Dir En Grey is an example of a band that they were never afraid to try anything new with each record and even too this day they are still bringing nothing but hits which is rare for alot of bands to do and even still now.

Visual Kei from that early era feels like a skillful mashup of Dead or Alive and Sisters of Mercy and no one seems to ever talk about this.

My first rat was named Toshiya. This was all the way back in 2005. Diru will always be an absolutely staple of modern and past VK. Like, they were THE BAND that absolutely helped the genre explode across the world. They were also one of my first concerts. Just absolutely fucking iconic.

I was soo obsessed with Gauze in 2016. I got a lot of nostalgia watching this video 😭 Pd: Cage is a perfect song. It should even be studied. The crafmanshift behind Cage is more than remarkable.

I remember the first time I saw Saku on MTV2. It was a real "what even is this" moment. Even having been into metal and nu metal at the time they stood out. Took me a bit back then to come around to their unique rhythm and style, but then I really got into them in the Uroboros and Dum Spiro Spero eras. Now they are my favorite band. I also find it remarkable how they maintain those original elements all the way back from Missa and Gauze while still pulling from Western bands. They've always had such fearless writing and music that just pierces you from the core on out. Plus having a vocalist I'd put up there with Diamanda Galas or Mike Patton in terms of uniqueness and innate ability to deliver you into the emotions and atmosphere of the songs. I could gush on and out about Dir en grey lol.

I WISH I had gotten into Dir En Grey when I discovered Obscure in 2018/19 but I was so traumatised by the music video that I didn't become obsessed till late 2020. I'm so obsessed with them now ahhhhh

Kyo more like GOAT

This band and kyo will be forever one of my reason to live

The first time I discovered Dir En Grey was their music video for Saku on Handbangers ball on Mtv, probably around 2007 or so. It was my first introduction to Japanese metal

Dir En Grey is GOATED and I can't wait for the 19990120 album and the three remake songs. It's crazy that ZAN is getting a second remake.

Huh, a lot of cool facts here that I knew nothing about and I've been on board since the release of Vulgar! What a trip it must've been to have Yoshiki involved with your debut, one of the biggest rockstars ever in Japan.

I love Dir en Grey so much, its rare to see a band of their age still putting out amazing albums. What blows my mind the most is the fact that Kyo is putting out more music than ever with DeG and his other bands Sukekiyo and Petit Branbancon. Like the dude cannot stop making bangers.

Bass solo in Cage, is just **chef's kiss** Dir en grey is what started me down my spiral of madness that is musical taste, since 2005/2006 I'm close to 100ish different J-Bands that I now listen to.

for 1995 La Sadies wasn’t really ahead of its time, that’s what most of the underground vkei bands sounded like at the time. Mazohysteria, Baiser, Rouage

I'm a simple guy. I see a video about dir en grey I click like and watch.

My friend Chris lemt me his copy of Baki the grappler, the opening being Child Prey. I was hooked after. Unfortunately Chris passed early in life from a car accident. The theme isnt quite right, but Pomegranate always makes me think of him because of its emotional drive.

I've loved Dir en Grey since the first time I found them 3 years ago with Gauze. My personal favorite albums are Gauze, Uroboros, and The Marrow of a Bone

Their early stuff isn't my favorite, but I always love hearing other people talking about their fondness for it. I was introduced to diru from Uroboros and so it makes listening backwards hard when you start so high. I'm so glad you decided to cover them, and I hope you do more! Kisou is my favorite and would love to hear what you have to say about it!!!

They're my favorite band too. It was awesome to see someone go through them as deeply as you have. I first heard them when I was like, 14 and I've been a huge fan ever since. Mask is also one of my faves because it was one of my first. I think Myaku was the one that really got me tho.

Akira no oka, ain't afraid to die, Amber. The 3 A's the 3 songs are about the same subject if I remember correctly a love that could never be

GOATED band, thank you for making a video on them! Kyo in particular is a huge influence for me.

You and I sir are on the same terms about Diru... Thank you!

Sweet. I was really hoping for you to cover them, been a fan all the way since downloading their old live videos through P2P back in 2004 or so. Amazing band and a huge inspiration.

I really dig your style! I never thought I'd see a good Dir en grey video essay in 2022 lol. I found them back in like 05 or so and there's nothing like them. How every album is so different, but so good is kind of insane. They're slowly settling into a more extreme, almost tech death sound now, and I really dig it. But there's something for everyone and that's not easy to do. I actually named my cat Kyo cause I love this band so much and I STILL have my concert ticket from when I saw them in 07. I wanted to mention with the Zan rerecording that, while I enjoyed it a lot, I get where you're coming from. I believe it was rerecorded (along with the other tracks they've done) for 2 reasons. 1) To update it to their modern sound so they can play some of their older stuff to their newer crowd who is expecting something heavier and more "traditional" (though I don't think Zan could ever sound that), and 2) so they could get the rights back to play it live. Since they've switched labels a handful of times it's very possible they didn't own the rights to the original recording/arrangement and needed to rerecord it to get it back. This is the same reason that when bands switch labels they'll do a "remaster" of an older album. I would love more videos from you digging into their style changes and stuff! You present the information really well and your love for the band definitely comes through. It's not often that someone mentions their first releases when talking about them.

I'm glad I accidentally misspelled gradation as graydation in a search and found this instead

Dir En Grey is among my favorite bands for sure

Best damn band ever. Discovering child prey on music choice when I was in 5th grade at 10:11 am had changed my life forever still to this second. I’m so happy to have ever found them. They are a big part of my life and personality.

“Erode” reminds me of early L’Arc~en~Ciel. I can’t help but wonder if that was an influence given how they started as a visual kei band and remained connected to it in some ways.

My favorite band ever! Only 1.5 year since I begging to listening Dir en grey but already Kyo promote my voice to 5th octave!! Awersome band in the avangard history!

Ohh my god,first your Mizer vid and now this, covering my favourite band of all time. Never thought I'd see such a content in english on youtube, the fact that someone does this and at such a high quality is astonishing

I know this isn’t supposed to be the whole story of the band but you missed the non-album singles they released between missa and gauze, Jealous and I’ll are absolute vkei classics 😭 Great video btw!

Ahhhh! Yet another video of my all time fave band! 😁Thank you for talking about Dir en grey! I'd rewatched the Malice Mizer every now and then

There will be a continuation for this video, dir en grey needs more exposure tho

yeeees, another dir en grey video!!! Lets Gooo!

just found your channel through dir en grey, i hope one day people will find our fav band through your channel

Gosh, I just see my entire life as you go through this video. I found them when I was 10 (I was on the internet way too much as a child). And my love for them never stopped and their music runs in my damn veins.

DIR EN GREY is my favorite band ever and I pretty much own every release (including the lives) but I gotta say this video was great. Found you through your BMTH and I loved that video. If you’re going to do this style of video for the rest of DEG’s discography I’m pretty excited!

Listening since they started and grew older just as they did. Your video made me travel back in time, remembering things and people I didnt think of in twenty years. Thank you alot for this and all the hard work you spend on your videos. Damn, the Osaka Hall Concert was amazing. Watched it all the time. Peace.

All time favorite band! Love every album but man the Atomosphere of Arche is something else. Uroboros-Arche is god tier stuff! No idea how Kyo’s voice ages like fine wine, or how he has the time with the other 2 bands. But man Kyo and everyone else are Gods; especially Shinya. Only band I have a hefty hefty collection of albums and merch

I always get happy when I see a new Dir en Grey video being spoken about. I recently got their new album and was able to purchase Vestige of Scratches at an affordable price. They continue to be my favorite Japanese band and I've been loving their newer songs even more. Please continue to make more Dir en Grey content🙏🏻

I loved the video! I just have a small correction to make, the version of byou shin you played is actually a remake from the six ugly EP (so it sounds like the kisou era because it was). I think the original is available on spotify

That was 110% the in thing to do at the time. ALL the VK bands looked like that. 😂

i saw this video on my friend’s recommended and had to check it out. i love dir en grey :)

Dude you’re making videos about all my favorite bands. Nice 👍

After getting into your videos with your take on Malice Mizer, I hoped you might do something Dir En Grey because I love them as well. Gauze is one of the albums I don't have so hopefully I can get a copy

Some of the songs they had when they started out, sounded promising and like a different take. I’m glad they wanted to branch out and not really wanted to seem like a visual kei band anymore (even though that’s what we still count them as) I think the album around 2001 is the best way to show the band and what they’re about. Before that is what came before it was a great way to show what they started off as, and transitioned into. Gauze is a good album, and mask is one of my favorite tracks. The thing that caught me off guard with that track, is the opening “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”

Please make a video on The Gazette!!

diru has been my fav band since i was like 13 and im 27 now LOL its great seeing your videos and this community of other weirdos (diru fans are always so weird in such great ways lol) it really makes me feel at home

I still find myself rewatching your videos and you're so underrated dude. Dir En Grey will forever be my favorite band

Man this vid was masterful done! Wish more people would create well thought out music documentaries like this. Feels like a video game style doc, but made for a metal band as the topic! Very interesting! Also I can feel the Silent Hill influences here. Nice touch.

Wait, you didn’t play the actual MISSA version of Byou Shin! That was the Six Ugly version you played. Just wanted to let y’all and everyone else know that 😢

Great video. And man, I didn't hear about them until someone told me about "World of Mercy" a year ago. I definitely have to check out all their stuff.

Gauze was on rotation constantly for me back in 11th grade. That whole album changed my life

I'm pretty sure the band's name is a mistranslation. "Dir" is german for "To you", and "en" is french for "in". so wouldn't their name translate to "To you in grey" instead of "Grey silver coin"?. personally, I think the former makes more sense for the band's earlier music

As much as people hate some of the new stuff I actually prefer it.

One of my favorite bands as a teen, this is an awesome breakdown video! Still dying to go to Japan and catch them live

10:03 @graymads, a minor mistake. The version of Byo Shin you played and talked about was the remake for the Six Ugly EP. The original didn't have much screaming and the tuning was e standard. 😅

Loved this, so much nostalgia. Looking forward to diving in to all of your videos.

It is so amazing to see some commentary about Diru! I have been a fan of them for years now, fallen in love especially with their lyrics (and Kyo's emotional, cathartic screams), so it's really amazing seeing others giving them much needed praise. Would love to see Your take on the rest of their albums!

Amazing work

This band is amazing. Even not knowing Japanese doesn’t matter.

You are incredible for this. Genuinely. So underrated

Every time you make a video about music I listen to every album you mention. Example being the BMTH video. I admittedly haven’t listened to a lot of Dir En Grey. But the examples given here have me genuinely invested. This is the second time you have really gotten me into a band.

OMGG YESS FINALLY!!

would love to see a video on buck tick! they truly are one of the best bands imo with such a range of music they’ve put out and are still putting out ❤

Great videos as always, been waiting for you to cover them :)

Thank you for this, so well done, can’t wait for you to cover more of their albums. Just subscribed to your patreon :)

Yes! Dir En Grey.. got a couple of live DVDs somewhere, amazing band 🔥

I stil remember when i liked this in my vkei bc of the visuals and loved everyone but more kyo and shinya lmao

Awesome video. It's my favorite band too. Can you do more videos about them?

The byoshin u mentioned in the clip is from the Six Ugly EP, their original one wasn’t downtuned that way

I've been listening to them since 2004 or so, and I even got to see them perform in Atlanta during their Marrow of a Bone era. That album was...not great, but it was a necessary step to get them to where they are now. Sure would be nice to see them again, I would _love_ to hear songs from Dum Spiro Spero live.

Thank you for the video 💗✨

i just searched dir en grey right now ,nice to see a new video on them ☺️

i love your content!

Hope to see a Imperial Circus Dead Decadence analysis from you

Dir En Grey live is sooo gooood. In the first clip they where fakin their names xD. Arche is their very best album IMO. Your video is very nice explaining the journey from DIR ion the beginning to all people. Im looking forward to more.

Also my favorite band

I almost forgot, wrong Byou Shin, that was the six Ugly version in 2002, which without that EP we wouldn't have gotten the absolute master piece Vulger. But the original 1997 version was definitely fitting for a final song of MISSA and it had the gang vocals. Heck, they even performed the original live back in 2012. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hKtgmZaCmq7Hg4E.htmlsi=cBLxBemHqcVwvsTD

All hail Dir en Grey!! More and more people deserve to be blessed by their music and hopefully people will check them out after watching this video. It probably deserves to be noted that the mentioned Yurameki was composed by Shinya, as well as Hotarubi, he tended to go for these more melodic types back then. Recently though, his songs are on the harder side. He's doing a lot of (hilarious) youtube content but this video in particular of him reading his wikipedia page is quite nice when it comes to the origins of the band starting with La:Sadie's and how they came together and also that already in summer 96 knew they were going to disband. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oNdzZ5thvcjUgok.html There are more hilarious origin stories that we can't be sure if they're true but it just adds up to their appeal. I'm glad this band still continues to thrive and their last album Phalaris is simply amazing.

I haven't really listened to Dir En Gray a lot but know they're a big staple for anyone who likes to listen to V Kei, definitely gonna need suggestions for things to listen to of theirs

mazohyst isn't the best diru song, but it might just be my favorite diru song.

Super ! thank you !

😅first time interview so cute🥰

Fantastic Video

Zan has always had that special spot in my heart. All their songs.

Great stuff! I always look forward to u vids cos I no I’m gonna get a bit of the somehow strangely familiar - but a lot of learning too! I only no ‘that’ video by these guys so this was really interesting, thanks

This is my favorite band.

I have to thank you for making this video so detailed and well explained. I really like it how you give the band the merit and history they deserve. Like and subscribe ❤️

Really good video,.I feel the passion! Just a heads up though, during your Missa segment, the example you give for byo shin is the six ugly version.

Obscure was the first music video I downloaded from the internet. I was 12 or 13 max, back in 2004 or 2005. After that, I remember I looked for more info about the band but it was all mostly in japanese or in some hard to find music forums. Unfortunately I lost interest because of that (I blame my short attention span ahah) and only now at 30+ I'm paying more attention to them, as I (forcefully so) had to take some time off to heal some old traumas. All of these to say: I wish I had continue listening to them, but I am super glad to see that they are still "alive and kicking"! (They are actually now touring europe and I almost went to see them play live for the first time but "life" happened. So I shall continue admiring them at a distance... Until next time, hopefully).

would love to see a video about buck tick themselves

No shot, I was just about to ask God for another graymads video

I've always wanted to learn a bit more about Dir en Grey as I'm a bit of a newer fan of theirs. This was really good, gave me a deeper appreciation for them. Also dude, could you please share whatever songs you use for background music? They're so good.

OK that silent hill 2 noise at the beginning had no right to violate me so hard

Prog Punk at its finest, played with astounding virtuosity.

One of the best bands of all time without a doubt. There isnt anything like them, except maybe Sadie which clearly inspired off kyo

Subbed

great work! Will there be another episode covering MACABRE, ain't afraid to die, Kisou?

DIR EN GREY is my favorite j-metal bands & just one of the greatest in general, Die is so handsome too