Last summer coldrain was in Europe for a tour with Bullet for My Valentine with shows at a large range of festivals! The band, consisting of singer Masato, guitarists Y.K.C. and Sugi, bassist RxYxO and drummer Katsuma has been active since 2007. They released a new album on June 18 of this year. A good time for a review of this album!
Tracklist:
1. The War Is On
2. The Revelation
3. Fade Away
4. Given Up On You
5. Time Bomb
6. You Lie
7. Evolve
8. Behind The Curtain
9. Aware and Awake
10. Voiceless
11. March On
12. Chasing Dreams
The War Is On begins with a gentle, relatively short intro. This is followed up by singing which begins slowly and then introduces soft grunts. The alternation between the vocals and the grunting has a pleasant balance. Drums and guitar are clearly present, with a strong and compelling rhythm. Despite the rather dark vocals you will immediately be in the mood to join in, which makes me want to scream along with the chorus. Certainly a song that will catch on during live performances.
The next song, The Revelation, begins quite differently. In particular with a bit of a sound that feels futuristic, as you would expect in science-fiction movies as a backing track. The song has a very solid beat, perfect for headbanging. The vocals in the song are grunts, it suits the loud music. In addition there are regular female vocals, which is a good addition to the song.
With the third song, Fade Away, we get another very heavy, slightly longer intro with predominantly drum. The vocals sound much cleaner than the previous song, but there are still parts where grunting is heard on the background and also as part of the regular lyrics. This song feels a bit more mainstream than the previous one and could therefore be easily appreciated by people who are new to the genre.
Give Up On You immediately start with singing and pulls you in right away. During the song there is a great variation in the use of supporting instruments. It gives a dramatic feeling as if the song was written after a heavy disappointment, which fits naturally with the title of the track. Drums and guitar complement each other in this song in a beautiful way, with neither getting any less of the spotlight.
Time for the fifth song named Timebomb. This track begins with a guitar intro and some solid bass lines. The vocalist sounds more dynamic and aggressive than before, which is supported by reverbs during the rush part. The guitar plays a very important role in this track which is complemented by a very nice beat. The guitar solo later in the song is fantastic! A song with a lot of variety, which still forms a beautiful whole.
The introduction of the next song, You Lie, sounds very calm for this post-hardcore band. This continues for the whole song. Much quieter than the previous songs, but clearly deserves it’s place on the album. Although the vocals sometimes sound hasted and may even border on grunting, it doesn’t feel chaotic.
Evolve begins with mysterious sounds followed up solid guitar play and very distinctive vocals. Although the singer is still very recognizable in terms of vocals, the song still has moments where the singing feels completely different from before. Not a song to dance or headbang to. This feels more like an album track that sets a certain mood for the next track and wouldn’t be ideal to win over the crowd at a concert.
Behind The Curtain has an intro that bursts with electronic vibes but is soon complemented by superb guitar play and drumming. This track is once again accompanied by the signature grunts. The rhythm is solid which makes it a great track for headbanging and jumping. It is certainly hard to keep still while listening to this song. Another song that undoubtedly will bring on a dynamic atmosphere during performances.
We continue with Aware and Awake, already the ninth track on the album. This song is introduced with quiet and piercing vocals. This makes you wonder what the rest of the song will bring and forms a pleasant change from more ordinary singing and grunting. The song asks you to pay more attention to the lyrics, which are sung much more clearly than previous songs. Supporting this is a high variety in musical backing, which makes it a very diverse track. A track that works great both on the album as well as live.
Next up is the song called Voiceless. The title makes you expect a calm song, but that is completely wrong! You will immediately be greeted by heavy drums and guitar play. The bass sounds strong and brisk, which makes this a heavier song on the album. Unlike what the title states the singer is not voiceless at all and brings a solid vocal track here. It drags you along with the lyrics and the instruments. With this exciting track you can jump around and play air guitar.
We have arrived at the penultimate song of the album named March On. A ticking clock can be heard in the background, which you might have expected more from the song Time Bomb. Perhaps a common theme in the album? Distinct guitar riffs will grab your attention and if that didn’t then the awesome guitar solo will. A lot of atmosphere in this song which quickly immerses you and makes you want to move along with the beat.
The last track, Chasing Dreams is an interesting title. Everyone tries to chase their dreams, but will it be about positive dreams and chasing them or just about the downside if you fail? The song starts with a soft intro supported by the piano. Something completely different from what we have heard so far. Ultimately, this song is indeed about chasing your dreams. Particularly about the persistence and struggle of doing so. A nice message in a harder shell, but it comes across perfectly. A nice and inspiring ending to the album!
This album is recommended for the fan of loud and heavy music. For people who would like to get to know the genre it is also good, because contains a good variety with a few tracks that are a little more mainstream. Some of the songs are definitely suited for regular radio stations. You should definitely give this band a chance!
The Revelation is on sale since June 24th through itunes. For a hardcopy of the CD you can go to MusicGlue , where band merchandise is also available. You can follow them on their official website that directly links you to their facebook page. You can also follow them on twitter.
Rating: 85/100
