After a long absence from the European continent, DIR EN GREY made a triumphant return to France last autumn and will be back early next year. The highly anticipated “This Way to Self-Destruction” tour captivated audiences with its well-executed concerts, sold-out venues, and devoted fans. This winning formula has been the band’s strength for over two decades. As the five members took the stage one by one, the crowd erupted into mass hysteria. The opening notes of Zetsuentai filled the air, accompanied by a mesmerizing display of blue lights. The audience was transported into a mysterious and bipolar universe, where ethereal and heavy elements coexisted. The giant screen projected paradoxical images, evoking both life (fetus) and death (a corpse). Keigaku no Yoku’s haunting melodies intensified the atmosphere, enhanced by satanic visuals reminiscent of SLIPKNOT’s Iowa. The room was under a spell. The ethereal sounds and carefully crafted lighting further enhanced the band members’ presence on stage. Downfall and Devote My Life followed, shaking the walls and igniting a frenzy of headbanging. The initial airy atmosphere gave way to a furious energy, exemplified by Values of Madness. The synchronized jumps and headbanging matched the relentless pounding of Keibetsu to Hajimari. Aka provided a brief respite with its elegiac verses, showcasing the band’s mastery of both intensity and restraint. UFO and Merciless Cult, tracks from the 2005 album Withering To Death, evoked a sense of nostalgia while fueling the crowd’s excitement. The pace never let up, with Rubbish Heap, Celebrate Empty Howls, and Ningen o Kaburu keeping the energy levels high. The performance reached its climax with Ranunculus. All eyes were on Kyo, the band’s enigmatic frontman, as he delivered a dramatic and cathartic performance. His shouts of “I hate you” and “Why am I alive?” resonated deeply with the audience. The new single, The World of Mercy, took the performance to new heights with its majestic crescendo that lasted for nearly ten minutes. While the setlist primarily featured DIR EN GREY’s latest releases, the band surprised the audience with a few unexpected tracks (Kigan and NEW AGE CULTURE) during the encore, igniting a contagious euphoria throughout the venue.
Mandah FRÉNOT
(c) VMJ
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[DIR EN GREY | SETLIST]
01. Zetsuentai (絶縁体)
02. Keigaku no Yoku (谿壑の欲)
03. Downfall
04. Devote My Life
05. Values of Madness
06. Keibetsu to Hajimari (軽蔑と始まり)
07. Aka (赫)
08. Merciless Cult
09. Rubbish Heap
10. Celebrate Empty Howls
11. Ningen wo Kaburu (人間を被る)
12. Ranunculus
13. The World of Mercy
–ENCORE–
01. HYDRA -666-
02. Kigan (鬼眼)
03. Followers
04. NEW AGE CULTURE
05. Utafumi (詩踏み)
