Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamituita Shakunetsu no Yami [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]

This single is great! Like the name implies, there is a LOT of intensity in this song. To be honest though, the song had to grow on me. I was expecting a slow song so I really had to change my mind set to understand what the band meant with this single. And slow is definitey not it. Hageshisa to kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami really delivers. It's fast and powerful and relentless. The lenght is just right, not long enought to drag on and not too short to want more. Kyo's vocals have yet again (somehow) gained a higher range and new sounds. I really like what Dir en Grey are doing with re-recording old tracks. The re-recorded version of Zan is fantastic. It sounds like the original version pretty much except that it retains Dir en Grey's newer style. It's very brutal. Shokubeni was, I felt, not needed. They already released a live version on their -Saku- single and they really haven't changed much with this new version. It's cleaner I suppose and is played more with their new style, but a different B-Side would have been more memorable. The DVD was a little bit of a let down. It just showed scenes from recording the song, the actual recording of the one-take shokubeni, and clips of their recording with Hageshisa...playing. The recording part was cool, but the last 2 videos just seemed like fillers to make the package seem complete. I guess, I was hoping for the PV to be able to be fully immersed with the single. The packaging, however, is awesome. It comes in a dual-sided digipack case with a slipcase, the discs are protected by soft sleeves, and there's a sticker included. Although the DVD was a bit lacking, the music was exceptional and the packaging was great so therefore 5/5.

After realizing that UROBOROS is their greatest achivement, I started thinking however they will be able to follow that album up. Not that I think every new release must exceed the predecessor, but with DIR EN GREY, they have proven each time that they can. This new single clearly demonstrates that they have a pretty good idea where they're heading. The song itself is absolutely brilliant from beginning to end with such a range of raw and powerful music. It definitely has some things in common with some songs from UROBOROS, but manages to bring something new to the mix as well. The new version of ZAN is everything I could've wished for and a whole lot more at that! So violent and destructive that I've forgotten what the original sounds like. SHOKUBENI has always been a favourite and it's great they've re-recorded it the way it's performed live, obviously updated to their current sound. No need to say it's better than the original version! The bonus DVD is nice too with the video of when they recorded SHOKUBENI in one go. They've also included footage from the recording of the single which gives the impression of a very complex process. This is DIR EN GREY's greatest single release yet and a great promise for a future none but them can predict. The wait for a new single is unbearable and they have yet to disappoint.

I don't usually buy singles, but I knew I had to have this single! Diru does it again! Amazing, truly!