UROBOROS

Withering to death got endless spins on my CD player as it was a progression from the old Dir En Grey into the new Dir En Grey, more growling and screaming, heavier riffs but still not as heavy and dynamic as I would have liked.

When The Marrow of A Bone Came out in 2007 It had more spin time than any other CD that year for me, it was one of the heaviest brutal and insane albums with Kyo constantly either growling and screaming in high pitches and in crazy rythmatic gibberish.

Now Uroboros is released, my highest anticipated album of the year. I was worried when Kyo and Die said that the album would be a more like the post Withering To Death Material, I am not sure what they ment by that because this album is by far the biggest push forward they have ever taken. Kyo has finally perfected an extremely low brutal growl in the style of Opeth for example. The riffs are relentless and the production is perfect. The album is progressive in every term of the word, one minute the riffs are from the depths of hell with death metal vocals, and instantly changes into a soft mandolin lead with harmonic vocal layers by Kyo.

The album is a perfect blend of clean singing vocals and some of the most genuine aggression filled vocals I have ever heard.

album highlights for me are the near ten minute 'Vinushka', 'Doukoku to Sarinu'. 'Glass Skin', ' Dozing Green', 'Bugaboo' (cheezy name brutal song) and the seven minute song 'Ware, Yam Tote'.

while I'm listing favorite tracks let me just let it be known that not one track on this album is below excellent. it flows like a perfect conceptual piece, every song flowing into each other perfectly.

Dir En Grey has continued to impress me every album getting more mature and taking Metal into a new direction. The middle eastern style chant kyo lets off during Toguro gives me goosebumps.

If your a new fan, pick up 'The Marrow of a Bone' along with 'UROBOROS' for the ultimate progressive metal experience.