Crossfaith's EX_MACHINA

Where the fuck has this band been all my life?

Label:

• UNFD

Release Date:

• 3rd of August 2018

Band Members:

• Kenta Koie - Vocals
• Kazuki Takemura - Guitar
• Terufumi Tamano -  Keyboards
• Tatsuya Amano - Drums
• Hiroki Ikegawa - Bass

Genre:

• Electronicore

About a month ago while researching something for either a review or a Roundup story, I discovered a genre that immediately interested me: Japanese Metalcore. It turns out JMC is batshit crazy and awesome, they have taken a style and pushed it even further than I thought possible. The sad thing is, it barely gets any attention in the mainstream media around the world. I intend to change that, and I’ll begin with probably the most well known group of this sub-genre: Crossfaith and their new album, EX_MACHINA.
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Crossfaith started out as a Nu-Metal cover act, mainly doing Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit tracks, now add to that their closeness with British group Enter Shikari and you will understand their completely different musical style. Think Hardcore mixed with Nu-Metal, Metalcore and then add in some Electro/ Dubstep and you’ll be close, and it's called Electronicore. 
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I'll answer the big question straight away, they are fucking amazeballs! EX_MACHINA is a great intro record for me to get into this crazy band. The opener ’Deus Ex Machina’ is pure techno and makes you think ”aw shit, I’ve downloaded the wrong album”, but after a minute and a half it ticks over to the second track ’Catastrophe’, which is just a massive tsunami of metal goodness with just more than a hint of EDM, but it works (and all you long time readers know how I hate EDM).

Trying to choose a few good songs to promote was difficult, the album as a whole is just amazing and needs to be heard to be experienced and enjoyed. When you have a moment and need to be convinced, Spotify or YouTube ’The Perfect Nightmare’ or ’Freedom’ or even ’Make a Move’, definitely massive standouts from a top record.
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EX_MACHINA is my gateway into the world of Crossfaith and I couldn’t be happier as it is an amazing release which has introduced me to the weird and truly fucking awesomesauce sub-genre that is Japanese Metalcore. So much so that I already have tickets to Crossfaith's upcoming London show at the Electric Ballroom in October and I am literally counting down the days. 
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Seriously guys and girls, if you’re looking for a new style of Metalcore check out Crossfaith and keep reading Ronon’s Reviews as I intend to do a bit of a series on this sub-genre.

9.5/10

Written by Dan the Gaijin.

US Amazon

Madness [Ltd.Edition]

Australian Amazon

UK Amazon

Have both 'Catastrophe' and 'Freedom'!

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