I may remember January 14, 2012 as the day I discovered the soft, gooey, gross affection I have for the GazettE. That’s right folks, a live performance made me like a band I had never really heard before. All signs pointed to disliking this band simply for the fact that they’re a new school, post-Dir en grey scream fest. But damn it, they’re a good new school, post-Dir en grey scream fest. Intentionally or not, the band proved that certain J-rock aficionadas (me) need to stop reading fansites that shun bands for being heavily influenced by certain, more seasoned groups, and start embracing them for who they are.
The Live Tour 11-12 Venomous Cell – Final – Omega’s set started out strong, with songs from their latest album, Toxic, heralding in the grimy theme of the show. Songs like “VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB” are quick in tempo, but the texture of the guitar riffs and synth give the melody a slightly sticky feeling, as if your mind is caught on a giant, musical sheet of fly paper. The autotune in “VORTEX,” despite the fact that it’s the dreaded autotune, adds to this to make it sound like Ruki’s voice is being filtered through poisonous tree sap.
From the nasally barks to the dueling guitars, these songs speak to that angst-ridden demonic filth that lurks deep within all of our souls, whether we admit it exists or not. I don’t think I’m the only one who hears a variation of the drums from Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” when Kai starts thumping away on “MY DEVIL IN THE BED.” And that was not the only thing that harkens back to the late-90s’ king of cybergoth’s disturbing sexuality; the chorus of pre-recorded female voices proudly taunted, “Let’s have sex in the darkness!” amongst less PG-13 musings from Ruki.
These numbers that fluctuated between dirty to pervy to downright nasty were obviously well put together in the composition and production phases, and equally well done in the performance that evening. But every once in a while, a song would sneak in that sounded out of place in terms of sincere grossness factor. The band decided to toss in tunes like “CLEVER MONKEY” that lacked the texture and attitude they had originally sold me on. Upon post-concert research (read: talking to a the GazettE fan), I discovered these were their older tunes. While they were performed with the same approach as the newer ones, it’s quite obvious these were from a time when the band had not yet found their footing on the mountain of musical goo they were trying to scale.
And this is why I was glad I heard the band’s music in this stage of their career and not before. Approaching this show as a the GazettE virgin, I was prepared to have my ears violated maliciously, but was surprised to find I liked having my preconceived notions violated like that. A few of the tunes may be thinly veiled homages to a couple older artists who have been doing the grime and slime for years, but hey, I like those acts too.The diehards can cherish the older tracks on their own while I keep my pervy eyes and ears peeled for newer material.
DIR EN GREY will release their 8th studio album DUM SPIRO SPERO 2 years and 10 months after UROBOROS which garnered overwhelming support as the strongest and the maddest record resonating across the globe. In our time when heavy rock music has become diversified, the band’s deep and extensive, unique perspective is once again borderless, uncategorized. This record which encapsulates the band’s present will not only secure tremendous support from the hard core fans, but will surely gain recognition from heavy rock fans including guitar enthusiasts and Western-music-obsessed music fans.
There are 14 tracks including “Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami” (featured on ‘SAW 3D’ soundtrack),“LOTUS”,“DIFFERENT SENSE” as single-cut tracks in this album.
With the combination of world-noted engineers and the individuality of a Japanese born and bred band, this album will no doubt be the determining punch for DIR EN GREY.
DIR EN GREY will be releasing this album as the standard CD, a double LP (both featuring the same 14 tracks) and a deluxe CD which will feature the two bonus tracks. Also available will be the Limited Edition Bundle, which features:
-The Deluxe version of the CD (with the 2 bonus tracks)
-The Double LP
- Digital download of album
-An Exclusive T-Shirt Design
-An Autographed Poster (while supplies last).
Tracklisting
Kyoukotsu No Nari
THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB
DIFFERENT SENSE
AMON
“Yokusou Ni DREAMBOX” Aruiwa Seijuku No Rinen To Tsumetai Ame
Juuyoku
Shitataru Mourou
LOTUS
DIABOLOS
Akatsuki
DECAYED CROW
Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami
VANITAS
Ruten No Tou
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 by Catherine Catanzaro
Say what you will about Dir en grey’s music, management, fans, or attitude: these five men put on an amazing rock show. Cathartic and revealing, their performances seethe and roil with a furious energy, and the three concerts they played this fall at New York’s Gramercy Theater were no exception.
Dir en grey has had twelve years to hone their craft, and the experience shows in their ability to manipulate the emotions of a crowd through music. Their latest album Uroboros is a carefully constructed collection of tracks that seem made for the stage, each one a roller-coaster ride of moshpit-inducing metal guitarwork and airy, melodic choruses. Soaring vocal sections punctuate heavy riffing and guttural growling, letting you up for air just long enough to take a breath before being pulled back down by violent rock into the inky darkness at the heart of Dir en grey’s music. It’s always electrifying, never boring, and damn fun to hear these songs live. (more…)
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 by Catherine Catanzaro
Die, Kaoru, Kyo, Toshiya, Shinya
It’s Friday the thirteenth, and a miserable one at that. Thick cloud cover casts New York in a sallow, wan light, and the sky sputters icy raindrops that whisper against umbrellas the promise of a deluge. I’m walking down 23rd Street in Manhattan, and around me pedestrians are hurrying to their destinations, eager to escape the rain and cold. As unpleasant as the weather is this afternoon, not far ahead stands a large group of people who seem perfectly content to stay outside in the rain. Wrapped in plastic bags and cheap ponchos and huddling under makeshift cardboard shelters, the line of a few hundred college-aged people winds around two corners and threatens to overtake a third.
No, their ad-hoc cardboard signs proclaim, they’re not homeless. This isn’t a line for a soup kitchen. They’re here for Dir en grey.
Tonight is the second show of the Japanese rock giants’ three night booking at the Gramercy Theater. Some of these people have been sitting outside the theater since the first show let out on Wednesday night. I am personally acquainted with many of these fans: I was one of them too once, waking up at insane hours and waiting on line all day to ensure a good spot in the crowd. I say my hellos to all the familiar faces on the line, but today I’m not here to sit around on the concrete. I’m on my way to meet up with Dir en grey’s roadie-cum-translator Nora and an as-of-yet unknown member of the band for a short interview before the show. (more…)
The weather’s getting colder, the holidays are approaching, and somewhere in midtown there’s a line of young women with multicolored hair sleeping on cardboard boxes outside a concert hall. By now, every Jrock fan knows what that means: Dir en grey is back in town.
The metal monarchs’ 2009 American tour brings them to New York once again, this time for three consecutive shows at the Gramercy Theater. It’s the night before the first performance and this evening they’re gracing Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya with their presence, sitting down with Miz Diva Vélez of The Diva Review for an interview followed by an autograph session. The event is private and exclusive: only about sixty lucky fans — winners of an online contest — and their guests are able to attend.
The reason for the exclusivity is soon made clear. The “event space” at Kinokuniya is more accurately a corner of the bookstore with all the displays pushed off to the side. Press is herded into the adjacent café area, where photographers battle sandwich shelves for a decent view. The band sits at a table wedged into the corner; a few feet in front of them is stretched a black velvet rope, behind which approximately a hundred fans are packed into the spaces between the bookshelves. The environment is certainly cozy, and I can’t think of another instance of this infamously aloof band presenting themselves to their fans in such an informal, personal way.
The interview portion of the event lasts just under a half an hour. Like most interviews with Dir en grey, the discussion is pleasant but bland. Host Diva Vélez is personable and well-spoken, and to the delight of the excited crowd — some of whom have taken a break from waiting on line at the theater to come to this event — many of her questions focus on the upcoming concerts. Towards the end of the discussion she gives the fans the microphone, inviting them to tell the band how they feel about Dir en grey’s music and performances. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that a few brave fans jump at. (more…)
It’s been confirmed via the Dir en grey myspace page that the full band will be signing at their NYC show on November 11th.
Great news, everyone! We have just confirmed that the entire band will be doing a signing for you after the November 11th show at The Gramercy Theatre (NYC, NY). While we are doing our best to make sure that every show will be special and unique in its own right, if you are in NYC and want a chance to get something signed (your “Average Blasphemy” DVD perhaps), HERE’S YOUR CHANCE! Tickets are available HERE but are going quick. Please note, you can also get a bundle to attend all three NYC shows at a reduced rate, HERE.
If you’re not in the NYC/New England area (or flying in like a lot of the fans are), check out the full itinerary for the “All Visible Things” tour at http://www.bratmarketing.com/deg/degtour/
Live shows are fun. I guess. Watching a group of musicians standing up high on a stage, surrounded by giant, altar-like speakers, inhaling waves upon waves of screams from the adoring public, going home with a sense that you made a difference in the lives of more people than the average person meets in his or her lifetime. It’s a glorious, beautiful, and magnificent feeling for the musicians. While that’s all well and good, I can’t help but wonder: what about my time in the spotlight? What about my glory? What about my fans?
Ok, I know I don’t have any fans. In fact, I don’t have any discernible talent in terms of music. In all honesty, the same goes for the majority of fans. However, that doesn’t stop us from craving the attention and approval from the masses, even if on a slightly smaller scale.
That’s why the All 90’s Visual Kei Karaoke Event was invented.
Bad news for Dir en grey fans, the band has had to postpone their ongoing FEAST OF V SENSES tour dates for Sendai and Sapporo following news that Vocalist Kyo has been diagnosed with laryngeal edema which has caused inflammation of his vocal chords. Here’s wishing the crazy chainsaw chihuahua a speedy recovery!
Karmic love to anyone who gets the obscure music reference in the title of this post.
Get ready Europe. Dir en grey is headed back your way again this summer following the conclusion of their “FEAST OF THE V SENSES TOUR” in Japan.
They have firmed up their FESTIVAL LINEUP DATES as follows.
6/5 ROCK IM PARK > GERMANY
6/7 ROCK AM RING > GERMANY
6/12 DOWNLOAD > ENGLAND
6/20 NOVAROCK > AUSTRIA
6/27 METALTOWN > SWEDEN
Let’s hear from you, Europe, are you psyched to see Dir back greying up your respective nations with some UROBOROS or are you all grey’d out on this material?
Say what you will about Dir en grey’s music, management, fans, or attitude: these five men put on an amazing rock show. Cathartic and revealing, their performances seethe and roil with a furious energy, and the three concerts they played this fall at New York’s Gramercy Theater were no exception.
The weather’s getting colder, the holidays are approaching, and somewhere in midtown there’s a line of young women with multicolored hair sleeping on cardboard boxes outside a concert hall. By now, every Jrock fan knows what that means: Dir en grey is back in town.