Chasing Shadows (Coldrain song)

"Chasing Shadows"
Single by Coldrain
from the EP Optimize
Language
  • English
  • Japanese
Released6 August 2025 (2025-08-06)
Recorded2024–25
Genre
Length3:47
Label
Songwriters
ProducerRyo Yokochi
Coldrain singles chronology
"Incomplete"
(2025)		 "Chasing Shadows"
(2025)		 "Free Fall"
(2025)
Music video
"Chasing Shadows" on YouTube

"Chasing Shadows" is a song by Japanese rock band Coldrain. Written by frontman Masato Hayakawa and lead guitarist Ryo Yokochi, it was released on 6 August 2025 as the second single from the band's fifth EP Optimize, via Sony Music Japan and Century Media Records.[1][2]

“Chasing Shadows” is particularly notable for breaking from the band’s traditionally dominated English-language catalogue, marking this as the first ever instance of Japanese lyrics being performed in one of the band's songs.[3][4]

The band have recorded and released various live videos of "Chasing Shadows" that were performed at Summer Breeze Open Air, Blare Fest 2026 and Haziketemazare.[5][6]

Background

In March 2025, the band left long time label Warner Music Japan and signed to Sony Music Japan.[7][8] Simultaneously, they inked an international deal with German based label Century Media Records and released the song "Incomplete", which was later revealed to be the lead single for their upcoming fifth EP Optimize.[9] On 6 August, the band surprise released "Chasing Shadows" alongside an accompanying music video, acting as the second single from Optimize.[10] It was released ahead of the band's August tour dates in Germany, where the band debuted the song live for the first time on 8 August at Open Flair Festival in Eschwege.[11] It was promoted in the UK on BBC Radio One, being played on Daniel P. Carter's Rock Show, while also being played extensively on rock radio around Europe.[12]

Composition

"Chasing Shadows" has been described by critics as alternative metal,[10] hard rock,[13] and pop rock,[14] with electronic elements.[15] It has been sonically compared to American rock band Linkin Park, with Hayakawa admitting that they partially inspired the song's sound.[16] The song was written by the band's vocalist Masato Hayakawa and lead guitarist Ryo Yokochi, while the latter handled the song's production.[17] The song was written about questioning authority figures and the values provided, while seeking for the truth.[18] Some critics have described the song as having "strong political undertones" within the current political climate.[13] When asked about the song, Hayakawa explained:

"This song was inspired by tales of people who questioned the values and rules they were given, and try to find the truth for themselves. I wanted to share how important it is to explore and understand each other, instead of easily moving toward conflict or anger. Even if the world feels closed off, the fire inside us can’t be put out. It’s a message to keep taking small steps forward, even when we feel lost."[1]

Despite being a Japanese band, they never sang in the language due to that their frontman Masato Hayakawa, being half American, was more influenced by Western music and that singing in Japanese never felt natural to him, citing that he always felt uncomfortable and sounded like a foreigner when singing in the language.[19][20] Early on, Hayakawa made the decision to only sing and write in English on all of the band's songs because they came more naturally to him when writing in English.[21] When asked back in 2016, Hayakawa spoke about the possibility of singing in Japanese on one of the band's songs: "When it comes out natural, I think it will happen, but not yet."[20] Eventually this became a reality on "Chasing Shadows", featuring the first ever Japanese lyrics on one of the band's songs, being briefly belted out during the second refrain in the song's third minute.[22][13] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Hayakawa explained that he sung in Japanese on the song because he wanted to personally challenge himself to keep up with the song's themes.[23]

Track listing

Digital single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chasing Shadows"
3:47
2."Incomplete"
  • Hayakawa
  • Yokochi
3:35
Total length:7:22

Music video

The official music video for "Chasing Shadows" was released on 6 August 2025. It was directed by Masaki Watanabe.[24]

The video features the band performing the song at night on a desolate plain, with an eclyptic backdrop overshadowed by dark silhouettes surrounding the band. Completely set in black and white, the video has been described as "atmospheric" and uses many light effects accompanied by the band's performance. Fans online have compared Masato's Hayakawa's attire in the video to that of Neo from The Matrix (1999) and D.B. Cooper, potentially alluding to the song's themes of constructed realities.[13] Behind the scenes footage revealed that the video was filmed on a beach over the course of the day, with the scenes of the flashing light effects filmed at night.[25]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[26]

Coldrain

Additional personnel

  • Sam Guaiana – mixing
  • Mike Kalajian – mastering (Rogue Planet Mastering, Gardiner, New York, US)
  • Steven McNair – engineering
  • Ryo Trackmaker – engineering

Charts

Chart performance for "Chasing Shadows"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Japan Digital Rock (Billboard)[27] 42

References

  1. 1 2 Ruskell, Nick (6 August 2025). "Listen to Japanese metallers Coldrain's new single, Chasing Shadows". Kerrang!. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Japan's Coldrain Debut New Single "Chasing Shadows"; Music Video". Brave Words. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Coldrain debut new single 'Chasing Shadows'". Rock n Load. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Gonda, Christopher (6 August 2025). "Coldrain Drop Single "Chasing Shadows" & Announce 'Optimize' EP". V13.net. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Coldrain, organised "Blare Fest. 2026", "Chasing Shadows" live video released!" (in Japanese). Gekirock. 15 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Japan's Coldrain Announces Optimize EP; "Chasing Shadows" Live From Summer Breeze 2025 Streaming". Brave Words. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Coldrain announces global contract with prestigious overseas label "Century Media Records"! The first single "INCOMPLETE" will be released on 3/20!" (in Japanese). Gekirock. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Japan's Coldrain Signs With Century Media Records". Brave Words. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "COLDRAIN share brand new music video 'INCOMPLETE'". Metal Planet. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  10. 1 2 Z. Liner, Lucia (6 August 2025). "Coldrain Are "Chasing Shadows" With New Song And 2025 International Tour Slate". The Nu Metal Agenda. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "News: Coldrain releases new single ahead of German festival run, announcing new EP and tour of Japan, U.K., and Europe". ReGen Mag. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Radio 1's Radio Rock Show with Daniel P Carter: Pit Stop". BBC. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Knight, George (6 August 2025). "Nagoya rockers Coldrain are "Chasing Shadows" in their new era, upcoming EP 'Optimize' slated to release this Autumn". Thunderchord. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Kat, Becky (23 October 2025). "Review of Upcoming EP: Coldrain - Optimize". Alter Nation. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  15. ↑ McGinn, Katarina (24 October 2025). "coldrain – OPTIMIZE (Century Media)". Dead Rhetoric. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Ohno, Toshiya (24 October 2025). "Coldrain's "OPTIMIZE" depicts the current position of the band that "stopped being perfect" (3)". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Xu, Julia (14 August 2025). "Coldrain debuts new single "Chasing Shadows"". The Concert Chronicles. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Baldin, Bernedetta (6 August 2025). "Coldrain debut new single 'Chasing Shadows'". Chaoszine. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Lloyd, Gavin (27 February 2015). "New Metal Revolution: Coldrain - The Rising Sons". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  20. 1 2 LucileMusique (25 May 2016). "[INTERVIEW] We went to meet Masato from Coldrain!". CKJ Pop News. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "INTRODUCING: COLDRAIN". Punktastic. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Coldrain releases surprise release & MV of the second SG "Chasing Shadows" of the label transfer". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 8 August 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  23. ↑ Ohno, Toshiya (24 October 2025). "Coldrain's "OPTIMIZE" depicts the current position of the band that "stopped being perfect" (2)". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Coldrain release new single "Chasing Shadows" and official music video". Lambgoat. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Coldrain (21 August 2025). "Coldrain Vlog - Chasing Shadows Behind the Scenes". YouTube. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Chasing Shadows/Coldrain/Credits". Tidal. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "Japan: iTunes Top 100 Rock Songs". Top Charts. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
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