Beneath the surface of Crystal Lake
Six years since their last visit to our shores, Japanese metalcore legends Crystal Lake are back in Australia, supporting Southern California alt-metal act Of Mice & Men for a national tour, hitting Magnet House on Tuesday, May 5, with tickets on sale now. This time round, Australia is in for a special treat as PK, frontman of Japanese/Korean juggernauts Prompts, will join Crystal Lake as guest vocalist for their tour. BRAYDEN EDWARDS caught up with lead guitarist and founding member Yudai ‘YD’ Miyamoto to find out about their new album, The Weight of Sound, and why they’re excited to bring new music and a new live lineup to Australian fans.
Congrats on your new album, The Weight of Sound. It’s been a little while between records, so there’s been plenty of anticipation—how does it feel to finally have it out in the world?
Thank you. I’m incredibly excited. Releasing an album is something really special in my life. It’s almost like having a new child. This album wasn’t about chasing trends or trying to hit any specific target. It’s a very natural expression of my background and everything I’ve experienced up to this point.
What do you see as the biggest difference between this record and your previous releases?
Other than having an American vocalist, there isn’t a big difference. Recently, I realised that Crystal Lake’s music is kind of like a stick of candy that has the same pattern all the way through. No matter where you cut it, it’s always the same at its core. What we’ve been doing hasn’t really changed, and neither has our mindset.
There are a lot of featured artists on the album—was that a deliberate direction going in, and what did those collaborations bring to the project?
At first, we didn’t have the idea to include featured artists. It was something we decided after committing to making the album. Most of them are friends of ours, but we also had the honour of working with some singers we really respect and singers we thought it would be amazing to collaborate with.
On the technical side, was there any new or different gear you used this time around?
That’s a really great question. Back in the day, we didn’t use IEMs, and we were running real amps on stage, but now everything is built around IEMs and amp simulators like the Quad Cortex.
For FOH as well, we bring our own console, which helps us create a smoother and more reliable live environment.
Personally, switching from Axe-Fx to Quad Cortex was a big change. I’ve always used ESP guitars, and I’ve been using the Evertune bridge since it first came out, so most of the evolution has been in our IEM and amp systems.
There have also been some recent lineup changes—how has that impacted the band, both in the studio and on stage?
There haven’t been any major issues, and it’s been really positive. It’s a very comfortable and inspiring environment now. As musicians and as people, everyone is at a different level, but what really matters is being able to constantly give feedback, evolve, and respect the people around you. We’re lucky to have a lot of great people supporting us. It’s an amazing situation.
Being in a band isn’t just about playing music. It’s about trust, respect, having a strong vision to chase your dreams, and overcoming yourself.
Do the new members bring their own influences or personalities into the sound?
Of course when people change, their influence naturally affects the band. But the core doesn’t change. We turn our feelings into music to represent what we believe in, and we express that on stage to everyone. I’m the only original member, so in a way, Crystal Lake itself is my identity.
PK from Prompts will be joining you on this tour—how did that come about, and what dynamic does he add to the live show?
We’ve played together many times through his band Prompts, so I already knew his potential and talent. I reached out to him directly and asked if he could support us. That’s how it came together. He’s incredibly dedicated and hardworking. More than anything, his stage presence is amazing and really energises the whole band. Thanks to him, we’re able to fully express the passionate and intense live approach that defines Crystal Lake.
You’re also touring with Of Mice & Men—what are you most looking forward to about hitting the road with them, both on and off the stage?
I hung out with Alan at a festival in the U.S., so I’m looking forward to sharing a beer with him again! It’s an honour to be part of their tour, and I’m really excited to bring our music to their fans as well.
Crystal Lake and Of Mice & Men play Magnet House on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from tickets.393murray.com.au