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.
Red
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darkness and onanists are in attendance
I press a gun against all the spectators' temple now
And my face lets out a smile every time
Saving (saving, saving)
It's prostitution to the kids who listen from the right and out the left
Twins and seven colors of rainbow, ah ah
I question it all, why oh why?
甘く絡み合う偽り
どこも同じ
流れる血が混ざる
深く ah ah 眠る
罪悪 心に刻み 生きながら死ね
手首に咲く 満開の桜
鴉の 死骸に湧いた 愛らしいお前
残党肌 儚き涙か
慈悲を 国歌で燃やし 死して死を知れ
羊小屋で 腰を振る正義 oh ah ah
安らぎの裏に群がり喰らう肌は何色? hah
大地は 命を啜り 赤土に変わる
宙を舞った 紙切れと権力
ピッキング ドタマに開いた 幸福の性器
去勢された 全能なる神 hah
The lyrics of DIR EN GREY's "RED SOIL" depict a sense of hopelessness and despair, with the singer feeling as though their actions are futile and questioning the world around them. The opening lines suggest a violent and disturbing scene, with the singer pressing a gun to the temple of onlookers while smiling. Throughout the song, there are references to sex and death, with the singer questioning the meaning of it all. The lines "It's prostitution to the kids who listen from the right and out the left/Twins and seven colors of rainbow, ah ah/It can't be saved, the sorrow/I question it all, why oh why?" suggest that there is no hope for the future and the singer is at a loss as to how to change things.
The second verse continues with themes of death and despair, with references to cherry blossoms blooming on the wrist and a crow's carcass. The lines "The color of the skin that eats and swarms behind comfort/What color is it? hah" imply a sense of disgust and discomfort with societal norms. The final lines of the song describe the earth consuming life and turning to red soil, with a reference to a castrated god. The overall tone of the song is one of hopelessness, with the singer questioning the world and their place in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pressing the megaphone, against the apostle's open ear
I am using the megaphone to amplify my voice as I speak directly to the apostle who is listening intently.
Darkness and onanists are in attendance
As I speak, there are people witnessing my performance in the dark corners of the room, including people who are masturbating.
I press a gun against all the spectators' temple now
I am using a gun to threaten all those who have come to watch and listen to me.
And my face lets out a smile every time
Despite the aggressiveness of my actions, I am still happy and satisfied with my current position.
Saving (saving, saving)
As I continue to intimidate the audience, I am saving myself and taking control of the situation.
It's prostitution to the kids who listen from the right and out the left
The lyrics are like prostitution to the young listeners, influencing them from both the right and left.
Twins and seven colors of rainbow, ah ah
There are many varieties and colors in the world, including twins and the seven colors of the rainbow.
It can't be saved, the sorrow
The pain and sadness that I feel cannot be saved or fixed.
I question it all, why oh why?
I am questioning everything around me and wondering why things are the way they are.
甘く絡み合う偽り どこも同じ
Sweet lies that intermingle with each other are the same no matter where you go.
流れる血が混ざる 深く ah ah 眠る
As blood mingles together, it flows deeply and causes people to sleep.
罪悪 心に刻み 生きながら死ね
Guilt is deeply ingrained in one's heart, causing them to feel dead while they are still living.
手首に咲く 満開の桜
A cherry blossom tree in full bloom is blossoming on my wrist.
鴉の 死骸に湧いた 愛らしいお前
You are lovely, like a body emerging from the corpse of a crow.
残党肌 儚き涙か
Their remaining skins are either the tears of the weak or temporary.
慈悲を 国歌で燃やし 死して死を知れ
Let your compassion blaze in your national anthem as you learn what it means to truly die.
羊小屋で 腰を振る正義 oh ah ah
Justice shakes its hips in the sheep pen.
安らぎの裏に群がり喰らう肌は何色? hah
What color is the skin of those who gather in the back of the peaceful place and eat it? (Unclear meaning)
大地は 命を啜り 赤土に変わる
The earth is sucking in life and transforming it into red soil.
宙を舞った 紙切れと権力
Paper and power have danced in the air.
ピッキング ドタマに開いた 幸福の性器
Picking at the happy genitalia that have opened in the do-tama (name of a neighborhood in Tokyo).
去勢された 全能なる神 hah
The almighty God has been castrated. (Unclear meaning)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dir en Grey, Kyou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beatriz Dias
部屋には紅色の壁に架けたロザリオと
散らばる花びら香るここに君が居ない
ベルベットのソファーの上で目蓋下ろした灰の夢は ah 静かに
ローカル映画笑う意味はスクリーンに映し出した君 huh woo ah woo ah
月型のランプは今も紅く照らしてる
さよなら 大好きなビビアン香る君が浮かぶ
洗面台に飾り付けた香水 白黒の写真は ah 泣いてる
目に見える物だけが全てで理由なんて何もないさ huh woo ah woo ah
Cut down your discomfort wings
Ah 染み付いてる
Cut down your discomfort wings
届かない明日をみて
出来たばかりの教会 賛美歌を歌う子供
目の前を通る度に俺の心は叫んだ
忘れる事はない 今も過去もこれからも
信じる者だけが救われるの? 馬鹿にしてる
回り回り回り続けるメリーゴーランドには君が
Why can't we be perfect?
汗ばんだ手の中で握る君の写真とアイスピック
Why can't it be?
回り回り回り続けるメリーゴーランドには君が ah 枯れてる
汗ばんだ手の中で握る君の写真とアイスピック huh woo ah woo ah
Cut down your discomfort wings
Ah もっと自由に
Cut down your discomfort wings
扉は閉ざしたまま
OMR
Omg Toshiya is a bass monster that needs more recognition. The basslines are insane.
Scarlet Grey
You should look at the other live performance of this the song it’s better
Amane Mizuhashi
Is this the first time I haven’t been shocked into a depressed or pensive silence by a Dir en Grey song? I’m sitting here marveling at how effortlessly cool this performance is. Kyo’s dance has something of a “Smooth Criminal” feel and Kaoru’s guitar-playing-OMG-I-can’t-even is totally inspired by the opening riff of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and is just gorgeous to behold.
Earlier today, I was thinking about how Diru is easily the weirdest, creepiest, most emotionally-wrought group of musicians I’ve ever come across, but if anything else, they just keep blowing my mind.
As always peri, thank you for the stellar translations! ✨
Anthony Lyons
@Jakub Siekański Let's not get heated about this. Nirvana is Nirvana. Dir en grey is Dir en grey. They're both good bands. Love of music is love of music. I agree you should not compare the two to each other, it's like night and day. But I get what he's saying. The music blows you away, right? Just enjoy it.
RadicalStanza
@Jakub Siekański The riff is blatantly based on the riff from that song, dude. They stole it because it's pretty obviously a solid piece of work. I like this better than any Nirvana tune, too, but don't be ridiculous in dismissing the source material.
Thomas Nguyen
Die is playing the lead guitar on this song. Kaoru is next to Toshiya.
Jakub Siekański
How dare you comparing this, to that bullcrap Nirvana's song XD
Kuro Tenshi
They legitimately have to be one of the best live bands on the planet. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
MutterSchwein
I'm sitting here emotionally reminiscing because I haven't heard this song for quite some time but I couldn't help but laugh a bit when Kyo did his little dance routine lol
loocia kunst
this is definitely one of my top favourite songs by diru