Nantou County (南投) hasn’t exactly been high on the list of priorities for bands playing in Taiwan, even local ones.
Sure, Chthonic played a memorable show at Sing-ling Temple in Puli Township (埔里) back in 2011, but when it comes to major events, the mountain-locked county has largely gotten a pass.
That may change, however, with the emergence of a new student-led event set to stage its inaugural edition in a couple weeks’ time. Grind Era Festival (衝突年代音樂節) will bring a slew of local acts to Nantou for what is likely the largest single-day concert in the county’s history.
Headlining the nascent festivities are hometown heroes Bloody Tyrant (暴君). The folk/black metal band got its start in Nantou in 2008, the membership at the time essentially comprising the county’s entire population of metal heads.
In the years since the band’s sound has evolved from a raw form of black metal into a more polished and dense aesthetic, layered with Taiwanese folk melodies and traditional instruments.
Among other notable acts heading for central Taiwan are Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerade Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerade Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerade Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerade Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerade Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader Masquerader
(fresh from the studio following a lengthy hibernation from live activities), Psychopress, Mutation, Armed Judas and Iron Fist. The lineup is certainly tilted toward the heavy end of the scale.
If all goes well, perhaps Nantou will become known for more than just Sun Moon Lake and Mona Rudao, who led the Wushe Incident (霧社事件) .
■ Grind Era Festival (衝突年代音樂節) takes place Saturday May 14th, 2016, at Nan Kai University of Technology (南開科技大學), 568, Zhongzheng Rd, Caotun Township, Nantou County (南投縣草屯鎮中正路568號). Doors open at 10am and bands play until 9:30pm. Admission is free.
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Thank you, Joe Henley!
http://www.taipeitimes.com/…/feat/arc…/2016/04/29/2003645064
