It’d been six years since the Japanese metal band coldrain was last in London. Tonight, at the Electric Ballroom, they’re giving it their all for their biggest show in the UK so far.
Metal and extreme rock fans are in for a treat tonight with a three-band show, each act more vibrant than the last. The venue is boiling hot and already highly motivated when the opening act, NOISEMAKER, takes to the stage. Hailing from Hokkaido, the band is bursting with energy. The stage space seems almost too small and soon, the singer AG ventures into the front rows.
In a simple yet colourful staging, the band performs their set, including Supernatural and announces that this song, a collaboration with Masato, will not be performed tonight with him. So, naturally, he suddenly appears on stage halfway through the track, in jeans and a loose white T-shirt, not yet ready for his own set, surprising everyone. It works brilliantly, of course. Those who know NOISEMAKER are thrilled, and the others instantly fall in love with this metal that perfectly blends guttural vocals with catchy melodies.
Next, it’s a French band who takes over. REVNOIR stirs up just as much excitement in the crowd with metal infused with powerful and surprising dark-electro elements. The strobes are blazing, and the tech crew is giving the quartet, whose stage presence is excellent, the royal treatment. I must admit, though, I didn’t connect with them quite as much as with the rest. It’s a bit darker. But believe me, if you’re looking for a young band that stands out in that style, they’re the one for you! The technical elements serve their vivid, sincere emotions, and it shows.
The atmosphere gets electric when coldrain finally arrives. And the long-awaited quintet bursts onto the stage with a certain style, thanks to KAMIYA’s outfits. Masato is undoubtedly the most visually striking tonight, appearing in an immaculate oversized white outfit that gives him a mystical aura, almost like a metal prophet. From the depths of hell to the heights of heaven, we know his voice is gripping. And sure enough, he doesn’t miss a beat! Every note is precise, profound, carrying a particular intensity that can only be felt live.
The band’s virtuosity is undeniable, with numerous solos and, once again, a particularly contagious energy. Quickly, and already warmed up by the effective opening acts, the crowd goes wild. We’re treated to a flurry of circle pits and walls of death, dangerous territory for any unprepared photographer. Thankfully, those working with the band who navigate these wild waters know what to expect.
Since the show opens with FREE FALL from their new EP OPTIMIZE, it’s hard to resist the call of the mosh pit. And for those who prefer to avoid that kind of movement, no worries, the view from the balcony is unbeatable. INCOMPLETE follows with just as much vigour and desire for communion. PARADISE (Kill the Silence) comes before The Revelation, which quickly leads into REVOLUTION.
DIGITOLL is incredibly powerful, and Bloody Power Fame brings everyone together. Anime fans don’t hide, and that’s good, because the band has others like MAYDAY towards the end of the main set. Calmer moments also shimmer throughout the set, offering another level of intensity and connection. After the powerful Here With You come Boys and Girls and Uninvited (an Alanis Morissette cover). Cut Me and Rabbit Hole throw fuel back onto the fire before MAYDAY and finally the already iconic, addictive CHASING SHADOWS.
MYTHICAL ENCORE
And then the encore. The venue literally vibrates under the screams, applause, and stomping of an audience ready for more. OPTIMIZE marks their return, followed by ENVY, before finishing with the essential and cathartic VENGEANCE.
Masato, rather chatty, leads the band, delighted to be here for what is their biggest show in the UK so far. If they keep performing like this, there’s no doubt they’ll fill much larger UK venues soon enough. Musically, everything is flawless. The only tiny drawback of the show? Lighting that was a tad too dark at times. But does that matter in the heat of a mosh pit? Not really. So, with more or less lighting, we simply hope that coldrain, after this tour, will return to Europe soon. In any case, we’ll be there.
