Album Rating: 5.0

I know... makes me ill thinking about the fact I missed it. Looks infinitely better than the Arche tour I went to see.

Album Rating: 5.0

The crowds don't worry me but how huge the city is and having no idea how to get around does. God that Ain't Afraid to Die performance is a highlight of their whole career, get chills every time I watch it.

Album Rating: 5.0

"Looks infinitely better than the Arche tour I went to see."



How so?

Album Rating: 5.0

Preference really, but aesthetically the tour productions are more to my taste and I prefer dss to arche. Not knocking the bands performance, because they were great, it's just a soak in everything dss. Although, at the time I wasn't as big on the lp as I am now. Figures.

I like London, but more so the residential areas than anything. Pimlico, for example, is really quite nice - I can walk round there all day. Main reason I'd query going would be paying for hotels, cos I'm a tightarse and don't have a car (though I DO have a license).

Album Rating: 5.0

I'd imagine driving in London to be hell on earth, because it is in Birmingham. The best time to see Dir en Grey locally would be 2008-09, since Kyo has just hit his prime there, they toured other countries in much more varies locations due to festivals, Uroboros material. Otherwise you better wait every 2 years or fly to Japan which has for the most part the best shows possible.

I've always avoided Dir en grey's live albums after hearing Uroboros at Bukodan, Kyo sounds pretty bad on it. The Arche one is a completely different story, which other ones are worth checking out?

Album Rating: 5.0

Wah, really? I was watching that one the other day for the first time in years and I was impressed with his vocals on it.

Album Rating: 5.0

Strictly for Kyo's performance, Tour12-13 In Situ-Tabula Rasa as it's usually considered his peak. DSS at Nippon Budokan, Tour13 Ghoul and Tour14 Mode of Gauze are definitely worth checking in general.

Dunno why he seemed bad to you on Urokan/Budoboros (yes, that's how I like to call that show, same with my other inventions - DSSkan and Archekan :P) cuz that gig is full of awesome moments; he does sound different post-DSS so maybe you are just more accustomed to his recent years.

Album Rating: 5.0

Kyo sounds better on Budoboros than he does in Archekan though. His inhale growls were incredible there, he could still scream at very high notes back then and his singing minus a few dud moments/notes sounded great. I agree with Evo's point that the vocals on that take more of being used to compared to his studio and later live efforts, personally Tour 08 really helped me in that regard. Uroboros especially is pretty much impossible to perfect replicate on a consistent basis vocally, but on some performances/songs I prefer the live versions vocally because how monstrous his growls can be and he sounds more human and passionate to me. Did you watch Archekan in full? Because I really recommend doing so.



Anyway Evo gave a nice list but I'll add my contribution too. Here's other lives for you in categories for what you want:



Their best show, period: DSS at Nippon Budokan

Kyo's best vocal performance: Tour 12-13 In Situ/Rasa

Superb show with Gauze in modern day Dir style and his possibly is best growls ever plus on form singing: Tour 14 Mode of Gauze

Only English documentary and best production/mix they ever had: Tour 13 Ghoul

Best pre-Uroboros live (and IMO goes toe to toe with Dir's best): Blitz 5 Days

Arguably their most energetic show, ton of Marrow and other older gems: Tour 08

Album Rating: 5.0

Also I'd like to add Ghoul was full subtitled while the AQA documentaries despite having some English narration, it was only of the general scenario so there was long segments of just Japanese with no subtitles.

Album Rating: 5.0

I really dig that breakdown, Cal. Also, whoever is willing to delve into pre-Uroboros live material should, aside from the compulsory Blitz5 mentioned above, check Tour04 Code of Vulgar, since it has some genuinely good vocal performances in it. To be fair, I am genuinely curious if he'll top some of those on Mode of Vulgar live coming out this year... and I need more of that "Fukai".

Album Rating: 5.0

If Fukai is in Tour_Of for the upcoming Blu Ray I'll will freak out. Awesome song live.

I just remember Kyo being off pitch a lot on the Uroboros one but it's been awhile since I listened. I just know he stays on pitch way better now than what I remember from back then

Album Rating: 4.0

I'd recommend Code of Vulgar just for the live performance of "Amber" alone. I love that fucking song. One of my favorite DEG songs. Maybe one of my favorite songs of all time.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2FgtMo8reQ

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

There's so much good live stuff it's ridiculous

Album Rating: 4.0

I love that DEG does these album specific tours, even much later in their career. That's some awesome fan service. Most bands wouldn't bother with all the planning to go into that and learning all those songs again.

Album Rating: 5.0

@Faded: That's one of the best performances on the DVD, nice pick. Dir have the advantage at least of all their older songs being easier to learn, and I'm really happy so Vulgar, Kisou and Gauze have gotten modern versions with more to come in the future. A tour Macabre would be IMO the most interesting one due to how Visual Kei that whole album and era was.

Album Rating: 5.0

Agreed FadedSun, they're definitely dedicated to their fans with all the various products and gigs. It also helps that they can actually make a living just out of the music too.

Macabre songs have always been pulled off well live, and then we have the masterful remake of the title track on the 2013 mini-album, so the potential is sky high.

Album Rating: 5.0

The Macabre Day for Blitz 5 Days...hingggggggggg brilliance.