Freddy Lim to return to stage at Helsinki music festival

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan launches a major metal music festival in Helsinki Thursday (Nov. 27), featuring three Taiwanese bands alongside Finnish acts as part of Taiwan's cultural diplomacy strategy in Europe. The General Association of Chinese Culture (文化總會), a cultural organization, will host the "F:F:F-Formosa : Finland : Fest." event. Taiwanese metal bands Chthonic (閃靈), Flesh Juicer (血肉果汁機), and Crescent Lament (恆月三途) will perform with Finnish bands Korpiklaani and Lost Society.

Freddy Lim (林昶佐), Taiwan's representative to Finland, will return to the stage as Chthonic's lead singer for the Helsinki festival performance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) is driving the "Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025" (2025歐洲台灣文化年) initiative, which has already hosted over 70 cultural events across 26 European countries this year. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) announced these achievements, highlighting Taiwan's growing cultural presence and engagement in the region.

Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) emphasized cultural diplomacy as a breakthrough method for Taiwan to engage with the world and expand its international presence. Taiwan is building visibility in Europe's cultural scene through diverse performances ranging from classical music to theatrical productions. The Helsinki event will focus on metal music, showcasing Taiwan's cultural strategy, with all three Taiwanese bands centering their creations on Taiwanese historical and cultural themes.

Chthonic, established in 1995, has won the Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan's top music prize, for Best Band twice in its three-decade career. The band blends traditional Taiwanese instruments and themes of Taiwanese history and mythology in their distinctive metal music style. Flesh Juicer, which won the Best Band award in 2022, combines suona, a traditional Chinese wind instrument, with Taiwanese temple rituals and heavy metal sounds.

Flesh Juicer's lead singer wears a pig-head mask inspired by Taiwanese temple culture during performances. Crescent Lament features female lead singer Muer Chou (周慕姿), a counseling psychologist, who integrates traditional instruments to narrate Taiwanese history in Taiwanese, the local language. Finnish band Korpiklaani, founded in 2003, uses traditional instruments like accordion and violin to weave themes of Finnish forests and nature.

Lost Society gained international recognition after winning Finland's Global Battle of the Bands in 2012, becoming known for their fast-paced, aggressive metal style and energetic performances. The festival will include cross-disciplinary elements beyond music performances, featuring visual arts, cuisine presentations, and fashion design showcases. Taiwanese creators such as DJ Sonia Calico and VJ Asking Gee (紀昀) will participate in the Helsinki event's multimedia programming. ◼