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Coldrain Announces September 25 Release of OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE with New Single EX-HUMANITY
Coldrain has confirmed that its eighth studio album, OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, will be released on 25 September 2026. The announcement was accompanied by the official music video for the album’s sixth track, EX‑HUMANITY, which was uploaded to the band’s YouTube channel on 16 July 2026.
The video, filmed at Daikanyama UNIT, presents a surreal stage set that blends everyday objects with unsettling imagery. Onstage, schoolchildren bounce on inflatable animals while a chef cooks with a wok, and vocalist Masato Hayakawa sings into a silver skull. In the pit, a goat, a boxing match, an elderly man with a kettle and cup noodles, and schoolgirls dancing appear. The footage is overlaid with grainy textures, TV static, warping effects, and a metallic blue filter, creating a collage of CCTV‑style surveillance footage. Fans entering the venue are shown in a single file, hands raised in unison, reinforcing the theme of pervasive monitoring.
According to a statement released by the UK‑based rock and metal website Rock Sound, Masato explained that EX‑HUMANITY is built on contrast. Musically, the song is described as energetic, powerful and alive, while lyrically it is intentionally simple, static and full of despair. The contrast, he said, reflects the tension between what it means to be human and what we could become if we lose the things that make us who we are. He added that the track is a cry for hope rather than a requiem for humanity.
Century Media’s store description of the album provides further context. The title OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE is a coined term that combines “Opt” (choice), “Optimize” and “Demise” (death/ending). The album explores themes of technological evolution and poses the central question: will humanity continue to evolve or drive itself toward demise? The description notes that the album includes all songs from the OPTIMIZE EP, released 24 October 2025, as well as new material.
The track list features 12 songs, with two highlighted collaborations. The ninth track, POISON, features Bert McCracken of The Used, while the twelfth track, SAVIOR, features Kenta Koie, the vocalist of Crossfaith who is currently pursuing a solo project called AFTERVOID. The full list is:
1. OPTIMIZE 2. CHASING SHADOWS 3. DIGITOLL 4. INCOMPLETE 5. FREE FALL 6. EX‑HUMANITY 7. REST OF ME 8. POISON feat. Bert McCracken 9. G.I.A.I.G 10. SING 11. PICTURE PERFECT HELL 12. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie
In addition to the standard CD‑only edition, Century Media will release two limited editions. One includes a DVD, and the other a Blu‑ray disc, both containing footage from both days of Coldrain’s BLARE FEST. 2026 performance. Four vinyl variants will also be available: a Gatefold Silver LP sold at all retailers, an Ultra Clear LP sold at all U.S. outlets, a Pearl Flip LP exclusive to Impericon/EMP stores, and a Special Color LP limited to 500 copies sold through the band’s official store.
OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE follows the band’s OPTIMIZE EP, which was the first release on Century Media and Sony Music Japan after leaving Warner Music Japan. The EP, released 24 October 2025, contained five tracks and was promoted with a world tour that began in September 2025. The new album expands on the EP’s themes and marks Coldrain’s return to full‑length studio work since 2022’s Nonnegative.
With the release date set for 25 September 2026, Coldrain’s new album and single are positioned to re‑establish the band’s presence in the international alt‑metal scene. The combination of thematic depth, high‑profile collaborations, and multiple physical formats aims to appeal to both long‑time fans and new listeners.
The video, filmed at Daikanyama UNIT, presents a surreal stage set that blends everyday objects with unsettling imagery. Onstage, schoolchildren bounce on inflatable animals while a chef cooks with a wok, and vocalist Masato Hayakawa sings into a silver skull. In the pit, a goat, a boxing match, an elderly man with a kettle and cup noodles, and schoolgirls dancing appear. The footage is overlaid with grainy textures, TV static, warping effects, and a metallic blue filter, creating a collage of CCTV‑style surveillance footage. Fans entering the venue are shown in a single file, hands raised in unison, reinforcing the theme of pervasive monitoring.
According to a statement released by the UK‑based rock and metal website Rock Sound, Masato explained that EX‑HUMANITY is built on contrast. Musically, the song is described as energetic, powerful and alive, while lyrically it is intentionally simple, static and full of despair. The contrast, he said, reflects the tension between what it means to be human and what we could become if we lose the things that make us who we are. He added that the track is a cry for hope rather than a requiem for humanity.
Century Media’s store description of the album provides further context. The title OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE is a coined term that combines “Opt” (choice), “Optimize” and “Demise” (death/ending). The album explores themes of technological evolution and poses the central question: will humanity continue to evolve or drive itself toward demise? The description notes that the album includes all songs from the OPTIMIZE EP, released 24 October 2025, as well as new material.
The track list features 12 songs, with two highlighted collaborations. The ninth track, POISON, features Bert McCracken of The Used, while the twelfth track, SAVIOR, features Kenta Koie, the vocalist of Crossfaith who is currently pursuing a solo project called AFTERVOID. The full list is:
1. OPTIMIZE 2. CHASING SHADOWS 3. DIGITOLL 4. INCOMPLETE 5. FREE FALL 6. EX‑HUMANITY 7. REST OF ME 8. POISON feat. Bert McCracken 9. G.I.A.I.G 10. SING 11. PICTURE PERFECT HELL 12. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie
In addition to the standard CD‑only edition, Century Media will release two limited editions. One includes a DVD, and the other a Blu‑ray disc, both containing footage from both days of Coldrain’s BLARE FEST. 2026 performance. Four vinyl variants will also be available: a Gatefold Silver LP sold at all retailers, an Ultra Clear LP sold at all U.S. outlets, a Pearl Flip LP exclusive to Impericon/EMP stores, and a Special Color LP limited to 500 copies sold through the band’s official store.
OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE follows the band’s OPTIMIZE EP, which was the first release on Century Media and Sony Music Japan after leaving Warner Music Japan. The EP, released 24 October 2025, contained five tracks and was promoted with a world tour that began in September 2025. The new album expands on the EP’s themes and marks Coldrain’s return to full‑length studio work since 2022’s Nonnegative.
With the release date set for 25 September 2026, Coldrain’s new album and single are positioned to re‑establish the band’s presence in the international alt‑metal scene. The combination of thematic depth, high‑profile collaborations, and multiple physical formats aims to appeal to both long‑time fans and new listeners.