In November, Lin was invited to attend a convention panel at the Music Marathon held at Lincoln Center in New York, at which he joined musicians from such big-name bands as Coal Chamber, Kittie and Unearth. Metal icons from the genre's golden age were in attendance as well, including Twisted Sister, Dokken and Biohazard.
During the discussion session, Lin described the theme of his latest album. It is the tragic story of an aboriginal group in Wushe and how the hero Monaludao led his Atayal warriors in an uprising against the imperial Japanese army, which then ruthlessly massacred the tribe during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945).
The musician is not shy about expressing his love for Taiwanese history and is open about his political stance, which is that Taiwan is an independent country. This is exemplified by the fact that Chthonic has performed many times at political rallies organized by the island's pan green forces, which are pro-Taiwan sovereignty.
"I always want to explain to people that Taiwan is not a part of China," said the vocalist, who believes that a real rock 'n' roll band should always carry an important message in its music, be it in support of world peace, human rights, environmental protection or some other cause.
As a loyal fan of Wubai, Lin said he thought that the Taiwanese icon should convey an even stronger social message to his audience. "I'm surprised by the acts of other vocal artists who claim to have been inspired by rock music from the West and yet seemingly refuse to listen to the underlying theme of much of that music," commented the singer, who admitted to feeling somewhat betrayed.
"Wubai acts as if he really cares about society, but he doesn't challenge the system," Lin opined. True independence can only be achieved out of commercialism, he said. He pointed out that local rock stars like Bobby Chen and Wubai fail to live up to the example set by Western icons such as Bob Dylan, who obviously cares deeply about political and environmental issues and even as late as the 1980s took part in a campaign on MTV to encourage young people to vote. To Lin, rock is about "sharing values, and paying no attention to social norms."
Recently, Lin has been collaborating with Jhao Su-nung, a musician who specializes in a traditional Chinese stringed instrument called the erhu, which is famous for its weepy sound. It is perfect for expressing the themes of bravery and death in the symphonic metal ballad of "Seediqbale."
"The sound of the erhu is one of grief and sorrow, which Chthonic accompanies with heavy drums and guitar strings blending into harmony," said the front man for the 11-year-old band. The music flows with the tempo of ancient mythology, and often, through lyrics, conveys an abbreviated version of a traditional myth or legend, according to the band's biography posted on its MySpace Web page. Lin, the lead vocalist, uses his voice to tear and rip melodies, using both ancient and modern language and energy, which mix easily with the music, the page explains.
Few people know that Lin studied piano for more than 16 years and spent some time playing the erhu as well. It is understandable, then, that he still has a strong attachment to Chinese classical music, which partially explains why he opted to experiment with blending erhu into symphonic metal music for the Seediqbale project after failing previous attempts with other traditional Western instruments. He finally turned to the erhu to express the spirit of Monaludao and the crying of his fellow warriors.
In the band's three previous albums, the lyrics always revolved around Taiwan's history. This preoccupation with the past has become a motif in Lin's music and a symbol of the band's belief in resistance to authority. Recently, Lin said, he was accused by a local newspaper of supporting the ouster of ROC President Chen Shui-bian, who once presented Lin with a Golden Melody Award. Lin said he was misquoted. "They did not get the point, I'm not in support of any political party or politician," Lin clarified. "I only support Taiwan, and I do not trust any form of government."
When asked how his parents feel about his chosen career, Lin was brutally honest. "They never liked it and still don't," said the longhaired singer who routinely wears gothic makeup in his performances. "Now, though, they just accept it," he added.
Lin grew up in a well-to-do family. His father was a successful antique dealer and his mother an accountant. He graduated from the Department of Business Administration of National Taipei University and could easily have had a professional career. His rebellious nature, however, pulled him away from family traditions and he fell in love with the aggressively styled Western heavy metal musical genre at the age of 18--a time when Taiwan's democracy movement was just beginning to make headway among young people.
Like most aspiring rock stars, Lin had a shaky start. Lacking funding, an agent and marketing experience, he and his pals decided to take a trip around the island to see how people responded to their music. The result was a huge disappointment. At one point, Lin remembered, they stopped at a mom-and-pop music store in Nantou and asked the owner if he needed to replenish his stock of Chthonic's first album. Lin recalled with dismay the way the proprietor just pointed to the bargain bin full of the band's unsold CDs.
Disappointing record sales was only one of the many problems facing the young band. Finding the right people to do the audio engineering at the studio was an even bigger challenge, as Lin remembered it. Most of the technicians working in the studio had no idea how to deal with the band's style of black metal music. The band had to fly to Denmark to have its CD produced to their satisfaction.
Eventually, however, their sound found an audience in Taiwan, and now the members of Chthonic are looking forward to their next challenge. Starting in January, the band will begin its first tour of the United States, followed by Europe and Japan. Lin promised himself that Chthonic would use this opportunity, once again, to showcase the identity of Taiwan to the millions of metal fans out there in the wide world of rock 'n' roll.