Madness Has Become the Common State of Affairs - A Review of Dir en Grey's Phalaris

Japanese quintet Dir en Grey is a band that is extremely challenging to describe even though the group has been around for twenty-five years and counting as it is. This band combines genres that seem incompatible on paper. Elements of classical music and cinematic soundtracks collide with Japanese pop music that is intertwined with alternative rock stylistics and death metal outbursts. While such a band would have trouble achieving anything more than getting some attention in the niche of contemporary avant-garde music abroad, the five members are considered rock stars in Japan and regularly play sold out shows in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans of all ages. The country's open-mindedness to appreciate particularly eclectic artists is splendidly exemplified by the ongoing success story of Dir en Grey.

Phalaris is the band's eleventh regular studio output and if you have never listened to this band, then the new album is a good starting point to explore the band's unique soundscapes. A look on the cover artwork already indicates that this group is out of the ordinary. What we see here is a bull breathing out fumes. What we don't see here are the name of the band, the title of the album or any information about the songs on this record. While this might be surprising to new listeners, it's exactly what fans have come to expect from Dir en Grey.

This record opens with a song of ten minutes with a German title. Again, this is the kind of stunt the band regularly pulls off. Describing said song is quite a challenge. It starts like a smooth soundtrack with a few classical elements. Clean vocals kick in and transform the song into a relaxed pop song. At a certain point, the band quickens up the pace and enters alternative rock territories. Ultimately, the band members let off some steam and steamroll listeners with progressive death metal stylistics including ferocious vocals, distorted guitar sounds, bumblebee bass guitar passages and blistering blast beats. Opening tune ''Schadenfreude'' exemplifies everything Dir en Grey is about. This is a voyage rather than a coherent song. This unique listening experience should also give you a very good idea whether you dig this unusual band or not. If you like it, you are in for an adventurous rollercoaster ride. If you hate it, don't bother to listen to the rest of the record or any other album of the band. This song represents exactly what you can expect from this band.

To be fair, not all songs are as extreme as this vibrant opener that breaks any barriers, limitations and rules. Some songs can actually be appreciated right from the start and won't need numerous spins to open up and make sense to the listeners. My recommendations for curious listeners would be catchy pop rock song ''Utsutsu, Bouga wo Kurau'' that could appeal to a wide audience, death metal outburst ''Eddie'' that takes no prisoners and gets to the point in less than three minutes and grandiose finale ''Kamuy'' that hearkens back to the opening song in length while employing a more digestible symphonic rock soundscape.

As you can read, Dir en Grey's fourteenth studio album Phalaris combines diversified genres such as classical music, pop music, symphonic rock, alternative rock and extreme metal in eclectic songs varying between digestible two and a half minutes to epic lengths of up to ten minutes. The band's unusual trademark style needs some time to be fully understood, processed and appreciated and might be an overwhelming challenge at first contact. Patient listeners and seasoned fans will however discover one of the most unique bands from Japan whose members are seen as rock stars back home while being considered weird artists in most places abroad. No matter whether you are going to be intrigued or repelled by what you're hearing, there is one thing everyone should be able to agree on: Dir en Grey is most certainly a very entertaining band and you won't get bored throughout the eleven songs and running time of fifty-four minutes on Phalaris. Give this record a chance and discover something completely unique!

Final rating: 70%