coldrain set eighth album OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE for September with EX-HUMANITY
coldrain will release their eighth album, OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, on 25 September 2026 via Century Media Records.
The Nagoya alt-metal outfit have announced the record alongside new single EX-HUMANITY, the sixth song to emerge from the album campaign and their first new track since October 2025’s OPTIMIZE EP. Earlier singles INCOMPLETE, CHASING SHADOWS and FREE FALL will all appear on the full-length.
A clash between urgency and despair
According to vocalist Masato, EX-HUMANITY is built around a deliberate friction between its forceful sound and bleak lyrical outlook.
“EX-HUMANITY is a song built on contrast,” Masato says. “Musically, it’s energetic, powerful and alive. Lyrically, it’s intentionally simple, static and full of despair. That contrast 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.
“Is this song a cry for hope or a requiem for humanity. My hope is it will not be the latter.”
The title OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE frames the album’s concerns around technology, automation and the erosion of independent thought. Its 12 tracks include guest appearances from The Used’s Bert McCracken on POISON and Kenta Koie on SAVIOR.
The full album tracklist
Alongside the newly released EX-HUMANITY, the record gathers the band’s recent singles with several previously unheard tracks.
- OPTIMIZE
- CHASING SHADOWS
- DIGITOLL
- INCOMPLETE
- FREE FALL
- EX-HUMANITY
- REST OF ME
- POISON (feat. Bert McCracken)
- G.I.A.I.G
- SING
- PICTURE PERFECT HELL
- SAVIOR (feat. Kenta Koie)
Vinyl editions and pre-orders
OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE will be issued on CD and vinyl, including a silver gatefold LP, a pearlescent horizon variant limited to 300 copies worldwide, and a light green and black split-colour band-exclusive pressing limited to 500 copies. Japanese CD editions, including CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray packages, are also due to follow.
Pre-order or pre-save OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE here.
coldrain will take OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE on the road across Japan from October to December, following Australian dates in September as support to Electric Callboy’s TANZNEID WORLD TOUR, alongside Ice Nine Kills.
