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coldrain has announced that they’ll release the album OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE on September 25. Accompanying the news is the music video for the new single EX-HUMANITY, the sixth song taken from the album, revealing coldrain performing while under heavy surveillance.

As the band stands on stage at Daikanyama UNIT, with the venue’s name noted in the music video’s description, things are not quite what they seem.

On stage, schoolchildren bounce playfully on inflatable animals, a chef cooks with a wok, and vocalist Masato sings into a silver skull. While in the pit, we see a goat, a boxing match, an elderly man with a kettle and cup noodle, and schoolgirls dancing.

coldrain - EX-HUMANITY (Official Music Video)

The camera zips past multiple versions of coldrain as they appear on screen, heavily tracked by surveillance. Fans can also be seen entering the venue in a militant single file as if they were brainwashed. Once inside and while the performance is on, their hands are up in the air, moving back and forth in unison.

The visual aspect is defined by grainy textures, TV static, warping effects, a collage of CCTV-style footage, and a metallic blue filter.

Schoolgirls dancing in the pit to the heavy number, split into multiple screens.

The lyrics for EX-HUMANITY appear in the video’s comments. From our perspective, especially alongside the music video, they explore losing our identity as surveillance pervades every part of our lives with no way to opt out—completely voiding us of our humanity. The song also reflects a struggle to keep what makes us unique, hence the title EX-HUMANITY.

A quote via UK-based rock and metal website, Rock Sound, had vocalist Masato say this about the track:

EX-HUMANITY is a song built on contrast. 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.

A sentence taken from Century Media’s store in the album’s description for OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE breaks down the word “OPTDEMISE”:

OPTDEMISE = It is a coined term combining “Opt” (choice), “Optimize,” and “Demise” (death/ending)

Another sentence further down expands on the meaning of the album:

Exploring themes of technological evolution, the album poses a central question: will humanity continue to evolve or drive itself towards demise?

Album OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE will feature all songs from the OPTIMIZE EP released on October 24, 2025. It will also feature song EX-HUMANITY, and new songs. Two standout mentions we think should be noted is ninth song POISON, featuring vocalist Bert McCracken from American rock band The Used. Then there’s 12th song SAVIOR featuring vocalist Kenta Koie, vocalist of Crossfaith, currently on hiatus, now in solo project AFTERVOID.

The album will release in a regular CD-only edition and two limited editions. One limited edition includes a DVD; the other includes a Blu-ray disc. Both limited editions feature footage from both days of the band’s “BLARE FEST. 2026” performance.

Four vinyl variants will also be available: the Gatefold Silver LP at all retailers, the Ultra Clear LP at all US outlets, the Pearl Flip LP as an Impericon/EMP store exclusive, and the Special Color LP as a coldrain Official Store exclusive limited to 500 copies worldwide.

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EX-HUMANITY

iTunes
Bandcamp
Stream
Digital
  1. EX-HUMANITY

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Regular Edition
CDJapan
HMV
Amazon
CD
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
  6. EX-HUMANITY
  7. REST OF ME
  8. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  9. G.I.A.I.G
  10. SING
  11. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  12. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Limited Edition w/ DVD, Limited Edition
CDJapan
HMV
Amazon
CD
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
  6. EX-HUMANITY
  7. REST OF ME
  8. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  9. G.I.A.I.G
  10. SING
  11. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  12. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie
DVD
Features Day 1 and Day 2 of coldrain's live performance at their own event, BLARE FEST. 2026, that took place at Port Messe Nagoya on February 7 and February 8, 2026, totalling up to 63-minutes of footage.
  1. FREE FALL (DAY1)
  2. PARADISE (DAY 1)
  3. ADRENALINE (DAY 1)
  4. VENA(DAY 1)
  5. FIRE IN THE SKY (DAY 1)
  6. DIGITOLL (DAY 1)
  7. VENEGEANCE (DAY 1)
  8. NEW DAWN (DAY 2)
  9. INCOMPLETE (DAY 2)
  10. ENVY (DAY 2)
  11. CUT ME (DAY 2)
  12. THE SIDE EFFECTS (DAY 2)
  13. CHASING SHADOWS (DAY 2)
  14. OPTIMIZE (DAY 2)
  15. FINAL DESTINATION (DAY 2)

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Limited Edition w/ Blu-ray, Limited Edition
CDJapan
HMV
Amazon
CD
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
  6. EX-HUMANITY
  7. REST OF ME
  8. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  9. G.I.A.I.G
  10. SING
  11. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  12. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie
Blu-ray
Features Day 1 and Day 2 of coldrain's live performance at their own event, BLARE FEST. 2026, that took place at Port Messe Nagoya on February 7 and February 8, 2026, totalling up to 63-minutes of footage.
  1. FREE FALL (DAY1)
  2. PARADISE (DAY 1)
  3. ADRENALINE (DAY 1)
  4. VENA(DAY 1)
  5. FIRE IN THE SKY (DAY 1)
  6. DIGITOLL (DAY 1)
  7. VENEGEANCE (DAY 1)
  8. NEW DAWN (DAY 2)
  9. INCOMPLETE (DAY 2)
  10. ENVY (DAY 2)
  11. CUT ME (DAY 2)
  12. THE SIDE EFFECTS (DAY 2)
  13. CHASING SHADOWS (DAY 2)
  14. OPTIMIZE (DAY 2)
  15. FINAL DESTINATION (DAY 2)

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Official webshop
Amazon
Rough Trade
Assai Records
Crash Records
Vinyl
Gatefold Silver LP
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
Vinyl
  1. EX-HUMANITY
  2. REST OF ME
  3. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  4. G.I.A.I.G
  5. SING
  6. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  7. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Impericon
EMP
Vinyl
Pearl Flip Horizon LP Impericon/EMP Exclusive
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
Vinyl
  1. EX-HUMANITY
  2. REST OF ME
  3. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  4. G.I.A.I.G
  5. SING
  6. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  7. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie

OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE

Siren Records
Vinyl
Ultra Clear LP (Available at US Outlets)
  1. OPTIMIZE
  2. CHASING SHADOWS
  3. DIGITOLL
  4. INCOMPLETE
  5. FREE FALL
Vinyl
  1. EX-HUMANITY
  2. REST OF ME
  3. POISON feat. Bert McCraken (The Used)
  4. G.I.A.I.G
  5. SING
  6. PICTURE PERFECT HELL
  7. SAVIOR feat. Kenta Koie
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