I have, and yeah 'fast' heavy stuff is one of the band's weaknesses for the most part. Despite that their overall heaviest material (DSS and Uro) is or very close to their peak.

Album Rating: 3.0

Personally, the fast and heavy DEG stuff can come across as "by the numbers" and go in one ear and out the other for me if there's not a degree of experimentation in them. I tend to like the band's experimental songs and ballads the best.

Zan and the remake of Rasetsukoku is some of their best material for me so I can;t fully agree with that.

Album Rating: 3.5

Hopefully they do a remaster down the road, cause the production really brings this down. Still a really good album though. Ningen, Aka, and Followers are the standouts for me.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

it is really, really depressing that Ningen wo Kaburu is legitimately a standout track on this

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Still can't stand most tracks in here. I guess I'll stop trying.

Day of the London show.

Finally.

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm really failing to see all the faults you guys say this album has, and i've been a Dir En Grey fan for a long ass fucking time. Loved it so far.

Album Rating: 3.0

The largest flaw consensus is the production, people aren't really slamming the tracks. Though, I myself find some of it underwhelming.



Nice calc! Enjoy. Hopefully the crowd won't be as insufferable as they were when I say their Arche tour lol

Album Rating: 4.0

Have fun there, Cal! I wish I could've gone too, but alas...

Been hearing reports of VIP ticket holders queuing the day before to get row spot in front of Kyo...that's fucked.

Time to go! I'll report back tomorrow.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah, they're insane haha have fun anyway man

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

"I'm really failing to see all the faults you guys say this album has, and I've been a Dir En Grey fan for a long ass fucking time. Loved it so far."

I'm not against any of you who loved this album. I just hate metalcore vibe that this album gives me. I. Hate. Metalcore.

Album Rating: 3.0

I like metalcore...if it’s Converge and/or Cave In.

Album Rating: 3.5

So, how was the show @Calc?

Alright, I have a lot to say about this show so I'll make a short version and a long version.

Short version: VIP package kinda sucked, the show was terrible due to sound issues being so bad it made Kyo throw his mic in anger and an intermission with nothing for 40 minutes. To top it all off zealot fans arguing me on Facebook that I disliked the VIP and the show. I'll never support Dir en Grey's releases again.

Long version: The VIP started, and we were all waiting. There was this one security guard and he either told the crowd to move or line up, where the front row shouted in unison no. Great start. There was a number system to determine who got to the stage first since people camped from the morning, which is fair, however, that didn't give the right for one person to push in front of me saying "wrong number" before we even started entering the stage. We got in and we got the...gifts. The gift was a small sweatband, alright I guess but then we got the signed Ningen.

Problem one was we got the single instead of an album signed, but since this was announced before the new album announcement I was willing to let it slide however my problem is the pressing we got. However, before the release, it was stated to be "Special Limited-Edition" of it. Since on CD Japan the best edition was listed as "Limited Special Edition", I thought it was either that or the smaller limited edition. It was neither of these, instead of that was the unreleased Euro pressing. The make of it was so shoddy if someone gave it to me I thought it would be a demo.

Then you have the QnA and pictures, which the band hates doing but I knew this in advance. They answered my question which was nice. Also whilst getting out there was pushing and shoving to the extent the security shouted at us. The entitlement was to the point of pushing us and complaining to the staff that they wanted to go first because they arrived at 3 am. So really, the only good thing about VIP was the chance of getting an early spot and guaranteed merch which I wanted. Kinda shitty to be honest...and then we have the actual show.

I'll start with the good: The band really tried. Kyo sounded good, with Rinkaku, Empire and Uroko sparking one or two chills. I don't like how they 'repeat' their signature moves too much from previous tours but that's kinda my fault since I watched so much of their stuff. Minus that...the show was very poor. The sound was a mess. Bass was barely audible, drums sounded like ass, poor Kaoru had guitar problems constantly. It had so bad that Kyo threw his mic in anger during the first verse of Phenomenon. They had multiple breaks desperately trying to fix the sound, with the longest one being around 40 minutes. 40 minutes, of us standing around doing absolutely nothing. There weren't any booing or riots either, we were very cordial just hoping it would be fixed. The band tried to get it together towards the end with the mix half working. The fans were getting into it, but personally, to myself, the damage had already been done (especially since Coheed were much better 2 days ago). I had trouble getting my valuables later, by that point I have had enough.

Die came out and apologised for the quality of the show, which has never happened apparently. Speaks for itself.

The combination of this poor showing, the management's milking of the band and Tue leaving all in conjunction has now made me stop supporting the band for now. If I'm in Japan I'll go see them to give them the best possible conditions for a second chance, other than that I'm buying everything used from now. If I see them in Europe again the main attraction will be seeing friends and not the band. I didn't expect any blowback from this stance, however, I got plenty. This quote pretty much summed it up:

"They come, you complain. They don't, you complain too. Just shut up and enjoy the stuffs you're given. If you don't want to "waste your money" then don't pay for the VIP stuff. If you want to complain for everything, better not to come to their shows. It doesn't have anything to do with knowing or not knowing well the band, but with your entire attitude. End of the story."

Overall, painfully disappointing.

Album Rating: 3.0

mannnnnnnn, what a bummer calc. sorry to hear it. but i had a very similar experience when i saw them; the fans are absolute wretches.

Album Rating: 3.0

though, obviously nowhere near as bad as you got it. the sound thing is a joke.

Yeah the fans are one thing, but the show being ruined by the sound was so sad for me. I've idolized so many moments from their DVD's so to see them like this was depressing. Wasted £200.