Before I had listen to “The Dream, The Space” the second full-length album by Crossfaith, I saw on YouTube their video of “Omen” and it just blow my head off. I’m quite a devoted Prodigy fan and “Omen” is one of my favorite songs, but these guys released a killer cover.
On the other hand I have to admit, I’m sick, tired and bored of this “metalcore”, “alternative metal” trend, trillion of bands from all over the world playing the same patters, it becomes absolutely cliche this mixture of raw and clean vocals dialogue, this post-emo approach of classic metal with post-hardcore elements. Well, as always, there are a few exceptions, and these Japanese guys are one of them.
Formed in November of 2006, Crossfaith introduced power-electronic sound into heavy music, which made these only 18-year-old boys’ songs very catchy and yet very intense, heavy. The unique structures of the songs, the Metalcore/Hardcore based aggressive sound with intense sound effects and inspired use of keyboards and samplers results in a very groovy, catchy music, melody, harmonies get merged into one extremely expressively.
They great live performance bring them on the scene together with many big bands such as Machine Head, Hatebreed, Bleeding Though, August Burns Red, Greeley Estates, Pierce The Veil, Confide, Bless The Fall, Alesana, etc.
In April 2009, it was released their debut full-length album “The Artificial theory for the Dramatic Beauty†through ZESTONE RECORDS and it has been a long seller album since then. This album sparked Japanese Screamo / Metalcore music industry which had never existed before.
After heavy touring and impressive performances at festivals, in 2010, their 1st album became available in Europe through Gan-shin Records.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujNf2bxAa4Y&w=500&h=305]
Koie Kenta　- vocal, screams, growl; Takemura Kazuki　- guitar; Ikegawa Hiroki　- bass; Amano Tatsuya　- drums and Tamano Terufumi　- vision, programmer, panorama are managed to deliver a high-energy, powerful, dynamic and colorful material. Reminds me of Asking Alexandria and more recently reviewed Far From The Tree, Crossfaith delivered a very strong, powerful material, the best metalcore release I heard lately, far better then most of the “copies of an imitation” stuffs coming through on daily bases. They have strength and good melodies, explosive power and catchy themes and the album sounds awesome. “Omen” is a quite perfect reflection of what they sounds like, my other favorites are the beautiful “Nostalgia”, the raging “Chaos Attractor”, “Stars Faded In Slow Motion” and one of their strongest one, the title track “The Dream, The Space”. Sometimes it just sounds like Pantera jamming with The Prodigy.
Track list:
01. Technologia
02. Chaos Attractor
03. Stars Faded In Slow Motion
04. Promise
05. The Dream, The Space
06. Snake Code (Caribbean Death Roulette)
07. Demise And Kiss
08. Panorama (Interlude)
09. Crystal Echos Back To Our Tragedy
10. Nostalgia
11. Omen (Prodigy Cover- Japan Edition Bonus Track)
Don’t mistake them for Crossfaith, a Portuguese Hard ‘N’ Heavy band, formed in 2004 at Ponta Delgada, São Miguel. Once again, legal shits interferes with creative issues…
Crossfaith – Official Site
Crossfaith @ MySpace
Crossfaith @ last.fm
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6NDq5r1IlE&hl=ja_JP&feature=player_embedded&version=3]
