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.
Karma
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zungai ni ma mireta ita anata no kataude
Aishi tsukareta kikeiji to shikyuu wo toridashite nagameteta
Moon Light Past...
Saa watashi no midare ka na kono sugata wo anata no sono kobore ochita gankyuu ni yakitsuke ne sai
Aishi tsukareta kikeiji to shikyuu wo toridashite nagameteta
Ganji garame no boku wa aoku ochiru yume wo miru tsuzuketa
The lyrics to DIR EN GREY's Karma touch on themes of exhaustion, pain and the mystery of the past. The opening lines describe a scene that once looked beautiful and pure, but now it is stained with blood and tainted memories. The imagery of an arm covered in wounds could be a metaphor for the pain and scars the singer has suffered in their life, and how these experiences have left a mark on them.
The lines "Aishi tsukareta kikeiji to shikyuu wo toridashite nagameteta" describe the singer taking a break from their hectic life to contemplate the meaning of it all. They reflect on how the people they loved have left them tired and heartbroken, and how the world seems to be conspiring against them. This moment of reflection is followed by the words "Moon Light Past", which could suggest that the singer is looking back on their life and trying to understand how they got to this point.
The lyrics of the song are open to interpretation and can be seen as a reflection of the human experience. They touch on themes of pain, loss, and confusion, and offer a glimpse into the complex emotions that people experience on a daily basis.
Line by Line Meaning
Futari de mita keshiki wa ima de wa chinurare
The scenery we saw together is now stained
Zungai ni ma mireta ita anata no kataude
I saw your wrist stained by your own blood
Aishi tsukareta kikeiji to shikyuu wo toridashite nagameteta
I gazed upon the exhausted corpse and the spilled blood
Moon Light Past...
The past illuminated by the moonlight
Saa watashi no midare ka na kono sugata wo anata no sono kobore ochita gankyuu ni yakitsuke ne sai
Now burn my disheveled form in the spilled eyeball that fell from yours
Aishi tsukareta kikeiji to shikyuu wo toridashite nagameteta
I gazed upon the exhausted corpse and the spilled blood again
Ganji garame no boku wa itsu mo onaji yume wo miru tsuzuketa
I, who is suffering from a tough ordeal, keep having the same dream
Ganji garame no boku wa aoku ochiru yume wo miru tsuzuketa
I, who is suffering from a tough ordeal, keep having a dream of falling into the blue
Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Amethyst_Flor
Why are you so perfect Dir en Grey ?
You guys ease my mind.
Fucking wonderful !!
@HombreAproximativo
IMO the best song of the album (better than the new song also). By order: Karma -> Karasu -> The Unraveling -> Unknown...Despair...a Lost -> Bottom of the Death Valley -> The Final (the solo and some parts have no sense for me.) -> Kasumi (as a version, it seems a bad remix of the original, definitely not a remake). Dir en Grey is my favourite band and this is my valoration after my first listening to it...
@Flautouw
Macabre in first. DIR EN GREY is the best band ever see for me.
@Flautouw
Héhé, this song is just....perfect !
@MrWiggerdale123
The remake of Macabre is possibly the best thing they've ever done! If they were to call it quits now, it would be such a beautiful way to end.
@ayuhana16
Oh shit this is just eargasm ♡♡♡
@beckysCR
fuck me can't wait to see them at download this year
@HombreAproximativo
You're right! I totally agree!. When I posted that i didn't know about the version of Macabre. Definitely, Macabre is their best song from the EP.
@Salvomainemetal
BRUTALLLLLLLLL
@BetterCallThall
Kyo is best metal vocalist. Fight me.