Dir En Grey – Dum Spiro Spero

Releasedate: 03-08-2011; Label: Firewall Div. / SMEJ
By: Nina Mende

Dir En Grey is a Japanese metal band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2011, they have recorded eight full-length records and while the group’s lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made the genre of their music difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally a visual kei band, the band has opted for less dramatic attire in recent years. Dir En Grey has toured through Asia, Europe, South America, and North America; Billboard commenting on the group’s international fan base, that the band “has transcended the language barrier in the United States through its music” and “gained its audience without singing in English”. This is their eighth album called “Dum Spiro Spero”.

The brand new album comes with fourteen tracks on the regular version and sixteen on the bonus version. The lyrics are in Japanese and English. But they are growled and shouted that it is hard to hear the difference between the languages. Creepy and demonic the album sounds as if hell had opened and this crawled out. Fast arrangements and the dark vocals that are growled like a demon talking to you. Some melodies in the music are quite psychedelic which add some magic to the metal sound and strengthen the image of the demons. A few songs carry few vocals and are quite instrumental. The cover with the dark forest on display and a lit place in the center reflect the content of the album very well. Dir En Grey’s new album “Dum Spiro Spreo” is out now. Enjoy!

Line Up:
Kyo – vocals
Kaoru – guitar, backing vocals, leader
Die – guitar, backing vocals
Toshiya – bass, backing vocals
Shinya – drums

Tracklist: 01. Kyoukotsu No Nari 02. The Blossoming Beelzebub 03. Different Sense 04. Amon 05. Yokusou Ni Dreambox” Aruiwa Seijuku No Rinen To Tsumetai Ame 06. Juuyoku 07. Shitataru Mourou 08. Lotus 09. Diabolos 10. Akatsuki 11. Decayed Crow 12. Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami 13. Vanitas 14. Ruten No Tou Bonus 15. Rasetsukoku 16. Amon (Symphonic Ver.)

Links:
Dir En Grey Official