April 2025 Featured Release - The Gateway Edition

So just like that we find that a new month is upon us which of course means that we’ll be nominating a brand new monthly feature release for each clan. This essentially means that we’re asking you to rate, review & discuss our chosen features for no other reason than because we enjoy the process & banter. We’re really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on our chosen releases so don’t be shy.

This month's feature release for The Gateway, nominated by me (Shadowdoom9 (Andi)), is the 2019 6th album by Japanese alt-metal band Coldrain, The Side Effects. Two and a half years after featuring Nonnegative when it was still fresh from release, it's time to check out their previous album and one of my favorites from this band that's underrated in the metal community.

https://metal.academy/releases/23291

Here's my review summary:

Coldrain have travelled far out of their homeland of Japan to pick up more alt-metalcore influences for their initial post-hardcore sound. Masato and Y.K.C. are the two key members of the band, doing all songwriting and performing the best vocals and lead guitar respectively, though rhythm guitarist Sugi, bassist RxYxO, and drummer Katsuma are great as well. I don't know how Michael Baskette, the producer of Slash, Alter Bridge, and Trivium made this album lightyears better than his previous produced album Fateless, but it's a blessing after a curse! If there's any fan who had the same opinion as I had about Fateless when they had to wait for the next album, whether or not they've been patient, a great reward has been earned. The Side Effects the perfect post-hardcore/alt-metalcore addition to the band's discography. Coldrain sure know how to spice up the pop hype when adding pop elements to their sound. And with 4 awesome singles released in advance, they show what a sight and listening the album is to behold. One of those anthemic singles is what got me interested in the band when a friend from the outside world showed me that song and mentioned that it was used as the theme song for Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs 2. As always, there are strong screams and clean vocals that marks Coldrain's signature vocal department from Masato. I'm glad the band managed to tour for this album before the virus came half a year later. You've done well, Coldrain!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Mayday", "Coexist", "The Side Effects", "January 1st", "Answer/Sickness", "Revolution"

For fans of: Alter Bridge, Linkin Park, Set It Off