Crossfaith

Employing a kinetic blend of metalcore, dubstep, and industrial, Osaka, Japan’s Crossfaith started out as a nu-metal cover band before transitioning to electronicore in the mid-2000s. Since debuting in 2009 with The Artificial Theory for the Dramatic Beauty, the band have become known for their technical prowess and fiery live performances. While progressive and punitive extreme metal has served as the group’s foundation over the years, albums like 2013′s Apocalyze and 2018′s Ex-Machina introduced more streamlined sonic elements to the mix, and featured complex narratives built around dystopian futures. Prior to their formation in 2006, singer Kenta Koie, guitarist Kazuki Takemura, and turntablist Terufumi Tamano all played together in a nü metal cover band. Intending to start an original project that mixed hard electronics with extreme metal, the three members recruited bassist Hiroki Ikegawa and drummer Tatsuya Amano and began writing and performing around Japan as Crossfaith. The group released their debut EP, Blueprint of Reconstruction, in 2008 and quickly followed up with their first LP, The Artificial Theory for the Dramatic Beauty, in 2009 on Japanese label Zestone Records. During this time, Crossfaith kept up a rigorous touring schedule supporting larger acts like Hatebreed, the Used, and Machine Head. In 2011, North Carolina-based label Tragic Hero Records released the band’s second album, The Dream, the Space, to the U.S. market, further expanding Crossfaith’s international appeal. Capitalizing on their momentum, the ambitious quintet then signed with European label Search and Destroy in 2012, releasing the Zion EP in an attempt to further entice international markets and create a buzz for their next LP. Recorded in New York, Crossfaith’s third album, Apocalyze, was released in late 2013. Bolstered by singles “The Evolution” and “We Are the Future,” the band continued to evolve their electronicore sound, reaching an even larger international audience and performing overseas. Their 2014 single, “Madness,” marked a slight shift in sound, streamlining the band’s combination of hardcore and electronica with cleaner arrangements and more singing. In the months prior to the release of their fourth album, the band joined the Warped Tour, playing dates across the United States and United Kingdom. In late 2015, the band released Xeno (Razor & Tie), a concept album about a female artificial intelligence entity who takes over the mind of a male protagonist, featuring guest turns by friends Caleb Shomo (Beartooth) and Benji Webbe (Skindred). 2018′s Ex-Machina was another conceptual affair, built around a near-future rebellion against an artificial intelligence-wielding authoritarian ruling class. It featured cameos from Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds and industrial hip-hoppers Ho99o9. ~ Timothy Monger