Interview: Coldrain (Slam Dunk Fest Preview)

Over the coming days and weeks, Already Heard will be previewing this years Slam Dunk Festival in detail through a range of interviews and features.

Although the Slam Dunk Festival has a reputation for showcasing the best rock, pop punk and metalcore from both sides of the Atlantic, it also has a tendency to look further afield bringing an international flavour to the festival. Cue Coldrain.

The band from Nagoya in Japan are no strangers to these shores, having toured with Bullet For My Valentine, While She Sleeps and Papa Roach over here in the past 18 months. Stylistically Coldrain’s sound has a firm Western tone with latest album, ‘Vena,’ consisting of plenty big hooks and gritty riffs that leave their mark within modern hard rock.

Whilst past visits have been supporting spots, the quintet’s latest venture to the UK sees them on a headline run for the first time here. They’re also set to make their Slam Dunk Festival debut.

We grabbed a quick word with vocalist Masato Hayakawa before they arrived to discuss the tour and Slam Dunk.

AH: It seems the UK is quickly becoming a second home for you guys. What is it about the UK you like for you to keep coming back?
Masato: We’ve met a lot of cool people here that have reacted to what we were doing as a band, even before we toured outside Japan, and it made us feel at home from day one. All the tours we have done here have kept that relationship growing.

AH: However this run next month is going to be your first headline shows over here. What can we expect from these shows? Do you have anything special planned?
Masato:
We are used to playing long sets with a variety of songs back home, so it is awesome that we are finally going to be able to play a set like this in the UK. We love playing until everyone is worn out and can barely stand anymore.

AH: Joining you on the tour will be Wage War and Counting Days. Are they bands you’re friends with already? Also why should people come down early to watch them?
Masato:
Both bands are full of energy and we love that. It’s great having such a international line-up. People are definitely in for a treat.

AH: Not only are you touring the UK, you’re also going to be making your Slam Dunk Festival debut. What do you know about the festival? Have you spoken to any friends who have played it before?
Masato:
Our buddies in Crossfaith have always said it’s amazing, so we were stoked when we got the offer. A lot of bands we have met all over the world are on the line-up, so we can’t wait to check their sets out too! I’m just positive it’s going to be a great time so I can’t wait!

AH: You’re going to be playing early on the second stage. Would you say playing first is a difficult task or a good opportunity to kickstart the day?
Masato:
I think it’s a hard but it’s great opportunity. We’re always up for the challenge and with a sick line-up all day, we would love to start everyone’s day off great.

AH: For an emerging band like Coldrain, how important is a festival like Slam Dunk to showcasing what you can do?
Masato: Sometimes one show can make a big difference for a band and some festivals do have that effect. I think Slam Dunk is definitely one of those for us.

AH: What bands are you hoping to check out at the festival?
Masato:
The stage we play is full of our friends and I just can’t wait to hang out with them.

‘Vena’ by Coldrain is out now on Hopeless Records.

Coldrain will be playing on the Atlas stage:
Slam Dunk North (Leeds) – 1:20 – 1:50pm
Slam Dunk Midlands (Birmingham) – 1:20 – 1:50pm
Slam Dunk South (Hertfordshire) – 1:20 – 1:50pm

View more of Already Heard’s coverage from Slam Dunk Festival 2016 here.