Masterpieces and popular songs by DIR EN GREY

RED SOILDIR EN GREY

DIR EN GREY – RED SOIL [PV] [HD]

A high-speed track from the globally acclaimed 7th album UROBOROS.

It’s an intense song where Shinya, the drummer, unusually unleashes rapid double-bass drumming.

Kyo’s vocals range from clean to growls and even whistles, and despite its short length, the track is packed with constant shifts that make it highly engaging.

flickerDIR EN GREY

DIR EN GREY – Yurameki [Included on the 33rd single “19990120”] (Promotion Edit Ver.) (Clip)

As a work filled with sorrow and wistfulness, this song has long been loved by DIR EN GREY fans.

It is characterized by a novel-like narrative and concrete imagery, lamenting a lost love and detailing the anguish of living with that pain.

Released in January 1999 as their major-label debut single, it also ranked on the Oricon charts.

The track was used as the theme song for the anime “Nihon Ichi no Otoko no Tamashii” within the TBS TV program “Wonderful.” It is included on the album GAUZE and the best-of compilation VESTIGE OF SCRATCHES.

Highly recommended for those carrying the pain of heartbreak or wishing to immerse themselves in beautiful memories of the past.

SakuDIR EN GREY

Saku

A single released in 2004.

It’s a fast-paced track, relatively short at around two and a half minutes, characterized by an unrelenting development that barrels forward with shouts and growls from the intro.

The music video for this song is also one of those restricted due to graphic content, and it takes juvenile crime as its theme.

wear a human (as a disguise)DIR EN GREY

DIR EN GREY – Wearing a Human [Restricted] (Promotion Edit Ver.) (CLIP)

A song packed with sharp questions aimed at society’s common sense and the majority’s sense of justice.

It’s included on the album “The Insulated World,” released in September 2018.

Though the arrangement reins in its aggression, the lyrics—singing of tangled human relationships and the importance of self-determination—pierce deeply into the listener’s heart.

The drums eschew a standard beat in favor of a distinctive rhythm that suits the song’s atmosphere, which is also striking.

By questioning what it means to live true to oneself, this work can be considered one of the songs that best symbolizes DIR EN GREY’s musical world.

It’s a highly recommended track for those struggling with life or looking to reevaluate their way of living.

I’llDIR EN GREY

Dir en Grey – I’ll (HD)

Released in 1998, this was their second single when they were still an indie band.

It features a straightforward ’90s visual kei sound that’s almost unimaginable given their current musical style, lacks the erotic-grotesque worldview essential to discussing them, and even their appearance in the promotional video exudes youthful energy.

JealousDIR EN GREY

Dir en grey – Jealous (PV)

Released in 1998, this is their first single, put out independently.

Their consistently erotic-grotesque aesthetic was already budding, but as an early work the sound lacks heaviness, and the vocals are entirely clean with no shouts or the like.

The band holds the record for performing at the Budokan in less than two years after forming, suggesting they were already extremely popular during their indie days.

DRAIN AWAYDIR EN GREY

DIR EN GREY – DRAIN AWAY [PV] [SUB] [HD]

This is a song from 2003, back when their visual kei influence was still strong.

The singing style is completely different from now, too.

Even back then, though, it seems their irises looked small.

It’s interesting that this track also includes a slight touch of nu-metal/mixture elements.

There’s also a wobbly, squelchy synth in there.