| Release Date: | 092526 |
| Currently: | PRE-ORDER |
| Please note: | Already on order! Simply click "Add to wishlist" at the bottom of this page to be notified (via email) when more arrive! |
September 25, 2026
140g silver vinyl
Gatefold sleeve Two-page insert
One of Japan's biggest rock bands are making their return with their highly anticipated eighth album: coldrain will release OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE this September. While the name may still be new to some, the Japanese quintet have been active since 2007, building an extensive international touring history alongside the release of seven studio albums to date. Having toured with artists such as ONE OK ROCK, Papa Roach, The Used, Bullet for My Valentine, and Electric Callboy, coldrain have long claimed their place on the global stage within the alternative metal scene. Selling out arenas across their home country of Japan and showcasing their strong musicality repeatedly, the band continue to prove themselves as one of the most underestimated forces in the international alternative metal scene.
Now, the quintet return with OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, set for release on 25th September 2026, via Century Media Records. As explained by vocalist Masato, the record explores a central question: will humanity continue to evolve by using technological advancement as a tool, or will it pursue optimization to such an extreme that it loses its humanity, ultimately leading to its own demise? The album serves as a continuation of the band's digital EP OPTIMIZE, released in October 2025. Mastered by Mike Kalajian (Cigarettes After Sex, Neck Deep, Silverstein), OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE delivers across 12 tracks a refined balance between heavy, aggressive vocals, stadium-ready melodies, and the high-energy intensity that Japanese rock bands are known for. Standout tracks Ex-Humanity and Incomplete are set to resonate long after the music stops, leaving a lasting impression on listeners. The track Poison features none other than Bert McCracken of The Used, marking a unique collaboration that will feel like a blast from the past for fans of the alternative scene.
With OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, the Japanese quintet double down on the strengths they have proven and refined over nearly two decades of band history. Combining explosive energy and arena-ready songwriting with a distinct international edge, it's a record that does not stop at reaffirming coldrain's identity, but elevates it to the next level.
Tracklist:
1. Optimize
2. Chasing Shadows
3. Digitoll
4. Incomplete
5. Free Fall
6. Ex-Humanity
7. Rest of Me
8. Poison [feat. Bert McCracken]
9. G.I.A.I.G
10. Sing
11. Picture Perfect Hell
12. Savior [feat. Kenta Koie]