Optimize (EP)
2025 EP by Coldrain
Optimize (stylised in all caps) is the fifth EP by Japanese rock band Coldrain. Self-produced by the band's lead guitarist Ryo Yokochi, it was released on 24 October 2025. It is the band's first release on Century Media Records and Sony Music Japan after leaving longtime label Warner Music Japan.
While it's the band's first EP in four years since the lead single "Paradise (Kill the Silence)" (2021) from the band's seventh studio album Nonnegative (2022) was released as such; it is the band's first full proper EP in eleven years since Japanese exclusive Until the End (2014), marking Optimize as the band's first EP to be released worldwide upon release and the first release by the band to be fully rolled out internationally since their fourth studio album Vena (2015).
The EP was preceded by three singles; the lead single "Incomplete" on 20 March, acting as the first ever thing the band released on their new label, the second single "Chasing Shadows" was released on 6 August, while the EP's third and final single "Free Fall" was released on 26 September. Optimize received positive reviews by critics, and has been promoted by a World Tour that began in September 2025, concluding in December of the same year.
Optimize serves as the longest ever gap between releases of original material from the band, while at five tracks, it is the band's shortest EP to date, tracking at a little over 18 minutes with a digital-only release. The EP has a full-album sequel, Optimize = Optdemise, that will be released on 25 September 2026.
01Background
On 18 March 2025, the band announced that they had left long-time label Warner Music Japan and had put pen-to-paper on a contract with German based label Century Media Records on an international deal, while signing with Sony Music in their home country. Simultaneously, the band teased the lead single "Incomplete" before its release on 20 March as the band's debut single on their new labels. On 27 March, the music video for "Incomplete" was released alongside additionally announced German tour dates for August. On 4 April, the band announced a fullscale European headline tour, kicking off in Manchester, England on 22 November and culminating in Frankfurt, Germany on 13 December, the tour spans across 16 cities, including the band's first UK dates in six years, alongside their debut concert in Hungary. On 11 July, the band formally announced their fifth EP Optimize, scheduled for release during an unspecifed time in the autumn. The band simultaneously announced a One Man Tour across Japan to promote the release. On 6 August, the band surprise released the EP's second single "Chasing Shadows"." On 9 September, the band announced that the EP would be scheduled to release on 24 October. On 26 September, the band released the EP's third single "Free Fall". On 22 September, the band uploaded a teaser trailer for Optimize to their social media accounts.
02Composition
The EP has been described by critics as post-hardcore, metalcore, nu metal, alternative metal, alternative rock, hard rock, electronic rock, and pop rock.
03Track listing
All lyrics written by Masato Hayakawa, all music composed by Masato Hayakawa and Ryo Yokochi.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Optimize" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Chasing Shadows" | 3:47 |
| 3. | "Digitoll" | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Incomplete" | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Free Fall" | 3:29 |
| Total length: | 18:13 | |
Notes
- All track titles are stylised in all caps.
04Personnel
Credits adapted from the EP's digital liner notes.
|
Coldrain
|
Additional personnel |
05Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) | 13 |
06Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | 24 October 2025 | |||
| 25 September 2026 |
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Optimize (EP)”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Coldrain - Optimize.jpg by Coldrain, Fair use
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