Tony

Love 'The Catalyst' but I heard the 2nd single and that turned me off checking out A Thousand Suns. So it's that good hey?

I always listen to their album releases, so looking forward to what they come up with this time.

Same. I find that to be their most innovative time. Both with their music and video clips. UROBOROS did bring back what I loved about diru so much though - that they are able to successfully re-invent their sound with every album without it ever getting boring. I really hope they bring back their art with their video clips with this single and album. Besides for Vinushka.. I haven't really enjoyed any of their music videos since the withering to death-era. They seem to think that their music videos are no longer important and they feel like an afterthought to the music. While it was admirable when they first thought this back in 2006.. its gotten boring and lost its purpose.

Robyn has made the pop album of the year for me with 'Body Talk'. Any other fans?

Its got nothing on their other ballads. Nothing. I'd give it a 1/5.

Didn't mind MOTB. Not their best album, but there were enough songs on it to keep me interested. Concieved Sorrow is probably my favourite ballad of theirs. So well written. Last single wasn't bad either. Nothing overly amazing but not bad. I actually think Uroboros is the overrated album of theirs. So many people think its the best thing ever released.. and I never saw it. Sure, it was a solid album, but to me they had done better. But usually diru changes their style with the 2nd single post-album release, so I'm expecting something new. Haven't they said they are going for a different sound with this album? I'm guessing this is going to be our teaser.

OMG Finally, something to be excited about.

I'm really digging the new album actually. Its a really fun album, compared to their others which usually take a more serious note. Few weak songs, but a lot of stronger ones. They've become better at writing good melodies and its nice to see a bit of their former punk-edge in the songs. I'd say they have successfully broken away from their "emo" image too, which is a plus.

...

Well a quick review since the last was deleted - 6.5/10 Points for variety, and about half the album I like. Points for songs like Reborn and flood bead that show a different side to their heavier sound. Points for the slower songs, rain delay especially which I love. Points for the poppier tracks, LEAD and Strings. But there's a still a handful of weak tracks that bring the album down. Its far from perfect, but its a step in the right direction and overall, a stronger album that VERSES. But what VERSES had was stronger individual tracks. Here the good tracks are good, but they are not fantastic, except for maybe rain delay.

Well a quick review since the last was deleted - 6.5/10 Points for variety, and about half the album I like. Points for songs like Reborn and flood bead that show a different side to their heavier sound. Points for the slower songs, rain delay especially which I love. Points for the poppier tracks, LEAD and Strings. But there's a still a handful of weak tracks that bring the album down. Its far from perfect, but its a step in the right direction and overall, a stronger album that VERSES. But what VERSES had was stronger individual tracks. Here the good tracks are good, but they are not fantastic, except for maybe rain delay.

I think who's next is about as "heavy" as her other songs, all her songs have had pop influence. Who's next sticks very closely to a song like My Leftovers, it just has better production and crisper instruments. A "polished sound".

I created a thread about her on the old TW forum. I've been following her for a few years, she was a MySpace "scene kid" star. But never released anything official.. but she has been signed onto a major record label and RedOne (who produced most of Lady Gaga's hits) is behind the helm on her debut record. She's been tipped by many to be the next big thing. Her music back in the MySpace days was industrial-tinged rock, but if the new song is anything to go by, she's going after a much more polished sound. Many of her songs seem to centre around hating some bitch she don't like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg4OqU8O1WI <-- most popular of her myspace songs <-- my favourite song of hers <-- newest track, produced by RedOne

I'm not sure if liking Japanese music has influenced my other music tastes.. I think Dir en Grey was my gateway to metal music, so I'd say I wouldn't be listening to metal, even though that's probably a genre I don't listen to as much now as back when I discovered them. The other genres I'm into.. nothing really rooted from my liking for Japanese music. I guess maybe I wouldn't be as open as I am to hearing other non-English music.

Someone so obsessed with Japanese culture that they need to have a Japanese girlfriend.. probably has some issues you don't want to deal with. I find that really strange.

I agree, they are on a completly different level live.

Heard "Like a G6" on music tv today, in love. That beat is awesome.

Might be a good idea to put that in the forum rules, since I spent a bit of time writing it and now its gone.

Where the hell did my review go? I started this thread with mine.

I think it was late 2007, it was just before the forum was moved to taintedworld.net. I think I added Jake on last.fm, and he plugged the forum through that.

If engrish bothered someone so much, I'd wonder what you'd be doing listening to visual kei, or japanese music in general. its full of it.

sky high took me by surprise, glad to hear they are experimenting. That beat is almost r'n'b inspired. I agree though that Natsuki's voice is really exposed in that song, his higher range doesn't sound as good with quieter instrumentals. Rotate is really good! Finally a heavy song that doesn't sound like the rest. Both these songs sound so much more mature, has got me looking forward to the album now!

Their older stuff is better, but the new stuff isn't bad. Its just different. I think they have lost fans but gained a hell of a lot of new ones with their more.. err.. accessable sound.

Finally, a re-make that doesn't completly butcher the original! It is missing a bit of the aggression that the original/darkest labyrinth remake had (wtf is with the drums, why ARE THEY SO SOFT), but that clearer production on the other instruments is a big plus. This is still my "favorite song" of theirs, smacks you in the face and leaves you wanting more. Now some new material with the sound of this song would be good. 8/10

Not much new material here, but of what there is, I really like DECIDE and Maid of Orleans. Nice riffs and on the heavier side of their poppier sound. Knife (album mix) just sounds like it has some better production. Don't like Neverland, unforgive you or world without end. Blaze has its moments but doesn't quite get there. 5/10