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When you think about metalcore from foreign countries, there’s no one out there doing it quite like Japanese heavyweights Crystal Lake. They have dropped a few singles here and there but they have officially announced their seventh full length album, The Weight of Sound, which will release on January 23rd, 2026. With this announcement, the band has also released the title track as a single. You can watch the music video for it here!
When asked about the new song, vocalist John Robert Centorrino stated, “I wrote this after being gone from home for a long period and it mirrors those emotions of being on tour for a majority of the year - you are quite literally never there for the people you love when they need you. So people don't always believe in your struggle and there is a lot of doubt from all sides. But I believe in myself and this life. I'll carry the weight of sound forever. The song is probably my favorite song lyric wise from the album. As the saying goes: 'They only believe in you at the top of the mountain. You're a fool along the way."
This is an insane early projection, but there’s a chance that Crystal Lake is already in the running for 2026 Album of the Year. Now, hear me out on this one. Of course, there are still so many more albums to be announced that we don’t even know about yet. However, just based on the three singles that we have now, this album is shaping up to be an absolute beast. Each song has had a unique sound to it and I really appreciate that about Crystal Lake.
When asked about the album, founder and guitarist Yudai Miyamoto shared, “When I look back, I realize 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.”
This album is shaping up to be Crystal Lake’s most ambitious piece of work yet. Although they have been around since 2002, The Weight of Sound is proving to fans that the band is not quite done yet.
