Dir En Grey

Dir En Grey is a leading group from Visual Kei in Japan. The Visual Kei, for those who do not know and without spreading, is a particular style of Japanese music because the greatest particularity lies in the appearance of the bands practicing this style. Returning to Dir En Grey , this one was born from the ashes of La:Sadie The only non-Dir En Grey member was bassist Kisaki, who left the band in 1997. The band then consists of: Kyo on singing, Toshiya on bass, Die and Kaoru on guitars, and Shinya on drums. The group has undergone no line-up changes so far. The same year released their first Missa mini CD, which was very successful with the public. The year 98 is a decisive year for the group because it is during this one that it will gain all its fame and become not poorly publicized, but it also marks the end of its indie period. In 1999, Dir En Grey was part of a record company, East West Japan , beginning their major period (these names, major and indie, are unique to Visual Kei) with the album Gauze (some of which were produced by Yoshiki, leader of X-Japan group for the forerunner of Visual Kei), being preceded by 3 singles which will become a custom for the band. This album received a very favourable reception and placed 5th in the Oricon (classification of the best sales in Japan) and presented itself as the most accessible album of their career because of its undeniable melodic appearance. The year 2000 is also full of rebounds for the band as she sees the release, always preceded by the 3 singles, of their 2nd album: Macabre . Shortly before, Kyo was caught with a malaise on stage and was taken to the hospital. The tour is cancelled and the doctors diagnose a problem in his ears, he is sensitive to heavy noises... At the same time, he goes to Sony. Macabre is the darkest album of their career and placed 4th in Oricon. It is followed by Kisou in 2002, again a success because placed 3rd at the Oricon . This album shows their evolution towards a heavier, more bourrin, more Americanized style... A few months later released Six Ugly, a mini album in Kisou's lineup. It was in September 2003 that their 4th album came out and there it was a real slam that the band delivered, a heavy and heavy sound, certainly very influenced US but effective, without doubt the most violent album of the combo. The group opened its European label in 2004. Withering To Death , this is the name of their 5th album released in March 2005, in a few ways the album of maturity. Each album has its own style and their songs are alongside punk, metal, neo metal, rock and ballads. Their concert at Olympia last July shows that the band is starting a career outside the Japanese border that is most encouraging.
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