DogManX

In terms of Kiryu, I'd break it down differently. First of all, there is this popular expression that JRock/VK fans don't really listen to "western rock", since it all sounds the same anyway. So if a band like Kiryu comes up with some nice traditional synths, it's THE SHIT all of a sudden.
 
..And on top of that, they have a bassist who looks like a girl and a singer who sounds like a girl. Good deal for the average VK girlie.

Easy for me. Best performance

Easy for me. Best performance

Best album openers? Easily
 
Dir en grey - Audience Killer Loop

Very strong opener. Haunting atmosphere and killer riff.
 
Nightmare - 蛹 (Sanagi)

Sets up a great mood for the follower "Varuna", that guitar line is just great.
 
D'espairsRay - Damned

(...), this is the most awesome opener with the most powerful riff of all time.

Easy for me. Best performance

You are free to point out whatever you want to point out. I am equally as free to respond with how I feel. That's how free speech works. Regardless of whether I am a mod or administrator or a regular user I am a human first and foremost. If I feel a certain type of way about something I'm going to respond, which is exactly what I did. If any other mods feel a certain type of way about something, they are also free to respond. The administration doesn't need to be consistent in tone about anything regarding this topic because this isn't something they are involved with. It's a project started by CAT5 and I which they are allowed to contribute to for as little or as much as they want. So you can leave the rest of the staff out of it, because the only people this has to do with is the OR plus me.
Now let me make it clear as to what I'm talking about. I am disappointed and dismayed that people are more apt to complain about an irrelevant poll that's meant to be for fun (check the DEZERT review if you want more proof) than the reviews that we spend a lot of time writing and proofreading (and in some cases curating). We don't care about the polls. I spend all of five seconds making them. Sometimes we even forget to include them. If that's the only thing you have a problem with, it's not really a problem.
And for the record, I'm not defending anybody but myself. Saku is more than capable of speaking for himself.
Now if you could all turn your attention to something a little less negative, that would be much appreciated.

Man, it always has to be with DEG, huh... what a magical band.
 
(don't mind me XD)

>>However, it's kind of useless to just complain so to say and not offer any other solutions or give them feedback on how they could do better<<
 
That's exactly what I did. I GAVE a solution. I EXPLAINED what I found wrong in this. What else do you want?
 
And just to repeat it for the sake of it:
 
- I criticised your poll because they gave unprecise and prescriptive options to choose from, which in the end are just limiting and confusing.
 
- My solution was a very simple alternation of the options from this poll. Reason being that this would erase alot of confusion for what to choose, ease the overlook of the overall impressions for outside readers and give way to a way more free range of explanations and positions.
 
I wrote them two times, how did you overlook this? I was being rude and I apologized, but you can't just make stuff up, man. You gotta read before you write.

Literally what I was thinking and was going to post about. The poll is there as a fun activity, if you have any opinions about what is reviewed, we're all certainly more than happy to get as many replies on this thread here as there so actual discussion about the topic is being discussed with the whole community involved. The poll options do go in stages and steps, Zeus did a great job as always there and obviously, as shizukasou has explained above, they're kept short and sweet so you can just quickly click on the one you agree with. Just explain to us there about it, it's a lot more enjoyable when discussing it, don't you think? I personally feel more attention should be on what else has been said, and I'm not just saying this as someone who contributed with the reviews. Everyone takes their time and spends a while doing it. And obviously it's awesome when others suggest corrections, I'm grateful people do, helps massively on everything. Lets just enjoy the album together and share our thoughts and opinions on it together.

>>However, it's kind of useless to just complain so to say and not offer any other solutions or give them feedback on how they could do better<<
 
That's exactly what I did. I GAVE a solution. I EXPLAINED what I found wrong in this. What else do you want?
 
And just to repeat it for the sake of it:
 
- I criticised your poll because they gave unprecise and prescriptive options to choose from, which in the end are just limiting and confusing.
 
- My solution was a very simple alternation of the options from this poll. Reason being that this would erase alot of confusion for what to choose, ease the overlook of the overall impressions for outside readers and give way to a way more free range of explanations and positions.
 
I wrote them two times, how did you overlook this? I was being rude and I apologized, but you can't just make stuff up, man. You gotta read before you write.

Everyone looks good with 20kg of makeup + photoshop. It's not rocket science. These guys obviously are dead afraid of aging

I talked about song nr. 11.

Kareki created a buzzkill here? You don't say

Kareki created a buzzkill here? You don't say

Clearly this is the deluxe version. Anyway, I did not notice the "dubstep" in Midwife until DMX pointed it out.

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

it really sounds like it's kyo songing in both of them, stunningly uncanny resemblance tbh

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

This album is what I would call a final STOP sign for anyone who seriously expected a second Withering To Death (and associates). Once again Dir en grey go on showing that they are willing to take any risk, just to express themselves. The album is more fluent and consistent than Dum Spiro Spero, but still it is a natural evolution from that style and I think it's safe to say that we can expect this sort of evolution in the future ahead. It also carries an atmosphere that is beautifully consistent. Each song sounds like it is supposed to be on THIS album.
What takes this album to the extreme is the change from melodic one-liners to total dissonance (Chain repulsion --> 禍夜想). Those elements are also much more focused into each song for its own than in the past. You don't get another DREAMBOX here, because it either is totally harmonic, or it is totally crazy and unpredictable. Past songs like Shitataru Mourou appear like early inspirations to what conceptualizes the sound on this album. Distorted, through-composed with one theme after another, and still focused. Sukekiyo and tool are also greeting in the background.
 
The guitar work is great on this album. There are great chord progressions (鱗, Phenomenon, revelation of mankind), reminiscences to old VK (Cause of Fickleness, 懐春) and downright hypnotic riffs that may turn a theme into a whole song (The Inferno). Faster, more technical, heavily layered. It's like kaoru and die read a few sukekiyo reviews on which their own guitar work on deg is ridiculed in comparison, just to shove it back into the writer's a**es. The solos here and there are a nice touch, but not really necessary. Toshiya steps back a bit from his metallic slapping sound. His bass isn't as present anymore, but still contributes with warm and soft riffs, and of course also he gets times to shine (sustain the untruth, 懐春). Shinya's drums are for once not overly experimental and actually try to fit into the songs, with great result. It is still to see though if he manages those disciplines on stage, too.
 
輪郭 was helluva song in 2012 and it still is on this album. Other highlights are Phenomenon, 懐春, Cause of Fickleness, Revelation of Mankind. 空谷の跫音 takes the "Vanitas" spot, but ends up in a totally different direction. The Inferno does the obligatory "heavy-song" and somewhere resembles "Decayed Crow", but ends up being a very solid piece of death metal.
There are problems though. The placement of the songs seems spontantous from time to time. Un deux is not the strongest song on the album to say the least, and it also doesn't fit as an opener. Likewise, the finisher doesn't quite feel natural in its place. Sustain the Untruth would have been better maybe.
 
This album is heavily experimental, it doesn't try to sound compelling, and the listener should really know what to expect and how to deal with it. Dir en grey fans of the post-Uroboros material may find joy with this piece, fans of the older stuff on the other hand might just be overwhelmed by the unconformity presented to them. Dir en grey have once more proven they're not just this band which does "western metal" now. ARCHE is a solid release with my score of 8/10.
 
wow this sucked I hope someone can put it in better words than me

The Avoided Sun aka lynch. at their best

10 Tracks on SHADOWS and no kickass song like Cultic My Execution.
 
 
 
Sry ;D just had to say that.