Japanese Bands A-Z list: C

(コールズ・ネーム・アゲイン)

Genre: Loud rock / modern metal / emo-influenced rock
Origin: Muroran City, Hokkaido, Japan
Formed: October 2016
Status: Active

Bitesize Overview:
Calls Name Again is a four-piece loud rock band from Muroran City in Hokkaido, Japan, known for blending heavy overseas-inspired rock with emotional metal and melodic hooks sung in both Japanese and English. 

Their sound features powerful riffs, soulful and dynamic clean vocals, and expressive songwriting that stands out in Japan’s underground rock scene.

Key Facts:

• Formation & Base: The band formed in October 2016 and has been rooted in the local Hokkaido scene, gradually expanding their presence across Japan.
   
• Musical Style: Calls Name Again’s music draws on a mix of loud rock energy and melodic emo/metal elements, with lyrics often alternating between Japanese and English for broader appeal.
   
• Notable Tours & Live Presence: They’ve played major local events and supported national tours, including opening spots on coldrain’s FDXV+ TOUR and other rock festivals, helping raise their profile.
   

Notable Releases:

• Chiaroscuro (2023) – First full-length album showcasing seven tracks of their evolving sound.
   
• “DARKNESS (feat. NaShun & C-GATE)” (May 25, 2024) – A collaborative single featuring NaShun from C-GATE that highlights their heavier, metalcore-tinged side.
   
• “MANUS” (July 4, 2025) – A digital single continuing their melodic yet intense trajectory.
   
• Other digital singles include glitter and SPREZZATURA, reflecting their range from melodic anthems to hard-edge rock.
   

Side Projects & Collaborations:
They teamed up with fellow Hokkaido band INViSBL in 2022 for the IN:CA split release, pairing each band’s strengths and expanding their creative footprint.

Band Evolution & Members:
Originally starting with local shows around Muroran, the lineup stabilized after early member changes, with the current four members driving their intense live shows and growing catalog.

Interesting Fact:
Calls Name Again has rapidly grown from a local Hokkaido act into a buzzed-about band on Japan’s modern rock circuit, earning support slots on high-profile tours and festival appearances that expose them to nationwide audiences.

Online:

Twitter (X): CallsNameAgain

YouTube: callsnameagain

Instagram: callsnameagain

Web: kerorokeroroto.wixsite.com/callsnameagain

MUSIC:

Popular: With Us 

We also like: Glitter

Genre: Doom / Death Metal
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Formed: 1996
Status: Active

Bitesize Overview:
Coffins is a long-running Japanese doom/death metal band from Tokyo that first formed in 1996. Originally born out of the underground extreme music scene under the name Compromise You Need, they adopted the Coffins name later that year and began shaping a darker, heavier sound rooted in doom and death metal influences. 

After an early hiatus in 2000, the core members reconvened in 2003, fully committing to the brooding doom/death style that would define their career. Over the decades, Coffins has built a strong reputation in the global metal underground, touring internationally and releasing a steady stream of acclaimed records.

Key Facts:

• Origins & Formation: Founded by guitarist/vocalist Uchino along with original members including Negishi, the band evolved from earlier heavy music experiments into Coffins by 1996.
   
• Hiatus & Rebirth: After early lineup changes and a break around 2000, Coffins reformed in 2003 with a sharper focus on doom/death metal and released Mortuary in Darkness in 2005.
   
• Discography Highlights: Key albums include Mortuary in Darkness (2005), The Other Side of Blasphemy (2006), Buried Death (2008), The Fleshland (2013), Beyond the Circular Demise (2019), and Sinister Oath (2024).
   
• Style & Sound: Coffins is known for crushing, slow-to-mid-paced riffs, deep growled vocals, and a raw, oppressive atmosphere that blends early death metal aggression with doom’s weighty heaviness.
   
• Live & Tours: The band has toured extensively across Japan, Europe, North America, and Australia, sharing stages with other well-known extreme music acts and appearing at festivals worldwide.
   

Interesting Notes:

• Coffins has released many split records and unique releases that appeal to collectors and the underground metal community.
   
• Their music is often described as a fusion of old school death metal brutality with doom’s crushing pace, drawing influence from classic bands while keeping a distinct identity.
   

Current Lineup (Recent / Notable):

• Uchino – Guitar / Vocals
• Satoshi – Drums
• Jun Tokita – Vocals
• Masafumi Atake – Bass / Vocals

Online:

Web: coffins.jp

Twitter (X): @Coffins_JP

YouTube: @CoffinsJP

Facebook: intothecoffin

MUSIC:

Popular: Altars In Gore
We also like: The Hatred Storm 

Genre: Post-hardcore / Metalcore / Alternative metal / Loud rock
Origin: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Formed: 2007
Status: Active

Bitesize Overview:
coldrain is a five-member Japanese rock band from Nagoya, formed in 2007. Blending melodic singing with intense screams and heavy guitar work, they fuse post-hardcore, metalcore, and alternative rock into a powerful modern sound. 

Although the group is entirely Japanese, all of their songs are written and performed in English — largely due to frontman Masato’s bilingual background. 

Key Facts:

• Members: Masato Hayakawa (lead vocals), Ryo Yokochi (Y.K.C, lead guitar), Kazuya Sugiyama (Sugi, rhythm guitar), Ryo Shimizu (RxYxO, bass), Katsuma Minatani (drums) — the lineup has remained consistent since formation.
   
• Language & Lyrics: Despite Japanese roots, the band writes almost exclusively in English, reflecting Masato’s fluency and Western musical influences.
   
• Early Releases: Their debut maxi single Fiction dropped in 2008, followed by full-length albums Final Destination (2009) and The Enemy Inside (2011), initially released only in Japan.
   
• International Breakthrough: With their 2013 album The Revelation and partnerships with Hopeless Records and Sony Music, coldrain began touring globally, gaining attention in Europe, the UK, and beyond.
   

Style & Image:
coldrain’s music is known for its dynamic blend of clean melodies and aggressive vocals, tight rhythm sections, and emotive twin guitars. They draw from both Japanese and Western rock traditions, appealing to a wide international audience.

Notable Releases:
Albums include Final Destination (2009), The Enemy Inside (2011), The Revelation (2013), Vena (2015), Fateless (2017), The Side Effects (2019), and Nonnegative (2022).

Interesting Facts:

• Masato was born to a Japanese father and an American mother and speaks both Japanese and English, which influences the band’s lyrical direction.
   
• Before forming coldrain, the members played in local Nagoya bands that eventually merged into one group.

Online:

Web: coldrain.jp

Twitter (X): coldrain_jp

YouTube: @coldrain_official

Instagram: coldrain_official

Facebook: coldrainofficial

MUSIC:

Popular: MAYDAY (feat. Ryo from ex. Crystal Lake)

We also like: FEED THE FIRE

Tokyo Noizu Spotify: Coldrain Playlist

Genre: Electronicore / Metalcore / Metal
Origin: Osaka, Japan
Formed: 2006
Status: Indefinite hiatus (2025)

Bitesize Overview:
Crossfaith is a Japanese five-piece band from Osaka that blends aggressive metalcore with electronic elements and trance-inspired programming. Since forming in 2006, they’ve become one of Japan’s most internationally recognised heavy acts, known for explosive live shows and a sound that fuses distortion, synths, and high-energy rhythms.

Key Facts:

• Early Breakthrough & Sound: Crossfaith started by combining metalcore with electronic music influences, helping define a heavier electronicore sound in Japan. The band’s debut EP and early albums built a global audience eager for genre-blending intensity.
   
• International Touring: Crossfaith have toured extensively outside Japan, appearing at major festivals including Warped Tour, Reading & Leeds, Download Festival, and numerous European events across years of world tours. Their relentless touring helped solidify a dedicated fanbase in North America and Europe.
   
• Discography Highlights: Standout releases include The Dream, the Space (2011), Apocalyze (2013), and Ark (2024), the latter marking a refreshed era with new material after several years. Ark also featured the brief tenure of guitarist Daiki Koide before his departure in 2025.
   
• Festival Presence: The band returned to the Download Festival lineup in 2025 — their first UK performance at the event in over a decade — and continued to book European festivals before late-season disruptions.
   

Incident & Hiatus:
In mid-2025, Crossfaith faced a major controversy when it was confirmed that guitarist Daiki Koide engaged in inappropriate direct-message communication with a minor while on tour. After public scrutiny and the cancellation of remaining European dates, the band dismissed Daiki and issued a formal apology to the victim, her family, and fans. In the aftermath, Crossfaith announced that all activities would be suspended and that they would enter an indefinite hiatus while reflecting on their future and rebuilding their foundation.

Members (Core):

• Kenta Koie – Vocals (2006–present)
• Kazuki Takemura – Guitar (2006–present)
• Terufumi Tamano – Keyboards/Electronics (2006–present)
• Tatsuya Amano – Drums (2006–present)
  (Former members include Hiroki Ikegawa on bass and Daiki Koide on guitar; Ikegawa departed in 2024.)

Online:

Web: crossfaith.jp

Twitter (X): @CrossfaithJapan

YouTube: @CrossfaithOfficial

Instagram: crossfaithjapan

Facebook: Crossfaith

MUSIC:

Popular: Monolith
We also like: Devil's Party 

Tokyo Noizu Spotify: Crossfaith Playlist

Genre: Metalcore / Progressive Metal
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Formed: 2002
Current Status: Active, new album & world touring (2026).

Bitesize Overview:
Crystal Lake is a leading Japanese metalcore band that emerged from Tokyo’s hardcore scene in 2002. Over more than two decades, they’ve become one of Japan’s most enduring heavy music acts, noted for tight riffs, genre-blending aggression, and ambitious international touring. 

Crystal Lake helped shape Japan’s modern metalcore movement and continues to evolve with a fresh lineup and global profile.

Key Facts:

• Early years were rooted in Japan’s burgeoning metalcore and hardcore circuits, releasing their first full album Dimension in 2006.
   
• They have steadily expanded their sound across multiple albums, incorporating melodic and experimental elements while keeping heavy core rhythms at the center.
   
• Crystal Lake signed with internationally respected metal label Century Media Records and released singles that broadened their reach outside Japan.
   

Members & Lineup Evolution:

• Yudai “YD” Miyamoto – lead guitar, the only remaining founding member from 2002.
• Gaku Taura – drums, officially a member since 2021 after touring with the band.
• Hisatsugu “TJ” Taji – guitar, joined in 2020.
• Mitsuru – bass, added as a full-time member in 2021.
• John Robert Centorrino – lead vocals (joined 2023), previously fronted The Last Ten Seconds Of Life in the U.S.
   

Style / Sound:
Crystal Lake’s music blends metalcore’s intensity with touches of progressive structure and nuanced melodic sections. Their evolving sound has drawn from global influences while staying grounded in hardcore roots, and members have discussed bringing in wider musical interests like EDM and hip-hop into their creative outlook. 

Notable Releases & Milestones:

• Dimension (2006) – debut that introduced the band’s metalcore foundation.
• Into the Great Beyond (2010) – second album before lineup shifts. 
• The Sign (2015) – first major release featuring vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, helping expand the band’s reach outside Japan. 
• True North (2016) & Helix (2018) – albums that pushed their international profile further (Ryo era).
• Singles in the 2020s like Watch Me Burn, Denial // Rebirth, and BlüdGod showcase the band’s comeback with John Centorrino and new label support. 

Vocalists / Turning Points:

• Kentaro Nishimura – original vocalist in the band’s earliest years.
• Ryo Kinoshita – joined in 2012 and became the defining voice on most of their best-known albums. He helped shape Crystal Lake’s signature style during their most internationally visible era. 
• In 2022, Ryo publicly stepped away citing ongoing struggles with adjustment disorder, a mental health condition that made touring and band activity unsustainable for him at the time.
• The band ran open auditions and in 2023 announced John Robert Centorrino (formerly of The Last Ten Seconds Of Life) as their new frontman, signaling a fresh chapter and renewed international focus.
   

Recent & Future Plans:
Since welcoming John, Crystal Lake has released new material and confirmed they’re working on a full-length album with Century Media Records, set for release during 2026, alongside extensive tours across Japan, Europe, and North America.

Online:

Web: crystallake.jp

Twitter (X): @CrystalLake777

Instagram: crystallake777

YouTube:  @CrystalLakeTV 

Facebook: Crystal Lake

MUSIC:

Popular: Apollo
We also like: Dystopia 

Tokyo Noizu Spotify: Crystal Lake Playlist

Genre: Symphonic metal / power metal
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Years Active: 2007 – 2023
Status: Disbanded (after 15th anniversary show).

Bitesize Overview:
CROSS VEIN was a Tokyo-born symphonic power metal band known for blending dramatic melodies with heavy guitar work and theatrical live shows. 

Formed in 2007, they built a reputation in Japan’s metal scene with grand arrangements and the powerful voice of vocalist Julia. Their sound mixed classical-inspired keyboards with driving rhythms and soaring vocals that attracted both domestic and international melodic metal fans.

Key Facts:

• Formation & Style: Founded in 2007, CROSS VEIN combined symphonic metal’s lush orchestrations with the speed and energy of power metal, often presenting their performances with dramatic visual flair.
   
• Releases: Across their career they released four full studio albums – Birth of Romance (2012), Royal Eternity (2015), Gate of Fantasia (2018), and Life of Veins (2021) – plus numerous singles and a live DVD. Their 2021 album Life of Veins continued their blend of melodic metal and epic songwriting.
   
• Major Debut: In 2014 the band made its major label debut with the single “Maid of Lorraine” through Victor Entertainment, helping to raise their profile in the Japanese metal scene.
   

History Highlights:

• Lineup Changes: Over the years the band saw several member shifts. Longtime guitarist Yoshi and drummer ShinKi left the band in 2021, a turning point that nearly led to a breakup before the group chose to keep going.
   
• Anniversary & Disbandment: In early 2023, after celebrating their 15th anniversary, CROSS VEIN announced they would be disbanding following that live show, bringing their 16-year run to a close.
   

Notable Release:

• Gate of Fantasia (2018) – Produced with input from noted metal musicians and praised for its rich orchestration and compelling performances.
   

Interesting Notes:

• The band developed a strong visual reputation, often presenting shows with themes inspired by European fantasy and drama.

Online:

Web: crossvein.net

Twitter: @CROSSVEIN_TW

YouTube: @CROSSVEINOfficialYouTube

Facebook: crossveinjapan

MUSIC:

Popular: True Castle
We also like: Icarus