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COLDRAIN Announces New Album ‘Optimize = Optdemise’, Releases ‘Ex-Humanity’ Single
Japanese alt-metal band COLDRAIN have announced their eighth studio album, "Optimize = Optdemise", due for release on 25 September 2026 via Century Media Records. The announcement comes alongside the release of a new single, "Ex-Humanity", the sixth track revealed from the record and the band's first fresh material since their "Optimize" EP came out in October 2025. The album continues the Nagoya quintet's return to the global stage nearly two decades after forming, with its title framed as a warning about how artificial intelligence is reshaping and confusing what it means to be human.
The 12-track album also includes previously released singles "Incomplete", "Chasing Shadows" and "Free Fall", plus guest features from Bert McCracken on "Poison" and Kenta Koie on "Savior". Vocalist Masato described "Ex-Humanity" as a deliberately contrasting piece, musically energetic but lyrically bleak, reflecting tension over what humanity risks losing. To support the release, COLDRAIN have lined up an "Optimize = Optdemise Japan Tour" from October to December 2026, summer festival dates in Japan, and a support slot on ELECTRIC CALLBOY's Australian "Tanzneid World Tour" in September 2026 alongside ICE NINE KILLS.
In short
- COLDRAIN announce eighth album, "Optimize = Optdemise", out 25 September 2026
- New single "Ex-Humanity" released, sixth track unveiled from the record
- Band lines up Japan tour and Australian support slot with ELECTRIC CALLBOY
Explained simply
COLDRAIN are a Japanese alternative metal band from Nagoya formed nearly two decades ago. The five-piece have built a devoted international following within the rock and metal scene and are currently working to re-establish their presence on the global stage after a period of lower profile.
The band have announced a new album, their eighth studio record, that explores the impact of artificial intelligence on human identity. The album's title is framed as a warning about how AI is reshaping and confusing what it means to be human, reflecting broader contemporary anxieties about technology's role in society.
The album follows an EP the band released in October 2025 and is accompanied by extensive touring plans across Japan and internationally. These developments signal COLDRAIN's commitment to rebuilding their international profile in the metal scene.
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