CHTHONIC and Mariska Present Powerful Collaboration: 'Näin Määrättiin'

The collaboration between Taiwan’s most prominent metal band, CHTHONIC, and the well-known Finnish musician Mariska marks a new chapter in extreme metal. Their single "Näin Määrättiin" is Mariska’s first foray into the genre and unites two different yet parallel tragedies. The song draws its narrative from poignant words of farewell that Taiwanese political prisoners left to their families before execution, while weaving in themes of loss, resilience, and survival rooted in Finnish history.

Frontman Freddy Lim delved into these historical fates when he wrote the song and discovered an unexpected connection: during the days of the Finnish Winter War, Taiwan Minpo, the first newspaper founded by Taiwanese people, often reported on the Finnish resistance. The Finnish struggle became a source of inspiration for many Taiwanese readers, several of whom later themselves became political prisoners during the late 1940s. The realization of the bond that could be tied between people on different continents, and how they could strengthen each other in adversity, became deeply significant for Lim.

It was in this cultural encounter that Lim came into contact with Mariska. Captivated by her poetically influenced lyrics, she was invited to collaborate. Mariska herself relates that while working on the song, she recalled her roots in punk and hardcore, and that she was immediately affected by CHTHONIC’s intense sound. She hopes that listeners will feel both the sorrow and the comfort in "Näin Määrättiin" and reminds us that death is a fate we all share.

The production of "Näin Määrättiin" was truly a global effort. CHTHONIC’s core trio – Freddy Lim, guitarist Jesse Ulas Liu, and bassist Doris Yeh – joined forces with Mariska in a careful and detail-oriented creative process. Liu describes the result as CHTHONIC’s first love song, albeit filled with conflicting emotions: sorrow, guilt, regret, and despair. The single preserves the band’s distinctive style but also incorporates new elements that broaden their musical expression and offer fans new impressions.

Doris Yeh highlights the band’s thinking behind this release; that they now devote more care to each song and allow the work to take the time it needs. This approach is reflected both in the music and in the personal bonds that have formed during the collaboration. Yeh also experienced a personal connection to Mariska through her song "Terveisin Doris," which further deepened the creative dialogue between the artists.

Today, CHTHONIC’s members live on two continents – Lim and Yeh in Helsinki, while the other band members remain in Taipei. Despite the distance, the group is kept together by modern communication, something keyboardist Dani especially points out by describing the continuous energy in Lim’s contacts and drive forward regardless of geographic location.

The music video for "Näin Määrättiin" premiered at the Air Guitar World Championships Dark Horse Video Show as well as at the renowned Oulu Music Video Festival. Freddy Lim has also become involved as Taiwan’s representative in Finland and has participated in key events within Oulu’s European Capital of Culture program, further strengthening the cultural bridge the music aims to build.

Through "Näin Määrättiin", CHTHONIC and Mariska show how music can bridge gaps between both countries and people’s personal tragedies, and inspire empathy across borders. Their collaboration is a powerful example of how art can help us process shared traumas and honor voices that might otherwise be lost to history.