psychonnect_rozen 585 Posted August 18, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, geist said: Arche was the reason I temporarily stopped listening to the band, The Insulated World is why I came back. Arche isn’t bad but there’s nothing going for it. In total it’s an album with cool parts but nothing holds it together for me maybe because there’s so much filler. Also, let’s stop pretending Kyos vocals weren’t awful around 2013-2015. With Dum Spiro Spero and Arche, Kyo began relying on those falsettos that he can’t reliably hit. They’re all over Arche and when they play these songs live, even songs from DSS, they don’t sound as good as they do on the record because they’re songs crafted in the studio with things Kyo could only do in the studio. The Insulated World is an album the band can actually perform live, sounds great live, and shows the band at a creative peak no one expected them to hit. TIW is better than Uroboros by a long shot and maybe even DSS largely because they’re dealing with more complicated song ideas. The material is just so much more interesting. The only downside is the production isn’t as great as Uroboros but I tend not to obsess over that stuff. The Insulated World is great and deserves to be in company with the likes of Uroboros and Dum Spiro Spero. I feel like I'm the only one who ranks TIW above Arche. Arche and TMOAB (plz don't kill me) are like my least favourites. Vulgar is above Arche in my ranking, but it's only at the bottom because I enjoyed Withering to death more. Then again, my ranking for Diru's albums is very weird tbh lol. I'm just a filthy fanboy Edited August 18, 2019 by psychonnect_rozen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nowhere Girl 189 Posted August 18, 2019 Everyone has a different opinion and that's fine. For me, TIW is an album I really want to like, but I don't love it. The production is fairly poor for them, the mixing is shoddy, and the mastering is just godawful. Seeing the material live shows it in much better light. It's frustrating that they essentially ruined their studio versions like this, but they are what they are. I'm looking forward to seeing it live on Blu Ray. I figure that'll be more enjoyable than the garbage-disposal sound the album has. It feels like they tried to make a TMOAB2; it's as though they forgot that they released the last three albums and went straight from TMOAB to this. Despite this, some songs seem repeated from those previous albums, which to me shows lack of creativity. For example, Zetsuentai = VINUSHKA, and Keigaku no Yoku = DREAMBOX. The pacing is also bizarre, with the first half of the album being utterly relentless. I found it hard to distinguish anything noteworthy in those first six songs on first listen, and it's taken until now for me to digest that material. I've gotten used to the sound now and have accepted it. However, I really hope they don't continue in this vein with poor mixing/mastering (point of contention; I actually feel that everything else in the catalogue sounds at least okay). Regardless of how negative/critical I may be here, I do like all the songs on the album with the exception of Celebrate Empty Howls, which I just cannot seem to get into. 1 nullmoon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tokage 5930 Posted August 18, 2019 if u want to listen to dir en grey, but actually good? why, just listen to deftones.......... 1 saishuu reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LIDL 692 Posted August 18, 2019 11 hours ago, saiko said: VK is nowadays filled with so much shit that if it wasn't for Dir, Dimlim and Kizu MH would be pretty dead! Hmmm, so you counted out Gazetto like that? 2 EzraEroguro and nullmoon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saishu 1589 Posted August 18, 2019 6 hours ago, LIDL said: Hmmm, so you counted out Gazetto like that? *Snoop Dogg gif* WHO?! 1 LIDL reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nowhere Girl 189 Posted August 18, 2019 6 hours ago, Tokage said: if u want to listen to dir en grey, but actually good? why, just listen to deftones.......... They aren't remotely similar aside from the types of instruments they use... which are typical of a metal band anyway. Deftones is excellent, though. 3 nullmoon, Mei and EzraEroguro reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seelentau 884 Posted August 21, 2019 New band pic and single pics to commemorate the new single's release: Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler 1 2 suji, ambivalentideal and nullmoon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takadanobabaalien 3607 Posted August 21, 2019 "band pic" 2 Mei and RED99 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saiko 429 Posted August 21, 2019 Is Toshiya returning to his 'band-whore' looks?💜💜💜 2 1 1 pingpongdream, suji, ambivalentideal and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nekkichi 6043 Posted August 21, 2019 toshiya finally looking snatchedT again 3 1 ambivalentideal, suji, saiko and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seelentau 884 Posted August 21, 2019 Kyo is always providing the best smartphone backgrounds tbh 3 pingpongdream, nullmoon and suji reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psychonnect_rozen 585 Posted August 21, 2019 Damn, Toshiya lookin fine as hell ❤️ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuyashii 124 Posted August 21, 2019 (edited) OMG Kaoru's moustache Damn, Kyo's solo pic is going to give me nightmares Edited August 21, 2019 by kuyashii Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nowhere Girl 189 Posted August 21, 2019 Die looking chiselled as fuck. Toshiya has that creepy/sexy vibe down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LIDL 692 Posted August 22, 2019 (edited) Kyo ofc looking the best. And Toshi comes second. And Shinya... Just being Shinya. Boooooring. The only time he was being interesting in transition from VK days were from The Final era. I mean, he git her hair braided at least. Edited August 22, 2019 by LIDL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psychonnect_rozen 585 Posted August 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, LIDL said: Kyo ofc looking the best. And Toshi comes second. And Shinya... Just being Shinya. Boooooring. The only time he was being interesting in transition from VK days were from The Final era. I mean, he git her hair braided at least. I liked him when he wore dreads if I recall correctly. I like his hair now tho. Very cute. I found Kyo to be my favourite when it comes to current fashion. There’s actually someone on Instagram I follow who cosplay’s Kyo and by cosplay I mean like he literally looks like him. 1 LIDL reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saishu 1589 Posted August 22, 2019 Kaoru looks like a cross between a 1930s DC villain and the uncle nobody wants to invite to the picnic. 1 LIDL reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nekkichi 6043 Posted August 22, 2019 uncle nobody (2) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LIDL 692 Posted August 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Saishu said: Kaoru looks like a cross between a 1930s DC villain Or Dick Tracy villain 1 nullmoon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tokage 5930 Posted August 22, 2019 does shinya literally have some contractual clause that states he doesn't ever have to bother with changing his looks? it's so goddamn boring 1 LIDL reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirito 69 Posted August 22, 2019 Toshiya is stylish ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saiko 429 Posted August 22, 2019 17 hours ago, Tokage said: does shinya literally have some contractual clause that states he doesn't ever have to bother with changing his looks? it's so goddamn boring I can't imagine he was so stubborn about toning down their visuals in the past... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saishu 1589 Posted August 23, 2019 Looks like he’s still stubborn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seelentau 884 Posted September 6, 2019 (edited) Edited September 6, 2019 by Seelentau 2 Kuro and EvilHippy reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hopefully_benign 56 Posted September 7, 2019 Yes kyo, your voice can go very high in choruses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
