Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah, this doesn't sound half as good as it did back in the day. Probably the one I go back to the least. Their newer stuff is what I find myself returning to more and more. Gauze is still great and Kisou is good, although boring after a while.

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah, Gauze has held up really well.

Album Rating: 3.0

Feeling like the elephant in the room here ;_;



I mean, this is certainly dated in places, but it's an enjoyable outing. Not quite as good as Gauze, of course, though I still find the album solid on its own. Hotarubi, Audrey, Zakuro, and Taiyo no Ao all slay. For starters, perhaps the record would've been better than it already is if Diru kept Yoshiki on the producing board cuz the mixdown's pretty much MACABRE's Achilles heel alongside (to a lesser extent) Kyo's vocals of all aspects. This album don't showcase him at his best :P



Buuuuuuut... Given how much these guys have honed their skills as songwriters, musicians, and performers over the years, to say I'm eager to check out the Tour variant of this whenever it drops as well as finish Blitz 5 Days (earlier this week I saw the first day ftr) is an understatement.



Tl;dr version: is mayonnaise an instrument?

Album Rating: 2.0

I literally like none of those songs you listed Angel lol, the production and performance (especially vocally) on here kills what potential this had. The live versions are so much better, especially on the 3rd Day of Blitz which has so much of this album on it.

Album Rating: 3.5

I love what song you listed first, Angel ;).

Album Rating: 2.5

Wake still slays though.

Album Rating: 3.5

Especially the Blitz5 performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SclW5xcpM8

Worth watching even if Youtube, as with a lot of lives, messes up the audio; it sounds much better on the actual DVD.

Album Rating: 2.0

Love that performance so much, one of the best out of the whole 5 days.

Album Rating: 3.0

Leading up to the release of the latest album, I revisited Diru's main back catalog, and hoo boy did this one age terribly... I like Audrey and Berry a lot less now than before. What a gigantic two/three steps backward from the band's full-length debut. This has officially become my least favorite outing, and yet whether or not it's because of the bias, I still don't *hate* this record.



FWIW the Mode of... for the second LP proved to be a way, way, way better experience. Even the likes of the aforementioned Berry became easier to sit through in context of that show.

Album Rating: 3.5

Mode of Macabre ended up being one of the best album-dedicated discs.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

What do you know, Time has been kinder to this album IMO. A bit more experimental than “Gauze”, but the way everything flows makes it feel like a natural progression in their sound/style.

Yea I’m feeling this to be pretty underrated here

Album Rating: 4.0

Been REALLY warming up to this lately... looking past the production the songwriting is fantastic. I love how much they tried to experiment on this album (and kisou for that matter). Tracks like KR Cube and audrey are notable for how different they sound from anything else the band has done. I think the only track im not too fond of is Hydra. Even Berry has its merits, despite the fact that the sample of the family nearly ruins the song

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

"Wake" is best. That song and its remaster are classic Diru.

Album Rating: 2.5

It’s definitely one of the best here, but t/t will always rule this roost. The remake is incredible as well

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I must give the remake a listen! Still haven't done so yet. The original is incredible so expectations are high. Does it absolutely eat the original?

Album Rating: 2.5

Imo it does, but it doesn’t really change the mould compositionally, it just has a perfect production behind it, and kyo’s voice is fully realised

Album Rating: 2.5

I love em both though. It’s progressive writing done right

Album Rating: 3.5

Kyo is an aquired taste to say the least. Undeniably talented though; superb range and control.

Album Rating: 2.5

Though it isn’t really showcased here lol