Dir en Grey are very much like their Japanese horror movie counterparts for English speaking audiences. They may not be the goriest, but there is something creepy and sinister in the underlying disjointed quality of everyt... more »hing involved. Take this statement from their website: "Formed in 1997, with the sole purpose to spread the feeling of hurt and sorrow caused by weakness, shallowness and egoism of humanity." Are they combating these characteristics of humanity, or furthering them because they are in the middle of it? Withering to Death fits this contradiction perfectly. Straddling the line between Marilyn Manson, Coal Chamber, and something similar to Katatonia, everything about this band points toward something coming apart at the seams. The music moves from poppy guitar rock to more furious metal. The vocals go from beautiful drones to high pitched cackle to outright wail. The Japanese singing is much more dramatic than the English translation of the lyrics inside the booklet. Songs like "Saku," "Dead Tree," and "Kodou" don't really need translation, and in fact may work better without. So ignore the booklet lyrics and just enjoy the disorienting quality of the music itself. --Robert Arambel« less
Dir en Grey are very much like their Japanese horror movie counterparts for English speaking audiences. They may not be the goriest, but there is something creepy and sinister in the underlying disjointed quality of everything involved. Take this statement from their website: "Formed in 1997, with the sole purpose to spread the feeling of hurt and sorrow caused by weakness, shallowness and egoism of humanity." Are they combating these characteristics of humanity, or furthering them because they are in the middle of it? Withering to Death fits this contradiction perfectly. Straddling the line between Marilyn Manson, Coal Chamber, and something similar to Katatonia, everything about this band points toward something coming apart at the seams. The music moves from poppy guitar rock to more furious metal. The vocals go from beautiful drones to high pitched cackle to outright wail. The Japanese singing is much more dramatic than the English translation of the lyrics inside the booklet. Songs like "Saku," "Dead Tree," and "Kodou" don't really need translation, and in fact may work better without. So ignore the booklet lyrics and just enjoy the disorienting quality of the music itself. --Robert Arambel
Holly | Los Angeles, CA, United States | 06/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I thought about giving a four star review. Then I listened to 'Machiavellism' one more time. No four-star album boasts a song like that.
I've heard complaints from Dir en grey fans who don't like where the band's sound has gone since Vulgar, but if you ask me, this is what they've been heading for all along. Too much 'Zakuro'-like moping makes albums droop. Here, the band has achieved a perfect yin-yang balance between soulful melody and brain-crushing weirdness. Kyo's vocals do the best job of illustrating the dichotomy, particularly on tracks like 'Saku', which begins with throaty screaming, moves into moaning and mumbling, and alternates into a chorus of gorgeous falsetto. It's over before you know what hit you. Wham. Next song.
I mentioned 'Machiavellism' earlier, and I shall do so again. The riff is nothing less than addictive, and the rock-out bridge could get a whole stadium screaming whether they know the language or not. But Diru never dwells for too long on one style. The harpish chords of 'THE FINAL' make me want to cry. 'Spilled Milk' is a hearty headbanger. 'Kodou' is almost industrial.
I always admire a band that can seriously weird me out, and listening to Dir en grey is the ultimate 'WTF?' experience. Mind-screwing lyrics [even disregarding the awkward translations in the American edition] cap off Withering to death as a bizarre, wonderfully explicit masterpiece."
Refreshing new sound
I AM | California | 05/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before I had chance to listen to Dir En Grey I was into the typical bands that make heavy metal and hard,alternative rock here in the states but after a while, I longed, desperately for a new sound. I decided to expand my horizon and see what our friends in Asian listen to. After a while I found DEG and I was in awed.
I managed to get a copy of this cd a while ago and I can tell you, it's like nothing I had ever heard here in the states. The songs are quite unique- some hard while others hold a very melodic vibe, without question, all amazingly crafted. In fact, all of their stuff is top notch-if you can get your hands on Vulgar, I encourage you to get it- its one of my favs.
if you'd like to hear other awesome bands, get your hands on some of Hide's stuff and D'espairsRay- amazing artists."
Wow
Ryan | Toronto, Canada | 02/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"one of the most diverse, innovative and damn right addictive hard rock albums i've heard in a long while. everything seems to come together perfectly on this album...it crushes you with it's heaviness but leaves you just enough breathing room to enjoy the beautiful melodies, weird/quirky rhythms, and beautiful/haunting vocals. don't let something stupid like a simple language barrier keep you from giving this album and this band a chance...simply put the music speaks for itself..and I believe Dir has tapped into something special. this album flows beautifully from one song to the next with not a single miss
oh and another thing GO SEE THIS BAND LIVE if you get a chance...they put on one hell of a live show and I think will convert anyone into an instant fan"
The Greatest Band This World Will Ever Hear
Reed C. Schiff | 10/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For years now, I have always been into the metal and hardcore scene. After a while, however, all the music started sounding similar to me, it started blending all together to the point where I was having trouble differentiating the bands. Then someone showed me the song Obscure (from the album Vulgar) and I fell in love.
Dir en grey started off as a more straightforward J-Rock band. Starting off as a gothic Japanese Lolita type of band, their first three albums, MISSA, GAUZE, and MACABRE, fit more of something you would hear in modern day animes. When they released their fourth album, Kisou, they changed their gothic lolita style into a heavier mainstream rock sound. With Six Ugly and Vulgar, they went completely over the top, and got heavier than they've ever been. Withering to death, their latest album (and currently only album of theirs to be sold in the US besides what they sell at merch tents) has opened an entirely new window for them.
It is a little disappointing that as far as I know, this is going to be the only album of theirs to be sold directly in the US. I really hoped that people would get to hear their earlier albums and get a look at their variety rather than just what they hear on this album. This band isn't for everyone, it's an extremely acquired taste. This album is a little bit easier to swallow for Americans than their earlier work, but if you listen to their beginnings, you will have an extreme appreciation for this band.
Also, get some of their DVDs, trust me, you will never see a live show better than this."