Originally a visual kei band, the band dropped that style around 2005 with the release of their fifth full-length album, Withering to death., however as of recently they have reacquired their visual kei aesthetic. Their musical style is difficult to determine; throughout their releases, they have played styles ranging from pop rock to extreme metal. Today, their style can be considered generally a version of alternative metal and avant-garde metal.
The band has been signed to FIREWALL DIV., a subdivision of Free-Will under Sony Music, for their entire career so far. However, their fifth full-length album, Withering to death., was the band's first to see distribution outside of Japan. It was released in Europe by GAN-SHIN and the United States by Warcon Enterprises. They're currently signed to Okami Records for European distribution and The End for United States distribution.
DIR EN GREY, in its earliest form, began as the band of vocalist 京 and drummer Shinya - 廃人黒薔薇族 (Haijin Kurobarazoku, "Invalid Black Rose Family"). Members and associates of this band formed La:Sadie's, which eventually included four of the band's five current members. La:Sadie's disbanded in January 1997. All but the bassist came back together to form Dir en grey. They recruited Toshiya, a bassist from Nagano and previously in the band D†L, and officially formed Dir en grey in February 1997.
In 1998, the band gained major attention by becoming the first indies band to have a single place in the top ten on Japan's Oricon music charts. After making their major debut in early 1999, they played a sold-out performance at Osakajo Hall on December 18, 1999. This remains one of the band's most memorable solo performances to date.
In 2002, the band's THE JAPANESE FXXKER FAMILY tour brought the band their first international performances. The tour took them to several countries in Asia, including China and South Korea. In Shanghai, fans became so excited that authorities attempted to cancel a planned second concert. The band and their management resisted, and the concert was played as scheduled.
The year 2005 was a very significant year in the band's history. Dir en grey played their first non-Asian shows in the spring and summer of that year. TOUR05 It withers and withers was the one that brought the band from Japan to Europe. The band played shows in three European countries - Belgium, France, and Germany. Two of these performances were MTV's Rock im Park and Rock am Ring festivals. Dir en grey also played a solo live concert in Germany on May 28 which sold 3,500 standing-room tickets to Berlin's Columbia Hall in approximately 6 weeks (also rumored as 3 days). The band's album Withering to death. reached #31 on the Official Finnish Album Chart, and the single "CLEVER SLEAZOID" reached #15 on its Singles Chart. These were the first times Dir en grey had placed on a non-Asian music chart.
Throughout 2009 and 2011, the band released a total of three singles that would later be added onto their 8th album (DUM SPIRO SPERO). These singles included 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇 (December 2nd, 2009), LOTUS (January 26, 2011), and DIFFERENT SENSE (June 22nd, 2011). On August 1st, the band had made an open letter on their Facebook page accusing the Japanese government of lying about the levels of radiation caused from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. This led to the creation of the band's "Scream for the Truth" movement, which hoped to result in the correct numbers and truth from the government.
On August 3rd, 2011 the band released their 8th studio album DUM SPIRO SPERO (Latin; "While I breathe, I hope"). The material of this album was showcased on the tour of Age Quod Agis throughout Japan, and the Americas. In February of 2012, 京 (Kyo) was diagnosed with vocal nodule dysphonia. This lead to the withdrawal of the band's participation in the Still Reckless tour, and Kyo was required to have surgery performed on his throat.
The band celebrated their first album's (GAUZE) 15th anniversary of August 2014 with the Tour14 Psychonnect: Mode of "Gauze"? Japanese tour. The tour included their live performances of the songs featured on Gauze. On August 5th, Dir En Grey announced their 9th studio album, ARCHE, to be released December 10th, 2014. After its release, the band performed two tours: By the Grace of God and The Unstoppable life, which brought the band back to North America; the first time since 2011.
On 6 February 2016, it is officially announced that the band will release their new single, 詩踏み, on July 27, 2016. They performed tours called Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of Vulgar, Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of Dum Spiro Spero, and Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of 鬼葬 from June to November 2016.
In 2017, the band did further tours themed around previous albums. They also covered Easy Make,Easy Mark by D'erlanger for the D'ERLANGER TRIBUTE ALBUM ～Stairway to Heaven～.
Another compilation album, VESTIGE OF SCRATCHES, was released on January 2, 2018. DIR EN GREY's twenty-ninth single 人間を被る was released on April 25, 2018. One of its B-sides is a remake of Ash, a song with origins as far back as 1997.
On June 29, 2018, DIR EN GREY announced that their tenth studio album The Insulated World was to be released on September 26, 2018. After its release, the band went on a European tour in October 2018, under the title "Wearing Human Skin".
DIR EN GREY's eleventh studio album, "Phalaris", was released on June 15th 2022. The band embarked on a Japanese tour in promotion called "TOUR22 PHALARIS -Vol.I.-".
Visit www.direngrey.co.jp for more information, and news.
蟲-mushi-
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hora subete mienai sashikonda hikari ga kiete ima ni mo kareru
Uchiakerarenai koto wa watashi no yowasa watashi no kako
Eru mono mo aru keredo kitto te ni nigiru yasashisa ga kiete yuku to
Arifureta kotae wa ikiru koto hakushi ni modoshite umarekawaru
Kokoro ga tozashite ima ni mo kowarete yuku
Namida wo koroshite warau hibi yo
Watashi wo koroshita gizenbito yo
Kokoro ga tozashite ima ni mo kuzureochiru
Namida wo koroshite sakebu hibi yo
Kokoro ga nokoshita shinjiru imi no tsuyosa wo
Watashi wo koroshita watashi kokoro
The lyrics to DIR EN GREY's song -mushi- convey themes of weakness, regret, and the understanding of one's own flaws. The first verse describes a sense of isolation, where the singer cannot be understood by anyone, and a light that illuminated everything has faded away. She feels that her weaknesses and past mistakes prevent her from embracing kindness, even though it may be fleeting. The second and third verse elaborate on the anguish and self-destruction that results from this isolation, where the singer's own heart is becoming closed off and breaking apart. She recognizes the significance of listening to one's heart and understanding the true meaning of life, despite the sorrow that may follow.
This song has an intense, atmospheric quality with a haunting melody that adds to the ominous themes of the lyrics. The heavy, distorted guitar riffs drive the song forward, and the combination of chaotic and haunting sections create contrast and add to the emotional impact of the song. The music is a reflection of the singer's inner turmoil and creates an almost suffocating mood for the listener. Overall, -mushi- is a powerful and haunting song that conveys a sense of desperation and pain in a unique and deeply emotional way.
Line by Line Meaning
Uchiakerarenai dare mo shinjirarenai dare mo kare mo
No one can understand, no one can believe, even he
Hora subete mienai sashikonda hikari ga kiete ima ni mo kareru
Look, even the penetrating light that reveals all vanishes and withers away
Uchiakerarenai koto wa watashi no yowasa watashi no kako
The inability to open up is my weakness, my past that still lingers
Eru mono mo aru keredo kitto te ni nigiru yasashisa ga kiete yuku to
There are things that can be obtained but surely the kindness that one can hold onto fades away
Arifureta kotae wa ikiru koto hakushi ni modoshite umarekawaru
Ordinary answers are returned to nothingness and reborn as the ability to live
Kokoro ga tozashite ima ni mo kowarete yuku
My heart closes off and even now, it's falling apart
Namida wo koroshite warau hibi yo
Days where I kill off tears and laugh
Kokoro ga shimeshita shinjiru imi no nasa wo
The depth of the truth that my heart has shown me
Watashi wo koroshita gizenbito yo
Is that I am a hypocrite who has killed off myself
Kokoro ga tozashite ima ni mo kuzureochiru
My heart shuts down and even now, it crumbles away
Namida wo koroshite sakebu hibi yo
Days where I kill off tears and scream
Kokoro ga nokoshita shinjiru imi no tsuyosa wo
The strength of the truth that my heart has left behind
Watashi wo koroshita watashi kokoro
Has killed off myself, my heart
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@VulgarSleazoid
Probably one of my favorite classic songs. It's too underrated and forgotten about.
@ashelikiefer8150
This is the song that changed my life.
@user-on5rd2gq7s
Chokes me up every time. I’ll always remember how into it Kyo got on the old live DVD
@shujin5390
As the world's forgets to laugh from the heart. It will remain even forgotten, ever living, binding humanities hearts laugh.
@user-rd9rn8sb6l
何度この蟲に救われたか。
LIVEバージョンは本当に心に染みる。
@Bloodrocutioner
I knew this song was emotional but God damn from the look in Kyo's eyes to the change in time through the song he really puts in all his emotion into these songs. Always amazing 🤘
@justinalexander5959
Breaks my heart every time, such a emotional performance
@natifox7745
This song means the fucking world to me! When I was a teenager I lisent to this song, when I felt "unwell". Now Im 28,and it's still one of the most important songs in my life♥️ I appreciate you to the moon and back. Thank you. Just thank you.
@kaelumsalem4889
Thank you for all your translations!🌸
I love kyo's voice by 14 years and thanks to you i can understand much better*^*
@ashelikiefer8150
This is the song that changed my life
I truly evolved the day i saw the original Blitz preformance this one is great too