Dir en grey / UROBOROS

I think UROBOROS is Dir en grey’s best album yet. We descend the pit of darkness with Sa Bir, the opening instrumental track, exotic strings layered over a pulsing mass of distorted bass. UROBOROS is not as aggressive and hard-hitting like Marrow of a Bone, but it’s dark and it plucks away at raw nerves and takes you through a landscape of torment. Dir en grey has always been intense – it’s untamed, visceral and lacking self-consciousness or indulgence. They’ve come a long way since their Missa and Gauze days, and their maturity is evident in their songwriting.

BUCK-TICK / Memento Mori

BUCK-TICK’s Memento Mori is another well-crafted offering. Is it ever possible for BUCK-TICK to disappoint? I always look forward to each of their releases, as they always bring something fresh with every album. I like this Memento Mori a bit more than Tenshi no Revolver, which, while nice, wasn’t quite to my taste. My favorite song from the album is Coyote – it conjures up images of running through wild west plains and singing by campfire at nightfall.

SID / Monochrome no Kiss

I’ve also been enjoying Monochrome no Kiss, a single by SID. Thanks, in no small part, to the anime, Kuroshitsuji. Nothing much to say, except that it’s a pleasant song with catchy hooks that sticks with you.