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.
AMON
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ドクドクと綺麗だから...
Prey
It Dwells In Me
時喰う愚かに
憂い声を荒げれば何所からか
夢を焼かれ生きる事が遠いままで
Prey
Adore
放置プレイ吊る花ビラ
腐ってく未来なら
贅に埋もれ餓えは口を裂く
この胸がはり叫ぶ日を...
目覚めはいつから始まる
ドアを打ち鳴らす獣達
今だ両手合わせ縋る神殺し
お前と錆びた夜超えて行こう
何度でも
舌舐めずりする変貌に
薬漬けの大地で
これ以上何を殺し、奪えばいい?
A Round Of Applause For The Prey
Adore
放置プレイ吊る花ビラ
腐ってく未来なら
贅に埋もれ餓えは口を裂く
この胸がはり叫ぶ日を...
待ち望むは...
生暖かい風を受けて
気が違う鈴揺らすから
さあ...
To Hell ...
Revival
The lyrics to DIR EN GREY's song "AMON" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The opening lines, "情景と絡み付く懐かしさが ドクドクと綺麗だから..." can be understood as the nostalgic feeling of being entangled in a scene or situation that is both beautiful and discomforting. This implies a sense of being drawn to something that is simultaneously captivating and unsettling.
The chorus, "Prey, It Dwells In Me, 時喰う愚かに 憂い声を荒げれば何所からか 夢を焼かれ生きる事が遠いままで," suggests a struggle with inner demons or destructive desires. The lyrics speak of foolishly consuming time, raising a mournful voice, and having dreams burned, resulting in a distance from truly living. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the destructive cycles we find ourselves trapped in, unable to break free and fully embrace life.
The following lines, "Adore, 放置プレイ吊る花ビラ 腐ってく未来なら 贅に埋もれ餓えは口を裂く この胸がはり叫ぶ日を..." seem to express a desire for liberation from a decaying future. The singer questions what more can be killed or taken away to satisfy their hunger, and their heart longing for a day when it can scream. This can be seen as a yearning for change and an escape from a bleak existence.
As the song progresses, it becomes more intense and aggressive, with lines like "お前と錆びた夜超えて行こう 何度でも 舌舐めずりする変貌に 薬漬けの大地で," which suggest a willingness to transcend rusty nights and undergo a transformation that indulges in the intoxicating and altered state of being. It culminates in the phrase "To Hell... Revival," which can be interpreted as a call for a radical rebirth or transformation that requires descending into darkness.
Overall, "AMON" explores themes of nostalgia, inner turmoil, desire for change, and the encounter with one's darker aspects. It provokes thoughts about the duality of beauty and discomfort, the struggle to break free from destructive patterns, and the transformative power of embracing the shadow self.
Line by Line Meaning
情景と絡み付く懐かしさが ドクドクと綺麗だから...
The nostalgic feeling intertwined with the scene is intoxicatingly beautiful...
Prey
Prey
It Dwells In Me
It resides within me
時喰う愚かに 憂い声を荒げれば何所からか 夢を焼かれ生きる事が遠いままで
If I raise a lamenting voice against the foolishness that devours time, my dreams will be burned, and living will remain distant
Prey
Prey
Adore 放置プレイ吊る花ビラ 腐ってく未来なら 贅に埋もれ餓えは口を裂く この胸がはり叫ぶ日を...
Adore, the neglected hanging flyers, if the future decays, hunger buried in luxury will tear apart my mouth, and this chest will scream for that day...
目覚めはいつから始まる ドアを打ち鳴らす獣達 今だ両手合わせ縋る神殺し
When will the awakening start? The beasts pounding on the door now cling to each other, the god-killer
お前と錆びた夜超えて行こう 何度でも
Let's cross the rusty night together, countless times
舌舐めずりする変貌に 薬漬けの大地で これ以上何を殺し、奪えばいい? A Round Of Applause For The Prey
In the transformation of licking one's tongue, on the drug-soaked land, what else should I kill and take away? A Round Of Applause For The Prey
Adore 放置プレイ吊る花ビラ 腐ってく未来なら 贅に埋もれ餓えは口を裂く この胸がはり叫ぶ日を...
Adore, the neglected hanging flyers, if the future decays, hunger buried in luxury will tear apart my mouth, and this chest will scream for that day...
待ち望むは... 生暖かい風を受けて 気が違う鈴揺らすから さあ... To Hell ... Revival
I long for... to feel the lukewarm breeze, because it makes the bell of madness tremble. Now... To Hell ... Revival
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: 京
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@s.b.3867
This vocalist is truly talented. Amazing range.
@ESPKannon
Been listening to the band since around '98 or '99. And you know what? Dum Spiro Spero, from the songs I've listened to thus far, is a good, solid album. Too many Diru fans are too hung up on the old VK scene stuff, which let's face it, died a long time ago. It's good they've expanded. Let the weeaboos cry and moan, this new subset of metal that Diru plays these days is worth listening to and enjoying. Some of their best work was techdeath (IIID Empire, for instance). Well done, well done.
@olored
Can I say, on behalf of women, this album rocks. All of dir en grey is awesome. I love this transformation they've made. I think its because they've always been this darker experimental band is why they've ended up here. It was inevitable. The band is very emotional even still, and I think thats what makes them so great. The passion is real!
@jonathanwneal5240
This song feels.... Cold. Idk how to describe this. I love hearing it during cold weather seasons.
@MaliceXinXchains
It's the one track of theirs that sounds like stuff that Nile produces. Solid, energetic and engaging.
@RIPcaseycalvert911
I just wanna say, I came onto listening to Diru when they were already starting to form their songs into more westernized musics. I downloaded all their albums and listened to them as a whole mix, at first I thought they were a band with different kinds of music for people of all different interests to like. Now I see that it was a change over time that you all are complaining about. I forgot my point nvm
@JakubMarilyn
Kyo's growl is just amazing! :D
@callinfrourty9952
Wow third time in a row i listen to this song and its fucking magical,I find out about this band today,been about 8 hours ive listen to this awesome band lol amazing band!Cheers from Quebec
@nixuvixu
@BlueGemPrincess Thank you! I may have started listening to them during the Macabre days, and although I still adore the title track and the like, I love that they've expanded their horizons and become more than the latest VK band. They're so much more than that; Dir en Grey is a genuinely great band, no matter where they may have started, and I'm happy to watch them change!
@howlingmadme
what does VK stand for?