A continuum of resilience – review of “The Weight Of Sound” by Crystal Lake

Who enjoys going to heavy metal festivals? I do, and it’s one of my favorite things to do in the world. There’s just something so special about them, including the fact that you get to discover some fantastic bands there. This happened to me last year at Summer Breeze Open Air, where I discovered Crystal Lake. The japanese gentlemen are about to release their new album “The Weight Of Sound”.

What strikes me most about “The Weight of Sound” is its sense of earned confidence. This isn’t a band trying to prove anything anymore; they’re simply showing you what 23 years of blood, sweat, and history sounds like when it’s channeled into 40-some minutes of focused intensity. With new vocalist John now firmly integrated into the lineup and the backing of Century Media Records, Crystal Lake has positioned themselves not just as veterans of the Japanese metalcore scene, but as vital voices in the genre’s global conversation.

“The Weight of Sound” succeeds because it understands that heaviness isn’t just about tuning and tempo—it’s about the weight we carry, the struggles that shape us, and the music that keeps us moving forward. The title track, “Sinner” and my personal favorite “Coma Wave” alone are worth the whole album.

Twenty-three years is a long time to bear any burden, much less the legacy of a band. However, rather than being burdened by its past, Crystal Lake‘s seventh studio album is strengthened by it. The quality of mixing, mastering and production are top-notch, and this is another point that goes in their favour.

In conclusion, this record exemplifies a band operating at their artistic zenith, unreserved in revealing their vulnerabilities while producing some of the most intense and memorable compositions of their trajectory. The burdens they have borne have culminated in a creation that’s been built to last.

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