Summary
Dum Spiro Spero (stylized as DUM SPIRO SPERO, lit. '"While I breathe, I hope"') is the eighth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Dir En Grey, released on August 2, 2011 in the U.S., and in Japan on August 3.
| Dum Spiro Spero | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 2, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2011[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 67:31 | |||
| Language | Japanese, English | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Dir En Grey | |||
| Dir En Grey chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Dum Spiro Spero | ||||
| ||||
The album's three singles, "Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami", "Lotus" and "Different Sense", have all been remastered from their original releases. "Rasetsukoku" is a re-recording of the original song found on their 2000 album Macabre.
The album was mixed by Tue Madsen and the mastering process wad one by Alan Douches. Die stated in an interview with Visual Music Japan that working with these 2 was the most challenging part of the making process:
The most challenging part of the album-making process was probably the mixing, done by Tue Madsen, and the mastering process, done by Alan Douches. For the mastering, we wanted our sound to be as perfect as possible, exactly how we envisioned it. However, since we worked with a Western engineer, it was difficult to discuss and communicate our ideas solely through the internet. This is something that is better done in person. It was complicated to exchange ideas, piece everything together, and ensure that we achieved the sound we wanted. The mastering process was definitely the most challenging step in the recording.[4]
Release and promotion edit
It was released in both a single-CD edition, a deluxe edition digipak with two bonus tracks ("Rasetsukoku" and "Amon (Symphonic Ver.)"), and a limited edition featuring the deluxe digipak, a DVD and two LPs. This featured alternative versions of songs from the regular version of the album, remixes, interviews, studio footage, and more.[5]
Music videos were released for all three singles; "Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami", "Lotus" and "Different Sense".[6][7][8][9]
Artwork edit
The album art was designed by the band's long-time artist Koji Yoda. This cover-art probably represents Tara, the "Mother of Liberation" in Tibetan Buddhism. The bamboo scenery is very meaningful to the band. According to guitarist Die, "the bamboo conveys the idea of sacredness and serenity [...]. Ultimately, it means to keep faith and hope alive even though you are living the worst: While I breathe, I hope."[10]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [12] |
| PopMatters |   [13] |
| Revolver | [14] |
| Rock Sound | [15] |
Dum Spiro Spero was met with positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic (a review aggregator site which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from music critics), based on 8 critics, the album has received a score of 74/100, which indicates "Generally favorable reviews".
In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote that "Dir en Grey are a band in their own genre at this point, and Dum Spiro Spero is the farthest-reaching testament to establish that as fact more than opinion." He also acknowledged the wide variety of influences on the album, ranging from death metal and power metal to pop music, praising comparing vocalist Kyo's range to Mike Patton. Rock Sound described it as a "satisfyingly challenging, perpetually writhing musical beast".
PopMatters' Dane Prokofiev noted in a positive review that "their music is eclectic and hard to classify into any one subgenre—except that they have the added fangirl-ish oomph of flashy appearances, thanks to their visual-kei roots". Like Jurek, he praised Kyo as a gifted singer, particularly for his range. He also singled out bassist Toshiya as deserving of praise for his performance on Dum Spiro Spero, "as his throbbing bass lines complement the technical guitar riffs well by adding a groovy kind of bad-ass attitude to the overall feel of the music. Without him, the guitar melodies of Kaoru and Die would most certainly sound naked and hollow."
Track listing edit
All lyrics are written by Kyo; all music is composed by Dir En Grey
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kyōkotsu no Nari" (狂骨の鳴り; "Cries of Kyōkotsu") | 1:58 |
| 2. | "The Blossoming Beelzebub" | 7:35 |
| 3. | "Different Sense" | 5:03 |
| 4. | "Amon" | 4:03 |
| 5. | "'Yokusō ni Dreambox' Aruiwa Seijuku no Rinen to Tsumetai Ame" (「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟の理念と冷たい雨; "'Dreambox in a Covetous Nest', or the Idea of Maturity and Cold Rain") | 4:49 |
| 6. | "Jūyoku" (獣慾; "Carnal Desire") | 3:28 |
| 7. | "Shitataru Mōrō" (滴る朦朧; "Trickling Obscurity") | 4:02 |
| 8. | "Lotus" | 4:03 |
| 9. | "Diabolos" | 9:51 |
| 10. | "Akatsuki" (暁; "Dawn") | 3:33 |
| 11. | "Decayed Crow" | 3:48 |
| 12. | "Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" (激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇; "The Violence and the Darkness of the Burning Heat Entwines In My Heart") | 4:03 |
| 13. | "Vanitas" (Emptiness) | 5:27 |
| 14. | "Ruten no Tō" (流転の塔; "Tower of Vicissitudes") | 4:27 |
| Total length: | 67:31 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rasetsukoku" (羅刹国; "Rakshasa Country") | 4:41 |
| 2. | "Amon (Symphonic Ver.)" | 5:02 |
| 3. | "Ruten no Tō (Unplugged Ver.)" (流転の塔 (Unplugged Ver.)) | 4:56 |
| 4. | "Diabolos (Demo 2010, Short Ver.)" | 5:01 |
| 5. | "Akatsuki (Demo 2010)" (暁 (Demo2010)) | 3:29 |
| 6. | "The Blossoming Beelzebub (Remix)" (Remixed by Kaoru) | 6:24 |
| 7. | "'Yokusō ni Dreambox' Aruiwa Seijuku no Rinen to Tsumetai Ame (Remix)" (「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟の理念と冷たい雨 (Remix), remixed by Toshiya) | 5:19 |
| 8. | "Shitataru Mōrō (Remix)" (滴る朦朧 (Remix), remixed by Shinya) | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Akatsuki (Remix)" (暁 (Remix), remixed by Die) | 4:23 |
| 10. | "Decayed Crow (Remix)" (Remixed by Kyo) | 3:40 |
| Total length: | 49:95 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Recording & Interview" | |
| 2. | "Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" (激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇, Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon) | |
| 3. | "Lotus" (Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon) | |
| 4. | "Different Sense" (Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon) | |
| 5. | "Juuyoku" (獣慾, Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon at Kyoto Fanj on May 26, 2011) | |
| 6. | "Vanitas" (In-Studio Footage) | |
| 7. | "Zan" (残; "Remains", PV) |
Release history edit
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | August 2, 2011 | The End Records | 2-LP | TE204-1 |
| Compact disc (Limited) | TE210-2 | |||
| Compact disc | ||||
| Japan | August 3, 2011 | Firewall, Sony Music Entertainment Japan | 2-CD album with bonus DVD, 2-LP box set (Limited) |
SFCD-0092-96 |
| Compact disc | SFCD-0097 | |||
| Europe | August 5, 2011 | Okami Records, Gan-Shin, Rough Trade | Compact disc | OKCD-0006 |
| Compact disc (Limited) | OKCD-0005 | |||
| 12" LP album | OKLP-0002 |
Charting edit
| Country | Provider(s) | Peak position |
Sales/ shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Weekly Albums[16] | Oricon | 4 | 37,586[16] |
| Billboard Japan Top Albums[17] | Billboard Japan | 6 | |
| United States Billboard 200[18] | Billboard | 135 | 3,900[19] |
| United States Top Heatseekers[18] | 2 | ||
| United States Top Independent[18] | 22 | ||
| United States Top Rock Albums[18] | 39 | ||
| United States Top Hard Rock Albums[18] | 9 |
References edit
- ^ Bosso, Joe (2011-07-26). "Interview: Kaoru and Die from Japan's new kings of metal Dir En Grey". musicradar.com. Archived from the original (Interview) on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero Review". metal.de. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Dum Spiro Spero - Dir en Grey | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
- ^ VMJ (2011-08-09). "DIR EN GREY | Discussing DIR EN GREY's dark and daring magnum opus, Dum Spiro Spero with Die and Shinya". Visual Music Japan. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Dir en grey Official News Release". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
- ^ BlankTV (2010-09-30), Dir En Grey - "Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami" The End Records, retrieved 2016-07-07
- ^ "Der En Grey - Lotus". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
- ^ Direngreycommunity (2011-07-07), [HD] Different Sense | Dir En Grey (PV), retrieved 2016-07-07
- ^ "Average Sorrow". Dir En Grey official website. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
- ^ FRÉNOT, Mandah. "Dir En Grey (2011)" (Interview). visualmusicjapan.com. Visual Music Japan.
- ^ "Dum Spiro Spero". Metacritic.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Dum Spiro Spero - Dir En Grey". Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ Prokofiev, Dane. "Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero". Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- ^ Wood, Mikael. "Review: Dir En Grey – Dum Spiro Spero". Archived from the original on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ Moorhouse, Giles. "Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero". Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ a b 2011年08月第3週の邦楽アルバムランキング情報. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Dum Spiro Spero US charting". billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ "Dir En Grey: 'Dum Spiro Spero' First-Week Sales Revealed". blabbermouth.net. 2011-08-10. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2011-08-13.