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.
embryo
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
shimetsuketa mama no kubisuji tenjou kara burasagaru nara baibai Mother
Ne itsumo mitai ni watashi ni hohoemi kakete yo teri tsukeru asa ibitsuna hyoujou ukabete
mugon no namida kurushimi fukaku taekirezu ni hana wa chiru yuku watashi wa hitori
Without a Face hizumu koe
Saa watashi wo okashite ki ga sumu made papa no mono yo
Hora ue kara mama ga watashi tachi wo mioroshiteru
Deadly Sweet Mother nikushimi to hakike saki gaman shite machimashou dakare nagara
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My Sweet Mother hohoende kokoro ga ne harisakete waratteru
ne itsumo mitai ni kyou mo watashi wo daiteru papa no hitomi wo mihiraite yakitsuke
Mou senkyuuhyakukyuujuuninen fuyu no yoru itsumo yoko ni wa daikiraina papa ga ite
shinobaseta are wo tsukitate yatsu no kubisuji fukaku tsuyoku baibai Father
Hadaka no mama yukigeshiki ni saku makkana hana chimidoro ni saki watashi wa hitori
My Sweet Mother hohoende kokoro ga ne harisakete waratteru
My Sweet Mother hohoende kokoro ga ne harisakete waratteru
Deadly Sweet Mother migomotta kodomo naiteiru hakike wo gaman shimashouDeadly Sweet Mother nikushimi to hoho wo nagare namida wa kare kisetsu ga kare
The lyrics to DIR EN GREY's song "embryo" are poetic and full of emotions. The song seems to be about a dysfunctional family, particularly a troubled relationship between the singer and her parents. The opening lines state that it's always the summer morning of 1983, and there's someone the singer loves next to her. However, she feels trapped and suffocated, and if the neck of the person were to fall from the ceiling, she would say goodbye to her mother. The singer then talks about herself, with a forced smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She's alone, and her pain is deep, but she keeps going somehow. The song continues with a reference to the "faceless" person; perhaps, it's how the singer feels, like she has no identity of her own. She wants to be recognized by her father, but she feels like she's nothing. The song ends with the singer talking about her mother, who seems to be cruel and brutal. However, she still smiles and laughs, even if there's blood in her laughter.
The lyrics to "embryo" are open to interpretation, and each listener can find their meaning in them. However, it's apparent that the song talks about troubled relationships, loneliness, and pain. The song ends with a bittersweet note, with the singer finding some joy in her heart despite everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Sou senkyuuhyakuhachijuusannen natsu no asa itsumo yoko ni wa daisukina mama ga ite
It was a summer morning in 1893 and my beloved mother was always by my side
Shimetsuketa mama no kubisuji tenjou kara burasagaru nara baibai Mother
If I were to let go of the tightly gripped neck of my mother and let it fall from above, it would be goodbye forever
Ne itsumo mitai ni watashi ni hohoemi kakete yo teri tsukeru asa ibitsuna hyoujou ukabete
Hey, give me that smile as always, let the morning light shine on me, putting on a strained expression
Mugon no namida kurushimi fukaku taekirezu ni hana wa chiru yuku watashi wa hitori
Silent tears fall deeply and the flowers bloom and fall relentlessly, leaving me alone to endure the pain
Without a Face hizumu koe
Without a face, my voice trembles
Saa watashi wo okashite ki ga sumu made papa no mono yo
Now, until I go mad, I belong to my father
Without a Face aegu koe
Without a face, my voice moans
Hora ue kara mama ga watashi tachi wo mioroshiteru
Look, from above, Mother is watching over us
Deadly Sweet Mother nikushimi to hakike saki gaman shite machimashou dakare nagara
Deadly Sweet Mother, let's endure the nausea and hatred together while we wait
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This line has no clear meaning and may refer to the release of the song in digital format
My Sweet Mother hohoende kokoro ga ne harisakete waratteru
My Sweet Mother smiles and my heart is tearing with laughter
Ne itsumo mitai ni kyou mo watashi wo daiteru papa no hitomi wo mihiraite yakitsuke
Hey, burn me with my father's gaze, holding me as always today
Mou senkyuuhyakukyuujuuninen fuyu no yoru itsumo yoko ni wa daikiraina papa ga ite
It is now the winter night of 1990 and my beloved father is always by my side
Shinobaseta are wo tsukitate yatsu no kubisuji fukaku tsuyoku baibai Father
I have tried so hard to conceal it, but if I were to grip the neck of that person and let it fall from above, it would be goodbye forever, Father
Hadaka no mama yukigeshiki ni saku makkana hana chimidoro ni saki watashi wa hitori
Naked in the midst of a snowy landscape, the bright red flower blooms and is stained with blood, leaving me alone
Deadly Sweet Mother migomotta kodomo naiteiru hakike wo gaman shimashou
Deadly Sweet Mother, let's endure the sickness while holding onto the clinging child
Deadly Sweet Mother nikushimi to hoho wo nagare namida wa kare kisetsu ga kare
Deadly Sweet Mother, hatred flows from my cheeks and my tears dry up, as the season withers
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
luciana
you can really tell how much kyo’s vocals have improved when comparing the og recording with this live version, it’s fascinating
Joshua Bryant
@fadedsun303 He's style is a bit different. His old style hit different but destroyed his vocal chords. These days he performs in a more refined way. I enjoy both. Luckily we've got the old records and lives tho!
For me DSS era was peak
no twerking in this house
@Joshua Bryant
I enjoy it too
Nyx Artemis
Kyo's little dance at the start of the song made me giggle, knowing the dark lyrics... Amazing live, thank you very much.
TheUnusualSuspects
Why would this make you giggle.
Shain Niasu
@TheUnusualSuspects well because he was really vibin with it
Foucault Reaça
I love kyo's dancing lol
Cindy Serafim
This is probably the most heartbreaking song i have ever listened to. Not expecting this lyrics. Thank you for the amazing job with all the translations and for taking the time to make annotations.
Subscribed <3
Alejandro Stein
You didn' t listen Dir en Grey enough hahaha
Jane Gooner
@Alejandro Stein im fan for 15 years and i think it's their craziest darkest song too. Incest pedofilia, murdering a parent in teen age is pretty crazy don't you think? It's not just a rape or an abortion tho these things are a big deal too. And such things happen in real life...