Crossfaith (14/09/2012)
The 59th Sound recently caught up with vocalist Kenta Koie, of metal core act Crossfaith, who will soon be hitting our shores for the 2013 Soundwave festival.
Hi, for those that don't know, how did the band Crossfaith form and when?
In 2006, before we started Crossfaith, me and Terufumi (Tamano, programs) and Kazuki (Takemura, guitars) were in other bands, kind of nu-metal bands but they all broke up so then we formed Crossfaith with Tatsuya (Amano, drums), she went to the same high school as me and in around 2008 Hlroki's (Ikegawa, bass) post-hardcore band broke up so we invited him to Crossfaith.
So where did the name Crossfaith come from?
Each member has their own faith in music and in life so it's a crossing of each faith
What can we in Australia expect from a live Crossfaith show?
Ah...wall of death, crowd surfing and high fives (laughs)
You must be pretty happy to be on the Soundwave lineup for next year?
Yeah, I'm so happy.
What bands are you most looking forward to seeing on the lineup?
Of course Metallica and Linkin Park, Cancer Bats. Tons of bands. I'm really, really excited to join Soundwave.
Is this your first trip to Australia?
Yes, this is the first time we'll be in Australia and I can't wait to get there.
So while you are down here most looking forward to doing?
Other shows, definitely. I wanna watch kangaroos and koalas. Ah...my friend, he told me that Australian people eat kangaroo balls so I wanna try, is it delicious? (laughing)
(laughs) I don't know, I've never tried them.
Oh really? Oh and I wanna watch bikini girls at the sea and I wanna go shopping.
What about trying Vegemite?
Yeah. Yesterday we were on Soundwave's Pow Wow (interview) and people ask about Vegemite and I didn't know what it was so I found it on Google so now I wanna try.
Who are your biggest influences musically?
Ah....Slipknot is a big influence on us. When I was 16 years old, the first time I heard 'people=shit' it just blew my mind so I started screaming and yep.
What is your favourite song to play live?
Monolith and Jagerbomb are great sing-a-longs. Have you heard it?
Yep, I actually bought the EP just a few days ago and it's amazing.
Wow! Thanks you. So you'll sing-a-long with us?
Absolutely! So what are your all time favourite bands?
Ah....Slipknot, definitely. And Of Mice and Men.
I actually have the Slipknot logo as a tattoo.
Oh nice, nice, nice.
What is the metal industry like in Japan?
It's getting better and getting bigger. Our new Zion EP got number 4 in the mainstream charts so people are interested in metal so Japanese metal scene is changing.
That's great to hear. What other Japanese bands would you recommend?
Ah....Coldrain, they are a similar sound to Memphis May Fire, you should check them. Awesome, awesome band.
What countries have you already toured in?
China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, UK and USA.
So what countries have the best fans?
Ah...UK is my favourite country. I really loved that country but when I come to Australia that will be the best country.
What do you get up to in your time off?
Chilling. Drink jagerbombs and Jack Daniels and go to the gym, I wanna get tough.
Are you currently writing new songs?
Yeah. We are studying English too.
Do you write all the lyrics and music?
Yeah, sometimes I bring a new idea to the band so I usually write with them.
Thanks very much for your time, I look forward to seeing you in Australia next year.
Yep, I'm so excited. Oh and please correct my English, I want to get better.
You did just fine.
Thank you, bye.
Matt Barton
Hi, for those that don't know, how did the band Crossfaith form and when?
In 2006, before we started Crossfaith, me and Terufumi (Tamano, programs) and Kazuki (Takemura, guitars) were in other bands, kind of nu-metal bands but they all broke up so then we formed Crossfaith with Tatsuya (Amano, drums), she went to the same high school as me and in around 2008 Hlroki's (Ikegawa, bass) post-hardcore band broke up so we invited him to Crossfaith.
So where did the name Crossfaith come from?
Each member has their own faith in music and in life so it's a crossing of each faith
What can we in Australia expect from a live Crossfaith show?
Ah...wall of death, crowd surfing and high fives (laughs)
You must be pretty happy to be on the Soundwave lineup for next year?
Yeah, I'm so happy.
What bands are you most looking forward to seeing on the lineup?
Of course Metallica and Linkin Park, Cancer Bats. Tons of bands. I'm really, really excited to join Soundwave.
Is this your first trip to Australia?
Yes, this is the first time we'll be in Australia and I can't wait to get there.
So while you are down here most looking forward to doing?
Other shows, definitely. I wanna watch kangaroos and koalas. Ah...my friend, he told me that Australian people eat kangaroo balls so I wanna try, is it delicious? (laughing)
(laughs) I don't know, I've never tried them.
Oh really? Oh and I wanna watch bikini girls at the sea and I wanna go shopping.
What about trying Vegemite?
Yeah. Yesterday we were on Soundwave's Pow Wow (interview) and people ask about Vegemite and I didn't know what it was so I found it on Google so now I wanna try.
Who are your biggest influences musically?
Ah....Slipknot is a big influence on us. When I was 16 years old, the first time I heard 'people=shit' it just blew my mind so I started screaming and yep.
What is your favourite song to play live?
Monolith and Jagerbomb are great sing-a-longs. Have you heard it?
Yep, I actually bought the EP just a few days ago and it's amazing.
Wow! Thanks you. So you'll sing-a-long with us?
Absolutely! So what are your all time favourite bands?
Ah....Slipknot, definitely. And Of Mice and Men.
I actually have the Slipknot logo as a tattoo.
Oh nice, nice, nice.
What is the metal industry like in Japan?
It's getting better and getting bigger. Our new Zion EP got number 4 in the mainstream charts so people are interested in metal so Japanese metal scene is changing.
That's great to hear. What other Japanese bands would you recommend?
Ah....Coldrain, they are a similar sound to Memphis May Fire, you should check them. Awesome, awesome band.
What countries have you already toured in?
China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, UK and USA.
So what countries have the best fans?
Ah...UK is my favourite country. I really loved that country but when I come to Australia that will be the best country.
What do you get up to in your time off?
Chilling. Drink jagerbombs and Jack Daniels and go to the gym, I wanna get tough.
Are you currently writing new songs?
Yeah. We are studying English too.
Do you write all the lyrics and music?
Yeah, sometimes I bring a new idea to the band so I usually write with them.
Thanks very much for your time, I look forward to seeing you in Australia next year.
Yep, I'm so excited. Oh and please correct my English, I want to get better.
You did just fine.
Thank you, bye.
Matt Barton