blacktooth

their final 3 DVDs before they announce they're disbanding will be called [from visual kei rockstars to custom fidget spinner shills]

& all of this just because they didn't play ash this tour, smdh guys

I'm pretty sure that foreign fanbase is an afterthought at best. 
 
That said though, I attended the entire tour and didn't see one single of the many Chinese people present break out in tears, rip their Dir shirts to shreds or try to suicide bomb the venue. I didn't see a single overtly supremacist statement or controversial point beyond a very mainstream "free tibet" deal which makes sense based on their Buddhist backgrounds. It's about as dangerous and edgy as wanting to free Syria from ISIS.  I think it's safe to say these "problems" mostly exist in your head, and to be frank you present them in such a convoluted way that I think most people aren't even sure of what you're trying to say.
 
Let that be an end to this for now, we don't need any "Dir en grey are supremacists" discussions based on hearsay.
 

Kaoru is often the one that makes the questionable fashion choices. 
 
I mean seriously...

 
 
 

What do you mean by politicizing/antagonizing?

ok, let's sum it up.
 
2017/07/15 【高知県】高知県立県民文化ホール・オレンジホール
 
01. Deity
02. MACABRE -揚羽ノ羽ノ夢ハ蛹-
03. Egnirys Сimredopyh
       +)_____ An Injection
04. Audrey
05. HYDRA -666-
06. 鱗 / Uroko
07. 蛍火 / Hotarubi
08. Ain't Afraid To Pie
09. Children (Six Ugly Ver.)
10. 脈 / Myaku
11. Berry
12. 理由 / Wake
13. ザクロ / Zakuro
    Encore
14. 太陽の碧 / Taiyou No Ao
15. 【KR】Cube
16. Un Deux
17. 詩踏み / Utafumi
18. 羅刹国 / Rasetsukoku
 
they embarassed me by playing the original MACABRE. oh well.
 
huge thanks goes to @WhirlingBlack. you're the man.
 

If they still remember how to play them. 

who cares

I really want to listen to the 8cm I got, but I'm having no luck with my slot drive. Has anyone heard either of the live tracks yet?

I'm not about the theremin, it's just, people take so many things for granted. Kyo's work still gives me feels (which is why I'm listening to him and not other singers named and unnamed).  sukekiyo's evolution's been pretty exciting, and not just in terms of trying new things musically - it's always a slightly different feeling, new imagery, and I think Kyo deserves some of the credit for that. Don't know who of your faves can live up to the standards being set for Kyo in this thread (mine sure don't, lol).

I don't get it, Kyo's far from my fave but - he writes lyrics and music, comes up with concepts for the live shows, hell the live shows are some of the best I've ever seen. And you're telling me we're hanging on some fucking theremin to determine his worth? 

I think it's the latter. I can remember some of his moments that have amazed me the most: the first time I heard his deep growls in Vinushka, the chanting bit in Juuyoku, those insane headtones in the Macabre remake, things like that. He does so many things and he does them so well, but I think he does them too much. Sometimes I just want a song where he stays in his powerful midrange for the most part, then whips out a trick as a surprise. Otherwise it's just not special anymore.

Agreed. Kyo hasn't impressed me with his voice since... Uroboros. There's nowhere else for him to go in that regard, so he desperately needs to find another way to make himself useful. Theremin is a great start. Meanwhile, I want to see more of these sukekiyo guys stepping up to the spotlight, because they are very talented.

I think it's the latter. I can remember some of his moments that have amazed me the most: the first time I heard his deep growls in Vinushka, the chanting bit in Juuyoku, those insane headtones in the Macabre remake, things like that. He does so many things and he does them so well, but I think he does them too much. Sometimes I just want a song where he stays in his powerful midrange for the most part, then whips out a trick as a surprise. Otherwise it's just not special anymore.

So that was a theremin that I heard! You're right about Yuchi—he certainly dominates the new album (excuse me, music collection). I actually prefer to see Kyo take the back seat as he becomes more and more the Japanese equivalent of Morrissey. 

I am personally offended that there is no resolving chord at the end of Ariana. 

post-visual kei actually

yasssssss @ ha going full grimes at 1:18
 
sléy that asphyxiated falsetto, ckween

The last show of the tour was definitely the best, in my opinion.
The band and especially Kyo was really fired up and even though this in general has been a more energetic and "positive" tour (in the sense of the band actually being happy to interact with the audience) this last show was really a stand out. I think out of the many performances of Rinkaku I've seen this was probably the best also. When the show ended and the lights came back on people just kept screaming for another encore until the venue staff started forcing us out. I also managed to catch Shinyas wristband after the concert, which was a first for me. Nice to have some real Dir artifacts to wear to future gigs.
 
A funny anecdote from the second to last show though is that not only did Die manage to lodge a waterbottle in the ceiling of the live house when throwing stuff, he also managed to break his guitar during one of the songs and just ran around teasing the crowd instead of getting a backup and continuing playing. Similarly, Toshiya broke off a string from his bass during THE IIID EMPIRE on the last show and then proceeded to just pull the rest off as well.
 
I want to add that this was probably the most visually interesting Dir en grey lives I've attended too, lots and lots of lightning and laser effects and clever use of video screens and light in combination. I'm hoping they will release at least some partial footage from this tour since they did film at least some footage at most of the dates, but you never know.
 
Finally, some advice for people who want to attend lives in Japan, never stand next to Japanese guys during concerts if you want to have a good time. They generally just stand around or at most halfheartedly wave their arm a bit. I did that mistake during parts of the last show and I ended up having to move because they were so boring. The girls always go all in so just stick by them if you want to actually participate in the headbanging and stuff.
 
This was it for this tour for me but if anyone has any questions about it I'll do my best to answer them. I won't be participating in DSS but I'll most likely end up at parts of the kisou tour at least so expect some kind of reports then.
 

Rinkaku is so isolated that I'd say it's it's own thing. They had actually finished recording the Unraveling by the time Rinkaku was even announced I believe. 

The special website for the single says, "3 minutes and 10 seconds of pain・ Can you endure this pain?"
 
That is consistent with my first few listenings thus far. 

Bring back Dozing Green, you dinguses.

Bring back Dozing Green, you dinguses.

Bring back Dozing Green, you dinguses.

They're all making up Kyo's silhouette. So much for this band not over-emphasizing him.