coldrain: OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE
Coming straight out of Japan with their eighth studio album, OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, set to release on the 25th of September via Century Media Records, we have coldrain. The rock quintet’s return to the global scene has been highly anticipated, with fans old and new waiting four years for this album to arrive – and it is not going to disappoint. coldrain have spent plenty of time preparing an album worthy of their massive name in the J-rock world and beyond, one that delves deeper into life, humanity and its meaning than ever before.
Starting the album off is ‘OPTIMIZE’, a powerhouse both instrumentally and lyrically. The combination of the band’s instrumentation and Masato’s vocals brings the song to life, with his performance capturing the essence of its meaning: recognising that we are not machines, but humans with feelings and memories. ‘OPTIMIZE’ is an incredible opening track, immediately showcasing coldrain’s ability to deliver on every aspect of their music.
Then comes ‘DIGITOLL’, a track that makes an undeniable statement against AI. For many fans, ‘DIGITOLL’ speaks to a growing concern: AI is taking over more and more of the world, threatening to erase the uniqueness and preciousness of human art. This is a recurring theme throughout the album, and the subtle aggression within ‘DIGITOLL’ reinforces the feeling that AI is growing beyond our control, and that, if we continue down this path, there may be no going back.
The seventh track, ‘REST OF ME’, is another album track that brings the ferocity found throughout coldrain’s music right from the start, taking a more hostile approach to the effects of AI. It is clear that coldrain have strong feelings about AI’s growing place within the creative industries, with the album repeatedly returning to the conflict between technology and human expression. In this sense, ‘REST OF ME’ carries a similar confrontational energy to ‘Bloody Power Fame’ from their 2022 album Nonnegative, which took a similarly aggressive approach to themes of fame and power.
The eleventh track, ‘PICTURE PERFECT HELL’, takes the album’s social commentary in a different direction. The song explores humanity’s entrapment within a world of war and torture, often disguised as glory when it is anything but. ‘PICTURE PERFECT HELL’ provides an interesting contrast to tracks such as ‘DIGITOLL’. While both songs make powerful statements about the world around us, ‘DIGITOLL’ addresses a relatively new threat in AI, whereas ‘PICTURE PERFECT HELL’ turns its attention to a method of conflict that has existed for thousands of years.
Closing out the album is ‘SAVIOUR’, featuring Kenta Koie, vocalist of Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith. The track contains some of the heaviest instrumentation on the album, and its lyrical weight matches it. Exploring the absence of a saviour for so many people, while emphasising that this absence does not define who we are, ‘SAVIOUR’ brings the album to a powerful conclusion.
The constant expression of societal issues throughout OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE is not something to disregard. It is a movement expressed through music, a method coldrain have long been known for, and it is part of what makes them such a unique band, almost 20 years into their career. Their youthful rawness remains something to appreciate, and they continue to be unapologetically themselves in everything they do. OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE is no exception.