Average Rating: 4.50 Rating Variance: 0.00 Objectivity Score: 33% (Poorly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name4.5 superbBrand New Science FictionDir En Grey Dum Spiro SperoSomehow, someway, DIR EN GREY ALWAYS manages to sound fresh, yet familiar. Whatever genre they chase, they do so with complete excellence. DUM SPIRO SPERO is no exception. DSS is an album that comes across as chaotic at first, but there lies it's boldest brilliance. After several listens, everything comes together to form this masterpiece. A must listen for anyone who loves this band as I do.Dir En Grey ArcheI may not be the most objective person here, as DIR EN GREY has been at the top of my 'favorite bands' list for the better part of a decade, but I will let the cat out of the bag early -- I love this album. New DIR EN GREY releases are always a special time for me as full-length efforts are so far and few between. Marking well over three years since the highly experimental yet flawed 'DUM SPIRO SPERO', ARCHE comes at the perfect time to celebrate the bands 15th anniversary. And it is sure one hell of a way to celebrate... Let's start with the obvious: you never know what the **** to expect with this band. It's one of the things I admire most -- DIR EN GREY is never content with settling for the same sound, technique, or image. Go listen to UROBOROS, then directly follow it with the aforementioned DUM SPIRO SPERO if you don't believe me. And then after that listen to The Marrow of a Bone for even further reassurance. The sense of evolution and undulation with DIR EN GREY is what makes for such an enchanting and intoxicating listen. Instead of giving you a play-by-play of every song, I'm going to make it easy and insist that you go experience this album for yourself. There's a little bit of everything for anyone here -- did you miss their trademark melodies in 'DSS'? Excellent, go enjoy Un deux, Soshaku, Tousei, Behind a Vacant Image, and more. Do you like a little experimentation? Absolutely blissful! Go listen to Phenomenon and Uroko. How 'bout some of the most diverse vocals in the world? Good, cause this album is littered with more range than a statistics class on steroids. It's certainly not a one- man show, however; everyone brought their A-game for this release. While you won't be absolutely blown away by any instrumental work, it's hard not to admire the maturity of these compositions. Prepare for nothing but entrancement and captivation as you venture unknowingly into the world DIR EN GREY paints in ARCHE. It's not perfect -- there are flaws, missteps and opportunities gone array (I'm looking at you, remaster of Sustain the Untruth) -- but imperfection is such a minor price to pay for what might be my album of the year.
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