Where Fever Meets Fire: coldrain in Melkweg
After a very long break, coldrain finally made their long-awaited return to Amsterdam on November 30 with a striking show at Melkweg. We had only recently covered the start of their UK tour, yet there was no question we needed to see them again, this time in Europe. Yes, this band is simply too good to miss.
The evening opened with two strong support acts: the Japanese band NOISEMAKER and the French band REVNOIR. NOISEMAKER opened the night with great energy, delivering a tight and confident set that made it easy to picture them rising far beyond medium size venues. They are without doubt a band worth keeping an eye on. REVNOIR followed with a darker, more atmospheric performance, bringing a nice balance to the lineup. See our Manchester review for more info on these two bands.
I must admit I didn’t know much about coldrain before listening to their latest album OPTIMIZE, released on 24th of October. As soon as I heard the record though, I knew I needed to experience their live sound as well. Having been active since 2007, the band has clearly refined their craft. Their music feels polished and intentional, and their performance reflects that big time.
Originating from Nagoya, Japan, coldrain impresses not only musically but visually as well. Their style is sharp and carefully put together, and they carry themselves with the kind of stage presence that deserves attention. Japanese artists are often known for their strong sense of aesthetics, and this band absolutely lives up to that reputation. It doesn’t hurt that vocalist Masato is also a model and runs his own clothing line.
During the Amsterdam show, Masato apologized several times for not being at his best. He had caught the flu and was clearly struggling, yet he still managed to deliver a strong performance. His voice held up impressively well, and the crowd showed nothing but support. Even so, you could sense his frustration. At one point, he went as far as promising fans free entry to their next Amsterdam show, as long as they keep their tickets.
Compared to their gig in Manchester, Amsterdam received a slightly shorter set. In the UK they performed 17 songs, while in Amsterdam they played only 13, most likely due to Masato’s illness. A few fan favourites that appeared in Manchester, like ‘HERE WITH YOU’, ‘HELP ME HELP YOU’ and ‘ENVY’, didn’t make it into the Amsterdam setlist. Instead, the band focused on a tighter selection built around the new tracks from ‘OPTIMIZE’ and some of their most well-known songs like ‘PARADISE (Kill the Silence)’, ‘Bloody Power Fame’ and ‘MAYDAY’. Even with the trimmed setlist though, the show still felt intense and complete, and the crowd responded with the same level of energy you’d expect from a longer performance.
Unfortunately, seems like Masato’s condition had worsened, leading the band to cancel their next three EU dates — Saarbrücken, Aarau and Stuttgart. We hope he recovers quickly, because Europe truly needs to witness this band in full form. We certainly can’t wait to see them again.
