With roots firmly set in their home country, and now, hot on the heels of the international success seen by metalcore expats Crossfaith, coldrain are the latest Japanese unit on the up-and-up in the UK metal scene. What better way of cementing that than with a show in a rammed, scuzzy (yet charming) Soho basement for their second-ever London headline performance.
Supported by London quintet Counting Days and Florida-born outfit Wage War, coldrain blasted the crowd with a well-paced, non-stop set of new tunes from their latest album, ‘VENA’, as well as old bangers going back as far as their 2010 material. From harsh, blaring yells and growls to an almost pop-rock tone, frontman Masato let loose on his trademark Shure mic, seamlessly showcasing his versatile vocal range. Backed by upbeat riffs and punchy drum lines, coldrain kept the floor bouncing from start to finish, cramming an admirable 19 tracks into a 90-minute slot.
Having only heard them live during a festival set two years earlier, I’ll admit I had my doubts that they had the reach just yet to pull in a crowd big enough to fill even a small London venue, but they blew all my expectations out of the water. Despite this, I can’t really say there’s anything especially distinctive about their sound as a whole. They tick all the boxes for a high-quality metalcore act, but lack the twist that differentiates them in such an oversaturated genre.
Since forming in 2007, coldrain have truly become masters of their craft. They sure as hell know how to work a crowd, and their stage presence is impeccable. With any luck, the momentum they’ve picked up over the last year might just make them a welcome addition to the UK tour circuit, as well as the international metalcore scene as a whole.
Photos by Charles Shepherd.
