums! [9/10]