Vocalist Kenta Koie looks at me square in the eye and says, "We want to be the biggest band in the world." That band is Crossfaith, a metalcore band who will release its new album, "Apocalyze," in Japan on Sept. 4.
At a time when Japanese bands seem content in being popular at home, Koie's ambition is refreshing. Crossfaith recently played the Summer Sonic festival and Koie took charge of the stage from the moment he was on it. He worked the crowd as if he were the conductor of some headbanger's orchestra: directing a wall of death and circle pits, and getting the audience to jump on command. It's hard to imagine whether this goes down well overseas.
"I don't think foreign people are used to being ordered around by a Japanese person," Koie says with a laugh. "When I tell the crowd to sit and I see someone standing, I'll point at them and say, 'Don't be a p-ssy!' They just think it's really funny."