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

Thiiiiis single is excellent, from the packaging to the music to the DVD. The packaging is a nice double gatefold digipack with a slipcase (+OBI) although, the artwork is ambiguous and unclear. This A-side is a masterpiece, bringing a song with much intensity, velocity, and melody. I didnt like it at first, but after listening to it more i've grown to love it. The remake of zan is sounds pretty much the same but MUCH more brutal. Kyo's growls and grunts sound painful and the guitars add a much heavier sound. Its a fresh and welcome re-imagining to zan. There's not much to say about shokubeni as there's no major tweaks in the song except that its cleaner. The DVD isnt anything major as well: it's just scenes from them recording the single as well as the video recording of their one-take on shokubeni. The PV would have beem a nicer addition, but this extra isn't bad. You also get a sticker : D Overall, the packaging was special, the music memorable, and the dvd kind of forgetable. With violence I shall listen to this single and enjoy it.

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 love how the packaging is for this single. the little gatefold digipack/vinyl thing inside the cover. and the sticker i have yet to use :D the songs itself are amazing. The perfect single to come after Uroboros. the first song "hageshisa to kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami" was my favorite. Its the complete show of brutality that was shown in Uroboros. and Kyo's vocals in it seems to have gotten a lot better than uroboros and shinya's drumming is also incredible. the second song "zan" which is a remake of the 1998 song. it's the most brutal thing i have ever heard in a dir en grey CD. to me it is truly the complete version of zan. people disagree with this but i think even the original was meant to be this. the last song "shokubeni-shot in one take-" is a great extra with this single. showing off the shokubeni they do in lives... if you like dir en grey. you NEED this single. it just blows my mind.

this cd is very very awesome!