I have enjoyed this reaction and analysis very much ^-^. Dir en grey are very talented band. They have a awesome bassist, too but this song does not show it much I think. But it is one of best songs for first introduction I think! You can watch the unrestricted PV on TH-cam it is very helpfull to understand the song better. But here are lyrics: (PS: please watch live version next. I would recommend Revelation of Mankind (a faster song) or Rinkaku (a clean, ballad like song that is most focus on Kyos higher register). Look for lives from Arche (Budokan) DVD.) Vinushka I exchange thoughts with the clouds I hold my breath Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting Slip your desires into the ants' nest Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions Even the twisted flow is the proof that you are alive I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow The inculcated Dogra Magra The pain of the mark and the one and only personality And those colorful eyes all decorated I don't want them anymore Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away? The lonely red stage at night I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor That's where the truth is The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here" Who can't we forgive? I let them hear my cold voice And i swear I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? "I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored can't even turn myself into a werewolf But just enough to become crazy by the darkness I want to suck the neck The emptiness of the remains I won't let you sleep At the age where you just want attention...tonight I might go crazy for you." Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness The end has already come to life It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot Every time this happens your faces crumble No one wants to talk about truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins and let life be gone The emptiness of the antithesis Becomes the choking and crying land Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis Be burdened by depression The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears Couldn't understand the value of things The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others Seeing you like this it's just too sad Splash of blood Squashing basic instincts Talk about death I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins. What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins, and let life be gone Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
Man this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg with Dir en Grey. They’ve been around since 97 and have a huge and very diverse discography. I’ve been listening to them since childhood and I’ve never gotten tired of them. Kyo is an insane vocalist and I love Shinya, the drummer
"Sitting on the edge, waiting to explode...." That's Diru in a nutshell. As for Kyo's range.... all you need to do is delve further into their discography. 5 members... each unique in their own sound, yet come together perfectly. I highly recommend if you have a chance, to see them live, you won't be disappointed.
Most of their lyrics are highly poetic and often nearly impossible to translate correctly because Kyo likes to play with metaphors and wordplays (even in the written word). Sadly the official translations never cover these aspects which makes them nearly useless if you want to see the real beauty of them. Some of the best translations I have seen on the net come from periXreloaded, she has a TH-cam channel here which I can only recommend. (always look under the video for her additional notes!) There is definitely some orchestration in this song. I would always recommend watching the live versions. However, this song has an amazing music video that complements the song perfectly and adds another layer to the emotion and lyrics transported in the song. (The song itself does not necessarily speak of WWII.) One of my favourite bass lines comes from an older song called "24ko Cylinder". It has a VERY different sound to this one and it might not be the best follow-up song. In a way you have three different types of songs with Dir en grey: harsh, aggressive ones; rock/metal ballads and long, progressive pieces. You can find all types already on their first album though they were much more Rock oriented back then. There are already a few suggestions in the comments. I think people never tire of seeing reactions to Macabre (and I myself would be interested in your analysis with your musician background). But that song is 16+ minutes long. If you want something short with some vocal acrobatics I would suggest "Chain Repulsion" or "Kaishun" (a really beautiful song no-one reacts to. Would love to see that ^^). Thanks for reacting!
@@CriticalReactions the new (2013) version will make for a more interesting reaction. Look for the Tabula Rasa live (I think someone posted a link). [otherwise I would be the wrong person to ask because I have a history with the original one that will always tell me they at least equally amazing. The remake is more of an extended version which keeps the structure of the old song and adds a part in the middle. I'm sure it will take you only a second to figure out which part that is ;)]
@@CriticalReactions I think in addition to Macabre you would also like Diabolos, also from the Tabula Rasa live. Considered another one of their masterpieces
Always love watching musicians react to Dir en grey! When you said „how many styles is he gonna use?“ I thought: „all of them“ : D Great analysis and it was nice to hear that the song touched you even with the lyrics being in Japanese. When playing it live they show war footage and it is very intense... in general this band is very anti-war and it is a theme in multiple songs. Hope you react to more of their songs! Some recommendations would be behind a vacant image, vanitas, diabolos ...
Some of the other comments are a bit misleading. Kyo has a singing range of just under 5 octaves. He can growl and fry whistle outside of that range. I just love how much control he has and how much emotion he can invoke, it can be uncomfortable to listen to sometimes. There are two guitarists. The bass can be both prominent or blends into the background depending on the song (and if the bassist was the one who wrote it haha)
@@BreakerOvTheBlackWinds Nope, pretty much the only guy in popular music (that I know of) that has a vocal range that big is Mike Patton from Faith No More
VINUSHKA I exchange thoughts with the clouds Hold my breath Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting Slip your desires into the ants' nest Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions Even the twisted flow is the proof that you're alive I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow The inculcated Dogra Magra The pain of the mark and the one and only personality And those colorful eyes all decorated, I don't want them anymore Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away? The lonely red stage at night I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor This is where the truth is The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here" Who can't we forgive? I let them hear my cold voice And I swear I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? "I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored Can't even turn myself into a werewolf But just enough to become crazy by the darkness I want to suck the neck The emptiness of the remains I won't let you sleep At the age where you just want attention... tonight, I might go crazy for you" Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness The end has already come to life It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot Every time this happens, your faces crumble No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins and let life be gone The emptiness of the antithesis Becomes the choking and crying land Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis Be burdened by depression The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears Couldn't understand the value of things The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others Seeing you like this, it's just too sad Splash of blood Squashing basic instincts Talk about death I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins and let life be gone Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
This song basically is about WW2 japan bombing. Starts with mellow uncertainty building tension, Then the first nuclear bomb drops, resulting in the growls, Next part is again quiet, filled with calm, that slowly becomes hope that it's over, It begins to expend towards anger and despair, Then the second bomb drops and only chaos remains.
Ghifari77 Some or most of this is fictionalized, though japan did fight an aid with another Asian country at the time with the war that went on. They did do some horrible things, like turning on China I think? And took women as prostitutes, and selling orphaned children to Japanese families. These have been documented, and japan has responded to this, and apologized. This isn’t on one occasion but numerous times, and as also done reparations to the families and of course the countries they occupied themselves. It’s time to let go, don’t forget but move on!!
Actually that's the video conception. The lyrics don't talk directly about that. As every diru's lyrics it's not clear about what is talking about, it's open to the listener.
"This guy has a very smooth voice" Me: wait for it Also his range not counting fry and falsetto is around A1-G#7, live and with falsetto, fry and growls and screams he's hit much higher and much lower. I believe he hit a C#8 at one point and there's a debated ninth octave note.
@@xerodelacroix5552 Nah, I don’t count the whistle screams and such Edit:which you didn’t either, I just can’t read But what do I know? I’m pretty dumb
@@Elis_Nordgall Yeah with falsetto and whistle notes he's hit into the 8th octave. As of The Insulated World and his solo project his belted range has been updated to A1-E6 for sure, A1-G#7 (debated).
I love this band so much. This is the first song I ever heard by them, it scared the shit out of my 15 year old self. This is probably my favorite song of theirs too. I personally always felt the choruses and such in a 6/8 feel though. Wonderfully talented individuals.
Great sincere reaction! They are such a great band, consisting of 2 guitarists, bassist, drummer and insane vocalist. So many great songs to pick from: my personal favorite are the Blossoming Beelzebub (so awesome) and Revelation of mankind. Hope you will listen to more of their music. Every album has a different feel.
Just a comment bc you've talked about it in several videos: There are basically two techniques used to do distorted vocals in metal. One is false cord (more often used for low notes and mostly in death metal), the other is fry. They're made with different parts of human anatomy, so to speak. Fry uses the vocal folds, false cord uses the false folds (hence the name). The sound quality is different but either can be used to create highs or lows (which are more technical terms for screams and growls, I guess). That being said, almost all you'll ever hear outside of metal genres with "death" in their name is fry. False cord is probably more common in just rock n roll style vocals than in other subgenres of metal.
the vocalist kyo niimura be a tenor with vocal range from A1 - E6 so basically he has like a 5 octave range and uses everythin from a a low gutteral growl to a high pitch wail dir en grey be amazin live l got to see them in 2008 they has a lead guitarist kaoru niikura rhythm guitarist diesuke(die) andou bassist toshiya hara and drummer shinya terachi
The dude's a beast on vocals and, like you said, can express such strong emotions. I bought the Uroboros album not long after this reaction and it blew me away.
Someone said the song is about the WW2 nuclear bombings. The music video is about the bombings, but the song itself is not. The song is actually about guilt/remorse/shame. The title is a made up word using the Russian word for guilt (at least, I think it's Russian) and adding the suffix of "ushka" to it. At least, that's what I remember. Could be wrong about the title I think I have an old booklet with the lyrics lying around in a box somewhere. Might have to just send a link instead though. As someone else said though, the lyrics may not be easy to understand since Kyo (the vocalist) like to use a lot of double entendres and word play that is next to impossible to translate accurately
I have the translation: I exchange thoughts with the clouds I hold my breath Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting Slip your desires into the ants' nest Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions Even the twisted flow is the proof that you're alive I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow The inculcated Dogra Magra The pain of the mark and the one and only personality And those colorful eyes all decorated I don't want them anymore Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away? The lonely red stage at night I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor That's where the truth is The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here" Who can't we forgive? I let them hear my cold voice And I swear I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? "I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored Can't even turn myself into a werewolf But just enough to become crazy by the darkness I want to suck the neck The emptiness of the remains I won't let you sleep At the age where you just want attention…tonight I might go crazy for you" Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness The end has already come to life It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot Every time this happens, your faces crumble No one wants to talk about truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins and let life be gone The emptiness of the antithesis Becomes the choking and crying land Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis Be burdened by depression The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears Couldn't understand the value of things The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others Seeing you like this, it's just too sad Splash of blood Squashing basic instincts Talk about death I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind? No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear The suppressed minds Compensate the sins, and let life be gone Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
I’ve been a fan of Dir en Grey well over 20 yrs now. OBSCURE is a great song to react to. The music video is like a short horror flick. KYO the lead vocalist is a monster! I’ve seen this band live one time I’m the early 00’s to this day one of the best live bands I’ve ever watched. 🤘
u have to watch the MV to feel the emotion & the meaning of this song bro Kyo's Voice is not from our world, he is a great vocalist Dir en grey is a complex band, beyond imagination
Been listening to these guys since 2005, and since they have tied for my favorite band with Tool. A fantastic library with several peak quality albums, Macabre, Vulgar, Withering to Death, Dum Spiro Spero, but IMO Uroboros is unquestionably their truest Masterpiece. And Vinushka is the perfect song to set the tone of the album, and for Kyo and the Boys to show off.
Absolute monster of a band. Go check out any of their 200+ tracks off of their 10 studio albums, 3 EPs, 18 singles with countless remixes and live recordings. Uroboros, DSS, Arche, and Vulgar to me are their best albums. Amber off of Vulgar is my favorite song of all time
I'd recommend Macabre, as far as their progressive songs go, that one is probably the best(or at least the most complex) they've made. Also check out The World of Mercy, it's a pretty cool progressive song too.
I'd say 'Vinushka' is probably the best display of Kyo's full range, (as well as the whole band's,) but if you wanna see more examples of what he can really do I recommend checking out 'Magayasou', 'Rinkaku', 'Zan', 'Agitated Screams of Maggots', 'Akura no Oka', 'Juuyoku', 'Filth' and my personal favourite: 'Conceived Sorrow'.
Spot on analysis--should watch the video--the visuals will tell the story the music is presenting. One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. The anger and anguish Kyo's vocals conveys is unforgetable--so visceral.
Votre réaction est tellement satisfaisante lorsque l'on est une fan inconditionnelle de ce groupe depuis bientot 20 ans. Merci pour cette belle réaction et j'espère que vous avez apprécié de nouvelles chansons depuis.
You need to react to those guys live! Live is a whole different thing because then you really know what they sound like and you get all the emotions while watching them perform! A very unique experience! 😅 Here is a live performance that has english subtitles and also different vocal styles than just the ones you heard in the song you had in your video: DIR EN GREY - Macabre Live Tabula Rasa 2013 (english lyrics) I promise, you will get blown away! 😅
This reaction was really enjoyable. I like your calm demeanor. You have a kind and gentle aura about you. :) And I love how open you stayed to this admittedly very unique and at times challenging music. Dir en grey has been one of my favourite bands since I first heard them back in 2006. Since you mentioned that you'd want to get to know them a bit better, know this: With Dir en grey, every release they put out sounds very different from the last. They are a sort of musical chameleon, never staying in one style for long. Uroboros is the album that got them their "break" in the western world. But all their albums/EPs/singles have a very unique style to them. My favourite is their sophomore album "MACABRE" from 2000. There's so much emotion and different genres mixed in that one album, it's magnifiscient. And the bass is more promiment in their older material as well. Anyways, excuse my rambling. Cheers from Germany. :)
I don’t know if someone maybe did this comment before ‘cause I don’t have time to read all of the comments but the song is basically like a protest song about the WW2 and the atomic bombs that were dropped in Japan. Like someone already advised, if you see the videoclip it is very illustrating 😉
I always like a reaction from those who know technicalities There studio versions are great but generally their live is better, this song has too many lives on here to choose from, I won't pick a favourite
@@rustyshackleford5553 they used it throughout the whole Uroboros album(very pronounced in sa bir) but i believe Kaoru had an electric baby sitar since 1999(mazohyst of decadence for example)
MINOR correction, the choruses are technically in 3/4, but your point still rings true; no crazy time signature wankery, just a masterful use of disorienting accents
It's about the atomic bombs. Watch the video to get more of the intended impact. That little moment of calm before the second explosion is..well. There were two bombs.
I'd love to see more Dir En Grey reactions, there's plenty of live versions with translated lyrics, I highly recommend periXreloaded's channel and translations.
I would love to hear a reaction on the live version of macabre (2013 tabula rasa). There is a good texted video out. I really like reaction from people who seem to know what they talk about, and not just from an subjective opinion on the song.
Loved the reaction! If you're interested in more by them, and they really shine live, Macabre (2013 Version) is probably the "magnum opus" in terms of sheer composition and really show's the vocalist's full range. Bottom of the Death Valley is a good pick if you're interested in their more mellow side. There's english subtitled versions of both on youtube.
Hi there CR! I've been watching your reactions for a bit, I gotta ask, would you consider doing some Haken at some point? They're my favorite band of all time. Some songs I'd recommend are Veil Puzzle Box Aquarium (Highest Recommendation here :3) Celestial Elixir Visions Nocturnal Conspiracy All of those are a great taste of what Haken brings to Progressive Metal! I'd love to see your take on them! Excellent reactions and breakdowns on all the songs so far :)
I really enjoyed you experiencing my Favorite artist. I've been a fan of DEG for over 15 years. I highly recommend watching them live. You definitely feel and see Kyo's talent. There is no other band like DEG, beyond talented. I saw them in Dec 19' and ..amazing. Amazing.
His range is A1 - E6 as far as I know, but his comfortable/consistent range is more like A4 - C6, as well as some things like c#6 and such. Plus he's incredibly versatile with his whistle notes, screams, growls, etc.
Basically this song is talking about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kyo, the vocalist is the one the writes all the lyrics. Kaoru, the lead guitarist, writes most of music. Please react to Macabre live at Tabula Rasa, thanks th-cam.com/video/O6PwVRpa8i8/w-d-xo.html
The video for this song is littered with footage of Hiroshima damage. You're right that this song was extremely heavy figuratively. Vinushka is the word for guilt in hindi, apparently. I think the song is dedicated to either the guilt from damage we as Americans caused, or the guilt of japan not stomping the world out and letting themselves be bombed. I don't read Japanese, so its an American interpretation.
I'm sure this is an odd request especially because most of your reactions are rock bands but can you react and analyze EXO and their song Tempo. They are a Kpop group with great vocalists. They use many genres for their songs. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on their song composition and vocals.
Kind of but it's also not at the same time..don't know how to explain it properly since English isn't my first language. Its not like "oh look how much Japan suffered" but more so using the bombing, where life were incinerated in a flash and it's aftermath still felt today, as reminder for humanity to never march into wars at the order of few hypocrites. Mid section of the song puts us in the perspective of a victim of the bombing during the few seconds before death. Basically kinda saying don't be a dickhead to each other because a hypocrite in power said so. So the song is angry at those "world leaders" of the time, Japan's included and want's us to never repeat those mistakes again. Given that Diru is very critical of the Government, it's more like a criticism of the war mongering Governments of both sides.
The lyrics of this song are about the Second World War; and Kyo's screams are like a claim, a claim of souls unjustly extinguished by opposing ideologies and hatred ... phrases like 'I can't forgive' 'I still want to be here' show us the real meaning of this 'manifesto' obviously he's trying to show you the pain of the people that were murdered and mutilated couse the radiation of atomic bomb, this is a reclaim from Kyo about japanese suffering during the war. Yo man, that was a war crime. Do anybody notice?
Thank you! Someone who finally noticed it's not about the bombing specifically but more so about the song swapping us with the victims in their final seconds. The breakdown part always felt like it's from the perspective of the victims, more specifically their thoughts after the realization that there is no tomorrow and they will never have the answer to the question "why me?". Tbh I think this song isn't talking about who had it worst or if the Japanese suffered the most because that doesn't seem like something Kyo would express going by his previous work. He usually keeps it open for all to be able to relate regardless of nationality or race. I interpret as a reminder for us about how fragile human are and that we could be in their place one day by blindly following the hypocrites in power. Basically a big fuck you to all the world Governments, including the Japanese empire of the time and the patriots who cheered for or entertained the war which the innocent paid for with their lives.
I have enjoyed this reaction and analysis very much ^-^.
Dir en grey are very talented band. They have a awesome bassist, too but this song does not show it much I think. But it is one of best songs for first introduction I think! You can watch the unrestricted PV on TH-cam it is very helpfull to understand the song better. But here are lyrics:
(PS: please watch live version next. I would recommend Revelation of Mankind (a faster song) or Rinkaku (a clean, ballad like song that is most focus on Kyos higher register). Look for lives from Arche (Budokan) DVD.)
Vinushka
I exchange thoughts with the clouds
I hold my breath
Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see
Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me
Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting
Slip your desires into the ants' nest
Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again
Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you
Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions
Even the twisted flow is the proof that you are alive
I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow
The inculcated Dogra Magra
The pain of the mark and the one and only personality
And those colorful eyes all decorated I don't want them anymore
Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away?
The lonely red stage at night
I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor
That's where the truth is
The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here"
Who can't we forgive?
I let them hear my cold voice
And i swear
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
"I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored
can't even turn myself into a werewolf
But just enough to become crazy by the darkness
I want to suck the neck
The emptiness of the remains
I won't let you sleep
At the age where you just want attention...tonight I might go crazy for you."
Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness
But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness
The end has already come to life
It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot
Every time this happens your faces crumble
No one wants to talk about truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins and let life be gone
The emptiness of the antithesis
Becomes the choking and crying land
Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis
Be burdened by depression
The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears
Couldn't understand the value of things
The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs
Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands
That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others
Seeing you like this it's just too sad
Splash of blood
Squashing basic instincts
Talk about death
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins. What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins, and let life be gone
Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
Producer: How many different singing technics are you going to use?
Kyo: Yes
Also Kyo : can I have a cigarette?
Man this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg with Dir en Grey. They’ve been around since 97 and have a huge and very diverse discography. I’ve been listening to them since childhood and I’ve never gotten tired of them. Kyo is an insane vocalist and I love Shinya, the drummer
I'm of the mind that no other DeG song touches the level of Vinushka.
@@CtrlAItFU must be terrible to be you, always comparing everything they do with vinushka
Shinya top 3 drummer of all time
@@CtrlAItFU the blossoming beelzebub :D
@@CtrlAItFUmacabre. Both the original and unraveling version are better than vinushka.
Kyo has an insane arsenal of vocals. From the lowest bowels of hell growls to the shrieking whistle tone highs, he can do it all.
"Sitting on the edge, waiting to explode...." That's Diru in a nutshell. As for Kyo's range.... all you need to do is delve further into their discography. 5 members... each unique in their own sound, yet come together perfectly. I highly recommend if you have a chance, to see them live, you won't be disappointed.
Most of their lyrics are highly poetic and often nearly impossible to translate correctly because Kyo likes to play with metaphors and wordplays (even in the written word). Sadly the official translations never cover these aspects which makes them nearly useless if you want to see the real beauty of them. Some of the best translations I have seen on the net come from periXreloaded, she has a TH-cam channel here which I can only recommend. (always look under the video for her additional notes!)
There is definitely some orchestration in this song. I would always recommend watching the live versions. However, this song has an amazing music video that complements the song perfectly and adds another layer to the emotion and lyrics transported in the song.
(The song itself does not necessarily speak of WWII.)
One of my favourite bass lines comes from an older song called "24ko Cylinder". It has a VERY different sound to this one and it might not be the best follow-up song.
In a way you have three different types of songs with Dir en grey: harsh, aggressive ones; rock/metal ballads and long, progressive pieces. You can find all types already on their first album though they were much more Rock oriented back then.
There are already a few suggestions in the comments. I think people never tire of seeing reactions to Macabre (and I myself would be interested in your analysis with your musician background). But that song is 16+ minutes long. If you want something short with some vocal acrobatics I would suggest "Chain Repulsion" or "Kaishun" (a really beautiful song no-one reacts to. Would love to see that ^^).
Thanks for reacting!
It seems that DEG has remade Macabre, should I check out the original or the remake?
@@CriticalReactions the new (2013) version will make for a more interesting reaction. Look for the Tabula Rasa live (I think someone posted a link).
[otherwise I would be the wrong person to ask because I have a history with the original one that will always tell me they at least equally amazing. The remake is more of an extended version which keeps the structure of the old song and adds a part in the middle. I'm sure it will take you only a second to figure out which part that is ;)]
@@CriticalReactions Definetely the 2013 live at tabula rasa
@@CriticalReactions I think in addition to Macabre you would also like Diabolos, also from the Tabula Rasa live. Considered another one of their masterpieces
I hope peri subs the shot in one take version of chain repulsion
Always love watching musicians react to Dir en grey! When you said „how many styles is he gonna use?“ I thought: „all of them“ : D
Great analysis and it was nice to hear that the song touched you even with the lyrics being in Japanese.
When playing it live they show war footage and it is very intense... in general this band is very anti-war and it is a theme in multiple songs.
Hope you react to more of their songs! Some recommendations would be behind a vacant image, vanitas, diabolos ...
Also, this is a really coole live version of Vinushka - and you can hear the bass in this one ; ) th-cam.com/video/8W0h2yht6IA/w-d-xo.html
Their willingness to hold off on releasing tension is pretty unique
Some of the other comments are a bit misleading. Kyo has a singing range of just under 5 octaves. He can growl and fry whistle outside of that range. I just love how much control he has and how much emotion he can invoke, it can be uncomfortable to listen to sometimes.
There are two guitarists. The bass can be both prominent or blends into the background depending on the song (and if the bassist was the one who wrote it haha)
really? i thought i read that his range was around 6 octaves
@@BreakerOvTheBlackWinds
Nope, pretty much the only guy in popular music (that I know of) that has a vocal range that big is Mike Patton from Faith No More
@@Elis_Nordgall yeah mike patton & dimash
Seeing someone discover how good of a vocalist Kyo is is always great
VINUSHKA
I exchange thoughts with the clouds
Hold my breath
Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see
Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me
Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting
Slip your desires into the ants' nest
Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again
Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you
Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions
Even the twisted flow is the proof that you're alive
I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow
The inculcated Dogra Magra
The pain of the mark and the one and only personality
And those colorful eyes all decorated, I don't want them anymore
Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away?
The lonely red stage at night
I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor
This is where the truth is
The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here"
Who can't we forgive?
I let them hear my cold voice
And I swear
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
"I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored
Can't even turn myself into a werewolf
But just enough to become crazy by the darkness
I want to suck the neck
The emptiness of the remains
I won't let you sleep
At the age where you just want attention... tonight, I might go crazy for you"
Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness
But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness
The end has already come to life
It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot
Every time this happens, your faces crumble
No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins and let life be gone
The emptiness of the antithesis
Becomes the choking and crying land
Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis
Be burdened by depression
The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears
Couldn't understand the value of things
The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs
Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands
That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others
Seeing you like this, it's just too sad
Splash of blood
Squashing basic instincts
Talk about death
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins and let life be gone
Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
This song basically is about WW2 japan bombing.
Starts with mellow uncertainty building tension,
Then the first nuclear bomb drops, resulting in the growls,
Next part is again quiet, filled with calm, that slowly becomes hope that it's over,
It begins to expend towards anger and despair,
Then the second bomb drops and only chaos remains.
@@ghifari77 I don't understand.
Ghifari77 Some or most of this is fictionalized, though japan did fight an aid with another Asian country at the time with the war that went on. They did do some horrible things, like turning on China I think? And took women as prostitutes, and selling orphaned children to Japanese families.
These have been documented, and japan has responded to this, and apologized. This isn’t on one occasion but numerous times, and as also done reparations to the families and of course the countries they occupied themselves.
It’s time to let go, don’t forget but move on!!
@@ghifari77 That's completely irrelevant though wtf
I don't know bro,to me the song sounds like someone who is a murderer who is about to be executed because of his punishment and him accepting it
Actually that's the video conception. The lyrics don't talk directly about that. As every diru's lyrics it's not clear about what is talking about, it's open to the listener.
I'm really glad you checked out Dir En Grey as they are top #1 for me. I'd love to see you check out "The World of Mercy" from them as well.
One of my favorite bands! Thanks for the opinions man 🤘🏻
"This guy has a very smooth voice"
Me: wait for it
Also his range not counting fry and falsetto is around A1-G#7, live and with falsetto, fry and growls and screams he's hit much higher and much lower. I believe he hit a C#8 at one point and there's a debated ninth octave note.
Mwhahah I thought that as well when he mentioned the smoothness 😂
Yah, just below five octaves
@@Elis_Nordgall It's actually six and a semitone with a debated seventh now.
@@xerodelacroix5552
Nah, I don’t count the whistle screams and such
Edit:which you didn’t either, I just can’t read
But what do I know? I’m pretty dumb
@@Elis_Nordgall Yeah with falsetto and whistle notes he's hit into the 8th octave. As of The Insulated World and his solo project his belted range has been updated to A1-E6 for sure, A1-G#7 (debated).
I love this band so much. This is the first song I ever heard by them, it scared the shit out of my 15 year old self. This is probably my favorite song of theirs too. I personally always felt the choruses and such in a 6/8 feel though. Wonderfully talented individuals.
Great sincere reaction! They are such a great band, consisting of 2 guitarists, bassist, drummer and insane vocalist. So many great songs to pick from: my personal favorite are the Blossoming Beelzebub (so awesome) and Revelation of mankind. Hope you will listen to more of their music. Every album has a different feel.
Just a comment bc you've talked about it in several videos:
There are basically two techniques used to do distorted vocals in metal.
One is false cord (more often used for low notes and mostly in death metal), the other is fry. They're made with different parts of human anatomy, so to speak. Fry uses the vocal folds, false cord uses the false folds (hence the name). The sound quality is different but either can be used to create highs or lows (which are more technical terms for screams and growls, I guess). That being said, almost all you'll ever hear outside of metal genres with "death" in their name is fry. False cord is probably more common in just rock n roll style vocals than in other subgenres of metal.
Thanks for the reaction Kyo voice is sooo Fuckinggg awesomeee!
Beautiful song. I would Love to see more videos man, diru it's a world that you will never tired of discovering.
the vocalist kyo niimura be a tenor with vocal range from A1 - E6 so basically he has like a 5 octave range and uses everythin from a a low gutteral growl to a high pitch wail dir en grey be amazin live l got to see them in 2008 they has a lead guitarist kaoru niikura rhythm guitarist diesuke(die) andou bassist toshiya hara and drummer shinya terachi
What made me to start listen to Dir en grey years ago was how emotions was conveyed through Kyo
The dude's a beast on vocals and, like you said, can express such strong emotions. I bought the Uroboros album not long after this reaction and it blew me away.
@@CriticalReactions have you checked out their album, Dum Spiro spero? It’s incredible as well, one of their best albums.
Interesting. They're definitely worthy of further exploration.
If you discovered them thanks to this man, send him roses. Really. You owe him big.
You absolutely should. Several of their older albums just got put up on Spotify this week.
Someone said the song is about the WW2 nuclear bombings. The music video is about the bombings, but the song itself is not. The song is actually about guilt/remorse/shame. The title is a made up word using the Russian word for guilt (at least, I think it's Russian) and adding the suffix of "ushka" to it. At least, that's what I remember. Could be wrong about the title
I think I have an old booklet with the lyrics lying around in a box somewhere. Might have to just send a link instead though. As someone else said though, the lyrics may not be easy to understand since Kyo (the vocalist) like to use a lot of double entendres and word play that is next to impossible to translate accurately
I have the translation:
I exchange thoughts with the clouds
I hold my breath
Ahh, it's just hard shell you can't see
Is that where the bottom is? The shadow burns me
Ahh, I just want to keep forgetting
Slip your desires into the ants' nest
Come now, all you have to do now is be reborn again
Let tomorrow sleep and peacefulness will turn to you
Free yourself and go with your razor sharp emotions
Even the twisted flow is the proof that you're alive
I invite the tearfully-indulging tomorrow
The inculcated Dogra Magra
The pain of the mark and the one and only personality
And those colorful eyes all decorated I don't want them anymore
Is hypocrisy going to come and take it away?
The lonely red stage at night
I dedicate the following to the aspiring leading actor
That's where the truth is
The small corner of my un-cheatable heart says "I still want to be here"
Who can't we forgive?
I let them hear my cold voice
And I swear
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
"I've stared at the strong shining moon long enough to be bored
Can't even turn myself into a werewolf
But just enough to become crazy by the darkness
I want to suck the neck
The emptiness of the remains
I won't let you sleep
At the age where you just want attention…tonight I might go crazy for you"
Everyone wants to reach out their hand and grab happiness
But they just end up becoming the monster that lies deep in darkness
The end has already come to life
It will take form at zero and will crawl back into the uterus and rot
Every time this happens, your faces crumble
No one wants to talk about truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins and let life be gone
The emptiness of the antithesis
Becomes the choking and crying land
Bury the bones in the common land immersed in thesis
Be burdened by depression
The gritty tsunami takes me away and I smile with bitter tears
Couldn't understand the value of things
The hanging of the necks at the 13 stairs
Seeing people becoming friendly while clapping hands
That mixes in with sissy thoughts and hurts others
Seeing you like this, it's just too sad
Splash of blood
Squashing basic instincts
Talk about death
I will live with my work I scream with this body of flesh that separates heaven and hell
I carve the sins What will be the proof of my existence if it disappears with the wind?
No one wants to talk about the truth that hurts the ear
The suppressed minds
Compensate the sins, and let life be gone
Is it a sin for me to live because I am evil?
I’ve been a fan of Dir en Grey well over 20 yrs now. OBSCURE is a great song to react to. The music video is like a short horror flick. KYO the lead vocalist is a monster! I’ve seen this band live one time I’m the early 00’s to this day one of the best live bands I’ve ever watched. 🤘
Your reaction was on point! I love when professionals discover Diru! They are my love..
Wow AWESOME reaction....weocome to the world of Dir en grey, this is just the beginning of a new beginning😜 your journey starts here haha
u have to watch the MV to feel the emotion & the meaning of this song bro
Kyo's Voice is not from our world, he is a great vocalist
Dir en grey is a complex band, beyond imagination
Been listening to these guys since 2005, and since they have tied for my favorite band with Tool. A fantastic library with several peak quality albums, Macabre, Vulgar, Withering to Death, Dum Spiro Spero, but IMO Uroboros is unquestionably their truest Masterpiece. And Vinushka is the perfect song to set the tone of the album, and for Kyo and the Boys to show off.
Absolute monster of a band. Go check out any of their 200+ tracks off of their 10 studio albums, 3 EPs, 18 singles with countless remixes and live recordings. Uroboros, DSS, Arche, and Vulgar to me are their best albums. Amber off of Vulgar is my favorite song of all time
they actually did change time signatures, a lot of parts where in 6/8 and 2/4
you should check out their live performances. (vinushka's much better live). they're amazing live.
I'd recommend Macabre, as far as their progressive songs go, that one is probably the best(or at least the most complex) they've made. Also check out The World of Mercy, it's a pretty cool progressive song too.
I'd say 'Vinushka' is probably the best display of Kyo's full range, (as well as the whole band's,) but if you wanna see more examples of what he can really do I recommend checking out 'Magayasou', 'Rinkaku', 'Zan', 'Agitated Screams of Maggots', 'Akura no Oka', 'Juuyoku', 'Filth' and my personal favourite: 'Conceived Sorrow'.
Spot on analysis--should watch the video--the visuals will tell the story the music is presenting. One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. The anger and anguish Kyo's vocals conveys is unforgetable--so visceral.
Votre réaction est tellement satisfaisante lorsque l'on est une fan inconditionnelle de ce groupe depuis bientot 20 ans. Merci pour cette belle réaction et j'espère que vous avez apprécié de nouvelles chansons depuis.
I would recommend their song “Phenomenon”. It’s a great song that highlights his upper range.
You need to react to those guys live! Live is a whole different thing because then you really know what they sound like and you get all the emotions while watching them perform! A very unique experience! 😅
Here is a live performance that has english subtitles and also different vocal styles than just the ones you heard in the song you had in your video:
DIR EN GREY - Macabre Live Tabula Rasa 2013 (english lyrics)
I promise, you will get blown away! 😅
Agreed
My favourite band. Extremely diverse. Try maybe Uroko next.
Lyrics and english translation:
www.jpopasia.com/direngrey/lyrics/12501/uroboros/vinushka/
- What is this guy's range?
- Yes.
This reaction was really enjoyable. I like your calm demeanor. You have a kind and gentle aura about you. :)
And I love how open you stayed to this admittedly very unique and at times challenging music.
Dir en grey has been one of my favourite bands since I first heard them back in 2006.
Since you mentioned that you'd want to get to know them a bit better, know this: With Dir en grey, every release they put out sounds very different from the last. They are a sort of musical chameleon, never staying in one style for long.
Uroboros is the album that got them their "break" in the western world. But all their albums/EPs/singles have a very unique style to them.
My favourite is their sophomore album "MACABRE" from 2000. There's so much emotion and different genres mixed in that one album, it's magnifiscient. And the bass is more promiment in their older material as well.
Anyways, excuse my rambling. Cheers from Germany. :)
Great reaction, they’ve gotten very progressive and experimental over the years, a lot of their current stuff is so amazing.
try a song from Dir en Grey called "Magayasou"
I don’t know if someone maybe did this comment before ‘cause I don’t have time to read all of the comments but the song is basically like a protest song about the WW2 and the atomic bombs that were dropped in Japan. Like someone already advised, if you see the videoclip it is very illustrating 😉
I always like a reaction from those who know technicalities
There studio versions are great but generally their live is better, this song has too many lives on here to choose from, I won't pick a favourite
Hmmmmmmm Kyo isn’t at its best during most lives imo
The instrument you're looking for is an electric sitar
Diru needs to use that more. I think the only other song it's in is embryo
@@rustyshackleford5553 they used it throughout the whole Uroboros album(very pronounced in sa bir) but i believe Kaoru had an electric baby sitar since 1999(mazohyst of decadence for example)
MINOR correction, the choruses are technically in 3/4, but your point still rings true; no crazy time signature wankery, just a masterful use of disorienting accents
You'll drown into tears if you see the music clip
It's about the atomic bombs. Watch the video to get more of the intended impact. That little moment of calm before the second explosion is..well. There were two bombs.
I'd love to see more Dir En Grey reactions, there's plenty of live versions with translated lyrics, I highly recommend periXreloaded's channel and translations.
I would love to hear a reaction on the live version of macabre (2013 tabula rasa). There is a good texted video out. I really like reaction from people who seem to know what they talk about, and not just from an subjective opinion on the song.
Your must watching ver. MV
YOU NEED TO REACT TO LIVE VERSIOOONNN
Check out Rasetsukoku, Dozing Green, Different Sense, Saku and Beautiful Dirt & The Blossoming Beelzebulb. Among their best imo
Loved the reaction! If you're interested in more by them, and they really shine live, Macabre (2013 Version) is probably the "magnum opus" in terms of sheer composition and really show's the vocalist's full range. Bottom of the Death Valley is a good pick if you're interested in their more mellow side. There's english subtitled versions of both on youtube.
Can you react to Dir En Grey Saku or Obscure please?
Yeah, that's Dir en Grey for ya! :D
Hi there CR! I've been watching your reactions for a bit, I gotta ask, would you consider doing some Haken at some point? They're my favorite band of all time.
Some songs I'd recommend are
Veil
Puzzle Box
Aquarium (Highest Recommendation here :3)
Celestial Elixir
Visions
Nocturnal Conspiracy
All of those are a great taste of what Haken brings to Progressive Metal! I'd love to see your take on them! Excellent reactions and breakdowns on all the songs so far :)
highly recommend you watch the official mv
I'd love a reaction to "Zakuro" or "Macabre" by Dir en grey.
I really enjoyed you experiencing my Favorite artist. I've been a fan of DEG for over 15 years. I highly recommend watching them live. You definitely
feel and see Kyo's talent. There is no other band like DEG, beyond talented. I saw them in Dec 19' and ..amazing. Amazing.
more dir en grey!! mORE RECOGNITION!!!
He has a 5 octave range. There is so much to check out.
Highly recommend kodou and ryojuko no ame from them as well
His range is A1 - E6 as far as I know, but his comfortable/consistent range is more like A4 - C6, as well as some things like c#6 and such. Plus he's incredibly versatile with his whistle notes, screams, growls, etc.
You should check out the live version of this song. It's more impressive seeing it in person.
Vinushka
th-cam.com/video/BVhAVHcu-r0/w-d-xo.html
You should react dir en grey - the world of mercy, this songs is telling about bullying and suicide
Basically this song is talking about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kyo, the vocalist is the one the writes all the lyrics. Kaoru, the lead guitarist, writes most of music.
Please react to Macabre live at Tabula Rasa, thanks
th-cam.com/video/O6PwVRpa8i8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/p7m2NUu9V5k/w-d-xo.html Has english lyrics and a bunch of research notes!
The video for this song is littered with footage of Hiroshima damage. You're right that this song was extremely heavy figuratively.
Vinushka is the word for guilt in hindi, apparently. I think the song is dedicated to either the guilt from damage we as Americans caused, or the guilt of japan not stomping the world out and letting themselves be bombed. I don't read Japanese, so its an American interpretation.
I'm sure this is an odd request especially because most of your reactions are rock bands but can you react and analyze EXO and their song Tempo. They are a Kpop group with great vocalists. They use many genres for their songs. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on their song composition and vocals.
You asked for a recommendation for more J-rock artists/bands. I recommend L' Arc en Ciel. I hope to watch that video!
react to the live please, it's a masterpiece : DIR EN GREY - Vinushka [eng sub] LIVE HD
An amazing guitarist and singer to check out is Miyavi
"what's this guy's range?" LOL A1-E6
the song is about war
React to the music video
dont fuck with kyo the singer he is so much talented and this song its also called black men vinushka
Song is basically about Hiroshima atomic bomb catastrophy
Kind of but it's also not at the same time..don't know how to explain it properly since English isn't my first language. Its not like "oh look how much Japan suffered" but more so using the bombing, where life were incinerated in a flash and it's aftermath still felt today, as reminder for humanity to never march into wars at the order of few hypocrites. Mid section of the song puts us in the perspective of a victim of the bombing during the few seconds before death. Basically kinda saying don't be a dickhead to each other because a hypocrite in power said so. So the song is angry at those "world leaders" of the time, Japan's included and want's us to never repeat those mistakes again. Given that Diru is very critical of the Government, it's more like a criticism of the war mongering Governments of both sides.
The lyrics of this song are about the Second World War; and Kyo's screams are like a claim, a claim of souls unjustly extinguished by opposing ideologies and hatred ... phrases like 'I can't forgive' 'I still want to be here' show us the real meaning of this 'manifesto' obviously he's trying to show you the pain of the people that were murdered and mutilated couse the radiation of atomic bomb, this is a reclaim from Kyo about japanese suffering during the war. Yo man, that was a war crime. Do anybody notice?
Thank you! Someone who finally noticed it's not about the bombing specifically but more so about the song swapping us with the victims in their final seconds. The breakdown part always felt like it's from the perspective of the victims, more specifically their thoughts after the realization that there is no tomorrow and they will never have the answer to the question "why me?".
Tbh I think this song isn't talking about who had it worst or if the Japanese suffered the most because that doesn't seem like something Kyo would express going by his previous work. He usually keeps it open for all to be able to relate regardless of nationality or race. I interpret as a reminder for us about how fragile human are and that we could be in their place one day by blindly following the hypocrites in power. Basically a big fuck you to all the world Governments, including the Japanese empire of the time and the patriots who cheered for or entertained the war which the innocent paid for with their lives.
I suggest react to other Japanese Metal Band : THE GAZETTE - Deux and of course live version the best
I know the whole song is about victims of Hiroshima
please pause when u talk, thank you.
I have never been more annoyed and frustrated watching someone review a song lol
You're talking too much without pausing