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.
Machiavellism
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lyrical show time
Ability の溢れる真っ赤な show time, show time
Comical show time
Vitality の爛れる真っ赤な show time
Cynical show time
Reality の生まれる真っ赤な show time, show time
Eternity の壊れる真っ赤な show time
そうさ今も俺は見つけられない存在の意味が
だから もっともっともっともっともっと
この体に意味を刻み付ける
ただ笑って踏みにじればいい
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
No thank you! No thank you! Good bye!
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
気付けないよりましなはずさ
My comeuppance and your ignorance
Cynical show time
Reality の生まれる真っ赤な show time, show time
Radical show time
Eternity の壊れる真っ赤な show time
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
いまだ突き刺さった禍なましい反覆の声が
いつか きっと きっときっと きっと きっと
この心に響き刻み付ける
ただ笑って突き砕けばいい
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
No thank you! No thank you! Good bye!
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show
Show time なんざ俺には関係ねぇ ハハ
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
Please come to the last gasp with me (my pleasure)
The lyrics of DIR EN GREY's "Machiavellism" are quite cryptic and intentionally ambiguous, but there are some clear themes that emerge. The song seems to be a commentary on the superficiality of modern society, particularly in the realm of entertainment. The opening lines, "My comeuppance and your ignorance," suggest a struggle for power or status, possibly within the entertainment industry.
The rest of the song is a series of fragmented phrases and images that seem to reflect this theme. There is talk of "show time" and "vitality," suggesting a frenzied obsession with performance and image. The reference to "wrist-cut show" is perhaps the most disturbing image in the song, suggesting a willingness to harm oneself for the sake of entertainment.
The repeated refrain of "Hurry up! Hurry up!" seems to reflect a sense of urgency or desperation, as if the performing characters are under immense pressure to succeed. However, the final line of the song, "Please come to the last gasp with me (my pleasure)" is somewhat enigmatic. It could be interpreted as a final invitation to join in the frenzied spectacle, or as a more sinister suggestion of self-destruction.
Overall, "Machiavellism" is a complex and thought-provoking song. It seems to critique the superficiality and obsession with performance that characterizes modern society, while also acknowledging the allure and appeal of that same culture.
Line by Line Meaning
My comeuppance and your ignorance
I will get what's coming to me while you remain ignorant of the truth
Lyrical show time Abirity の溢れる真っ赤な show time, show time Comical show time Vitality の爛れる真っ赤な show time Cynival show time Reality の生まれる真っ赤な show time, show time Radical show time Etrnity の壊れる真っ赤な show time
Various types of show times filled with different emotions and breaking points
そうさ今も俺は見つけられない存在の意味が だから もっともっともっともっともっと この体に意味を刻み付ける ただ笑って踏みにじればいい
I still can't find the true meaning of my existence, so I'll just mark myself with meaning by laughing and trampling
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show No thank you! No thank you! Good bye!
A cry for help to hurry up and perform a destructive act, but ultimately rejecting it and bidding farewell
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show 気付けないよりましなはずさ
Performing self-harm might be better than not realizing something important
Cynival show time Reality の生まれる真っ赤な show time show time Radical show time Etrnity の壊れる真っ赤な show time That's all, I know about it (go ahead!)
Another round of show times highlighting different emotions and breaking points, acknowledging that it's all that is understood
いまだ突き刺さった禍なましい反覆の声が いつか きっと きっときっと きっと きっと この心に響き刻み付ける ただ笑って突き砕けばいい
The malicious voice of defiance still lingers, but it can be silenced by laughing and breaking through the pain
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show No thank you! No thank you! Good bye!
A cry for help to hurry up and perform a destructive act, but ultimately rejecting it and bidding farewell
Hurry up! Hurry up! Wrist-cut show Show timeなんざ俺には関係ねぇ ハハ
Showtime doesn't matter to me
That's all, I know about it (go ahead!) That's all, I know about it (go ahead!) That's all, I know about it (go ahead!) Please come to the last gasp with me (my pleasure)
Acknowledging the lack of understanding but still inviting someone to share in a destructive end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Die, Kyo, Kaoru, Shinya, Toshiya
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind