Mirror of Retribution

The best I've hear since Cruelty And The Beast from Cradle Of Filth.

I just bought the album and they blow my mind away. I can't get 49 theurgy chains and rise of the shadows of my head. This album is incredible.

5*

This is going to be without doubt one of the best Melo/Symphonic Black Metal releases ever! This beats even their Seediq Bale album in sound quality and overall song writing, something I thought impossible! The songs sound could be compared to the forementioned Emperor, as well as bands such as Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir; band's that are some of Chthonics influence's. Chthonic though use an Erhu, a taiwanese 2 stringed instrument which is played with a bow. This adds a beautiful sadness and sorrow to the extreme and brutal music and Chthonic have merged both sounds brillinantly. If you like bands such as Emperor, Cradle or Dimmu you really need to check these guys out, I mean Chthonic are probably going to surpass all before them. To sum this album and band up: Excellent, Original, Brutal, Beautiful Extreme Metal! Needs to be in any metal fans CD collection!

Chthonic return after a 4 year break and release their 5th studio album. They've returned with a whole new look adopted from Taoist Magical figures in folklore.
The black metal sound remains much like in their previous albums but it seems about 5 levels higher on the volume dial. This is by far their heaviest and most complex album to date with every song packing one hell of a punch.
If you're new to Chthonic's music I would recommend buying this album over the rest. Their previous releases are great but Mirror Of Retribution is on a completely different level.
Without a doubt Mirror Of Retribution is in the running for best Black Metal CD of 2009. I highly recommend you pull your wallet out of your pocket and buy this album, you certainly won't regret it!