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Freddy Lim, the frontman of the acclaimed Taiwanese metal group CHTHONIC, has been appointed as Taiwan’s new ambassador to Finland.
CHTHONIC shares a long-standing history with Finland, having signed with the Finnish label Spinefarm/Universal and released multiple internationally recognized albums, including “Mirror Of Retribution” (2009), “Takasago Army” (2011), and “Bu-Tik” (2013). The band has performed in Finnish cities such as Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, toured alongside Finnish bands like ENSIFERUM, TURISAS, and KORPIKLAANI, and even collaborated with Finnish violinist Olli Vänskä at Wacken Open Air. Freddy‘s connections to Finland run deep.
Finland is often celebrated as the most heavy metal-enthusiastic nation globally, with over 80 metal bands per 100,000 people. The decision to appoint a heavy metal vocalist as ambassador to this metal capital is indeed unique and appropriate.
From 2010 to 2014, Freddy served as the chair of Amnesty International Taiwan, playing an active role in global human rights efforts and consistently engaging with international counterparts from Finland, Sweden, and Germany at global conferences. During 2016 to 2024, he served two terms as a member of Taiwan’s legislature, making history as the first heavy metal musician worldwide to enter a national parliament. He advocated for legislation that positioned Taiwan as the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, supported stronger protections for indigenous rights, and pushed for humanitarian aid budgets for Ukraine while promoting transitional justice, including the declassification of documents from Taiwan’s authoritarian past to foster truth and justice in society.
Freddy was also a prominent member of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, actively engaged in parliamentary diplomacy. He spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark in 2022 and at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway in 2023, emphasizing the universality of human rights and freedom while rallying international support for Taiwan.
Freddy remarked: “Alongside my musical connections, my enduring commitment to human rights, progressive values, and the fight against authoritarianism are ideals that both Taiwan and Finland profoundly share. These aspects are areas where our future collaboration can truly thrive.”
CHTHONIC recently released a new single titled “Endless Aeons”, as well as a new live EP “Megaportal 2425”, and announced the upcoming release of a new album. When questioned about potential musical collaborations with Finland, Freddy replied: “There are no specific plans at this moment, but I’m definitely eager to introduce more Taiwanese music, film, and cultural expressions to audiences in Finland and across Europe!”
CHTHONIC has produced several albums, including “Mirror Of Retribution” (2009), “Takasago Army” (2011), and “Butik” (2013) through Spinefarm/Universal Music. Throughout their career, they have performed at prestigious events such as Ozzfest, Download, and Wacken Open Air, and have toured both Europe and North America numerous times.
However, their activities came to a standstill in 2016 when Lim was elected to the Taiwanese Parliament.
For nearly a decade, Freddy has been focused on parliamentary duties, while the other members have pursued individual projects—resulting in only sporadic performances for CHTHONIC in Taiwan. They have released occasional new music, such as the 2018 album “Battlefields Of Asura” and the 2023 single “Pattonkan”, which was recognized by Grammy‘s Global Spin, but most overseas performances were halted.
Though CHTHONIC has maintained a lower profile in recent years, they performed with an orchestra in front of Taiwan’s Presidential Palace in 2019, attracting an audience of 50,000.
Now, CHTHONIC is poised to make a comeback. The band is actively working on new material and may soon return to stages around the world.
CHTHONIC members include:
Freddy Lim (lead vocals)
Doris Yeh (bass, backing vocals)
Jesse Liu (guitars, backing vocals)
Dani Wang (drums)
CJ Kao (keyboards, synthesizer)
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