Album Review: Crystal Lake – The Weight of Sound (Century Media Records)

Japanese metalcore force Crystal Lake are back with their seventh studio album, The Weight of Sound, set for release on 23rd January 2026 via Century Media Records.

Formed in Tokyo in 2002, Crystal Lake is a dynamic five-piece band. Their distinctive sound draws from hardcore and metalcore influences, blending infectious melodies with a powerful heaviness. The Weight of Sound is the band’s first full‑length since signing with Century Media in 2024. It features a line-up of guest vocalists including Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage), David Simonich (Signs of the Swarm), Taylor Barber (Seven Hours After Violet, Left To Suffer), Myke Terry (Fire from the Gods, Volumes) and Karl Schubach (ex Misery Signals). Vocalist John Robert Centorrino, who joined the band in 2023 after fronting The Last Ten Seconds of Life, has cited personal experiences of life on tour as key lyrical inspiration for the title track.

Speaking about inspirations for The Weight of Sound, guitarist and founder YD states:

”When I look back, I realise that Crystal Lake has now been active for 23 long years. People often say, “time flies,” but the truth is we’ve carved out countless histories together – with friends, bandmates, and fellow musicians – sharing struggles that drew blood and building this band piece by piece. I have constantly been inspired by the people and the environment around me. To play that music together with comrades-in-arms is what it means to be a band. And the music that band creates has the power to shape a new culture. Our new album The Weight of Sound is a reflection of this way of life. I truly hope you will listen and enjoy it.”

Crystal Lake is John Robert Centorrino on vocals, YD and TJ on guitars, Mitsuru on bass and Gaku on drums.

We get underway with Everblack, featuring David Simonich, and it is a crunchy and aggressive opener. Harsh vocals lead the charge among a barrage of metallic riffs and crushing drums. The track is energetic and intense. It leans heavily into a deathcore sound at times. The chorus shifts firmly back into metalcore territory. In its best form, it brings catchiness through harmonised clean and harsh vocals alongside added guitar melodies. A brief piano drop near the end leads into an unexpected and brutally heavy breakdown section.

Bludgod, featuring Taylor Barber, keeps the energy and aggression levels high. It starts fast and only picks up the pace from there. The track delivers a darker edge with some particularly impressive guttural vocals. Subtle synth elements are used intelligently to add another layer without taking over the song. The technicality ramps up through frantic drum patterns, sharp bass lines, and relentless riffing.

Neversleep, featuring Myke Terry, continues in the same vein as the opening tracks. Harsh, heavy, and uncompromising, it combines crunchy riffs with aggressive vocals to create a ridiculously fast and punishing assault. King Down follows and is even shorter, clocking in at under two and a half minutes. Crystal Lake make full use of the runtime. It is one of the catchiest tracks on The Weight of Sound so far. A genuinely inspired chorus pulls back slightly on the harsh vocals and leans into gang vocals, giving the track a strong anthem-like quality.

The Undertow introduces the vocals of Karl Schubach and smartly shifts things just as the risk of repetition begins to creep in. A prominent lead guitar melody in the intro and verses elevates the track significantly. While it remains fast and aggressive, driven by expert drum and bass work and forceful vocals, the melodic guitar lines add a new sense of emotion, power, and depth.

The title track, The Weight of Sound, follows and fully earns its position. It is an expansive and ambitious piece that balances heaviness and emotion while staying firmly rooted within the genre. A striking lead guitar melody opens the track, followed by a clean vocal verse that transitions into harsher territory before landing on a chorus packed with memorable hooks. The second verse pushes things into nastier, heavier territory, while subtle synth work and softened vocals guide the track toward a powerful closing section where lead guitars and vocals combine emphatically, leaving a lasting impression and an urge to hit repeat.

Crossing Nails has a high bar to live up to, probably an impossible one, but Crystal Lake give it a strong attempt by switching back towards something more direct and aggressive. Harsh vocals lead the charge through groove-laden verses packed with intensity. The drummer is given a serious workout, but the direct aggression smartly pulls back just enough to let a gang-vocal-heavy chorus shine. It is a good song, delivering a direct blast of heaviness.

Dystopia, featuring Jesse Leach, follows and makes a serious case for being the best track on The Weight of Sound. The intro is excellent, with standout vocals, powerful instrumentation, and drums that immediately demand attention. The verses bring superb levels of energy and aggression before leading into a chorus that balances clean and heavy vocals well while remaining hugely catchy. Transitions between harsh and clean sections are smooth throughout, and a crushing breakdown gives way to a striking section where effects and spoken word combine over infectious beats. This then drops into a beautifully sung passage that feels powerful and important. It is an intensely engaging track from start to finish.

Sinner has the unenviable task of following that and gets impressively close. It is another well-written track that flows naturally and keeps the listener engaged. Subtle shifts in tone and tempo, alongside a more prominent guitar melody, add enough defining character to keep things feeling fresh and distinct, even this deep into the album.

The penultimate track, Don’t Breathe, continues that momentum with a strong balance of aggression, intensity, and melody. Lead guitars shine once again, the chorus is catchy and energetic, and the verses hit hard with mosh-pit-ready force. A standout rhythmic section allows the drums to really show off, while a melodic break enhanced with effects adds texture before the track drops into darker gutturals and heavy breakdowns. It may feel familiar, but it is undeniably effective and fun.

The Weight of Sound closes with Coma Wave. On an album that delivers plenty of variety and several standout moments, finding the right closer is no easy task. Crystal Lake manage it convincingly. Piano and soft vocals guide an emotional opening verse. Tapping effects add another layer as the song builds. Guitars gradually enter, followed by keys and increasingly forceful vocals, while the piano melody continues underneath. A tasteful guitar solo and a final surge of intensity bring things to a close. Coma Wave is a fitting and memorable way to end the album.

The Weight of Sound is a strong and confident statement from Crystal Lake. It showcases a band that knows exactly who they are while still finding room to evolve. Across the album, they balance aggression, melody, and variety well. Intelligent guest appearances and sharp, focused songwriting help elevate the tracks. While some moments occasionally feel familiar, particularly within the conventions of metalcore, there are plenty of standout passages of brutality, catchiness, and genuine emotion. All of this is delivered with precision and intent. As a whole, The Weight of Sound stands as one of the most complete and engaging releases in Crystal Lake’s catalogue to date.

Tracklist:

1. Everblack (feat. David Simonich)
2. Blüdgod (feat. Taylor Barber)
3. Neversleep (feat. Myke Terry)
4. King Down
5. The Undertow (feat. Karl Schubach)
6. The Weight Of Sound
7. Crossing Nails
8. Dystopia (feat. Jesse Leach)
9. Sinner
10. Don’t Breathe
11. Coma Wave

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