Dir En Grey Withering To Death Full Album First listen. The most accessible DEG record I've heard. 

Wow. This took me back to my 2005 teen self being completely absorbed by every second of this album. thanks for this reaction!

I think this is one of their best albums, mostly because of the flow, and how simple and effective it is. The hooks are super tight, and the album pacing is pretty much perfect. I think this album can be overlooked because of the two straight forward anthems (Final and Kodou) which are ok on their own, but they work best in the context of the album. The mellow points of this album are sublime, I think Itoshisa wa Fuhai ni Tsuki is possibly one of the bands best songs ever. Even harder tracks like Spilled Milk have these brief moments in the bridge that really open up melodically. It's like a masterclass in good songwriting. Without it, I don't think they could have made an album like Uroboros.

This was basically where they figured out how to meld their early J-rock sound with the nu-metal and metalcore influences on Six Ugly and Vulgar. But soon after this Kyo's mental health took a turn for the worse and the result was the still divisive Marrow of a Bone which basically stripped all of the polish out of their sound and saw them at their most raw and volatile. Somehow they came back with the masterpiece that is Uroboros after that. btw they played Jesus Christ Rn'R semi recently and even Kyo couldn't hide he was having fun.

DEG will be livestreaming a concert on their official RU-vid channel at starting with a documentary at 2:30 PM JST and a concert at 7:00 PM JST on March 28th. I don't know where you live but for the east coast people that's 1:30 AM and 6:00 AM respectively. I saw them at the Gramercy Theatre in December and I'm excited to be able to catch another one of their concerts. It's a great thing that they're doing.

Still one of my favorites. I LOVE the way the end of the first track boomerangs into the second track.

This was so funny when you said you felt like not listening to a dir en grey record with Higeki wa Mabuta... because this is one song I most assosiate with Dir en grey because I remember listen to this and my mother playing this on guitar and singing it when I was younger. It had this beautiful melancholic feel that was dir en grey for me at this time. I love this song. But this album has also my favorite dir en grey song ever with Itoshisa ha fuhai ni tsuki X3 And I love Spilled Milk. When I think about best drumming from Shinya I always thing Uroboros. I think he sounded very good there but also with the early punkier sound. I read a interview about how he wanted to leave Dir en grey when they did The Marrow of a Bone because with touring western countries they started to get more heavy and the management did not want them to be Visual Kei any more and he said he never want to play in a non-Visual Kei band because for him this was big part of reason for being in a band and express himself. I am very happy he decided to stay with the band. I hope he will have more ways to shine in next album. They always change so I am sure there is more to come as long as they want ^-^ I sooo loved their remake for Buck-Ticks National Media boys it is awesome sound for them! Fun thing is I feel with MUCC they were not this much jukebox like in 2005? Maybe I am wrong, I only now get more into some MUCC records. Listen to this with you, I had a really good time. Thank you~

Long time viewer here and I just now realized you reacted to this, nice. That fact that it's their most accessible is a plus in my opinion. It means it's the first DeG record I usually listen to first when trying to decide, and as a result probably has the most listens.

Holy! I wasn't expecting a new full album reaction of them! My favorite song of this record is Dead Tree. On the other side, hope you are doing well there, since the new virus is quite dangerous. Well take care my friend!

Funny you should say that Kyo's lyrics are self-reflecting and emotional during Higeki, because that song as I understand is about how Kyo read scary fan letter and then later had to deal with the feelings of blame, when he found out about the fate of that person thinking that he could have done something... That song's my personal favourite in this album just because it always reminds me what a tragedy suicide is for people on the other side of it. Sometimes I struggle myself with thinking not unlike of that fan, but whenever during those times I listen to that song it soothes my soul and eases my struggle through this strange feeling of solidarity that this song represents to me...

Hey, dude. nice to see you on my recomendations again. you really are one of the realest guys out here. missed ya, dude.

This is the first abulm I ever heard by them, I absolutely love Saku,garbage,The final,machiavellism,dead tree, and higeki wa.

I love the opening riff to Machiavellism, it's like the DIR EN GREY riff of Jin Kazama's theme from Tekken 3

I've always felt that this was the album that inspired bands like The Gazette, MUCC, and so many other early 2000's J-Rock bands This definitely was one of their most accessible albums. Kodou will forever be one of my favourite DEG songs, and was always the one that I felt Kyo's influence in the most out of any song in their discography next to The Final.

Not sure why I got notified for this video so late but I worried about you not posting in such a long time. I look forward to watching this after work!

My man! I missed you! Last week, watching their livestreaming, I was thinking to you all the time, like " I would LOVE Baldman to do a reaction of an entire live" since it's up now, why don't you?... Im so happy to see you in great shape! Send you a lot of love. Stay healthy! Btw great choice this time I needed a long video from you.

awesome reaction this album was my first introduction to the band way back when, been following them since!

So... >.> I've been getting into DeG these past few months. It has literally taken me years to finally start loving them and having an open mind and now they are a mainstay for me. I love them! Thanks for this vid :)

This is one of my favorite albums of Dir en grey, I even remember I even bought it 2 times.

Agreed i think anyone who's into metal can enjoy this album, it's my personal fav, no bad songs imo

And I love how their next album Marrow of a bone is probably their least accessible and most overlooked album to follow it up

Shinya really shine in uroboros for me.. Some of his playing in that album inspires my playing a little bit.

I love this album... I love all their albums though, so I'm biased... Enjoying the ride... Always fun listening with someone else. ... Now. I asked you to do these years ago... The Saku trilogy. You didn't want the videos to distract, but now you've done all three, so you can put the focus on the video clips that are absolutely essential viewing. I've updated the playlist to higher quality versions than I had previously thanks to direngreyvideoz uploading better quality, with subs. It's an amazing set of videos, with the same actor throughout in spite of the time gap between Kodou and Revelation... So... Here. ru-vid.com/group/PLpb-9y_SKSIU8XMgXMDheIJ1cUR9g_CJ_

Fantastic review as always, so glad to see you doing more DEG! I have to know, have you listened to Uroboros yet?

A few years ago, at a Moscow concert, DEG performed FINAL and the whole audience sang with them. It was magical.

this was the first album of theirs i ever got. i bought it the first time i visited new jersey and saw snow so it always sounds like winter to me. i love it.

Not one of my faves but the sound of these studio versions really brings back memories of watching the TOUR05 It Withers and Withers DVD... Love how their performances have evolved as seen in the TOUR 16-17 FROM DEPRESSION TO ______ [mode of Withering to death.]

I stick to my guns and say that wtd is still my favourite album by DEG. Their two most beautiful songs (itoshisa and mabuta) as well as their biggest anthems (final, kodou) are all in the same maaterpiece.

Glad you are still alive sir. Sad our concerts will likely be canceled.

I really waited for the moment you say that "Kodou" sounds a little bit like a Linkin Park track 😆. So many people say that. But its ok for me because i love both Bands. [Sorry if my english is not correct]

Higeki wa sounds like The Gazette song (Nakigahara, maybe) to be honest. Overall, I like this album, especially Saku, Dead Tree, The Final, and Kodou

I'm interested in your opinion about D'espairsray - COLL:SET. This is their debut album and it still feels great and brutal to me, I became a j-rock fan thanks to the tracks from this album (and the tracks DIR EN GREY and BUCK-TICK).

My personal favorite Dir album is The Marrow of a Bone but withering to death is my close second

As a person with no musical background, and who doesen't listen much to music it is interesting to hear what you have to say about Shinya. What do you think about this work in Seraph? Since it is his project, maybe he has more freedom to do what he enjoys?

Vulgar next... PLEASE!!!!

I really like his album but imo I always felt that it could have been even better with some different production for the heavier songs

Me again! Now I watched the whole video and definitely agree with pretty much everything you've said. Withering to Death was an album that I never really paid attention to but before the DEG concert last December I decided to listen to all of their albums from Gauze to The Insulated World and sort of fell in love with this record. My favorite album of theirs is still Uroboros but seeing as how much you liked this album, I would love for you to listen to (and potentially react to) Kisou, their third album. That album has some great sound and very powerful lyrics in songs like Mushi or Embryo along with very interesting tracks like Filth. The only track on Kisou that I don't like is Zomboid but other than that I think it's a very solid album. I might be biased though - I think I've reached fanatic-level status for this band. Anyway, stay safe during these uncertain times and keep doing what you're doing.

Great album.

Damn you got to see them live I’m so jealous

Interesting stuff. I hadn't heard of them before. I've got something else for you. A little Australian band called Now In Colour: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZbvCuneJYXM.html It's a lighter style of prog somewhat inspired by bands like Dream Theater and Devin Townsend. This album is their debut, produced independently in their own homes, and the quality is very impressive. I've been totally obsessed with it for a couple of weeks now. My favorite track is the final track called Yeti.

Could we do more nocturnal bloodlust?

This isn’t one of my favorite DEG albums, but it typically sits at the top of my “bottom three”. I feel like my issue with this album is more personal than anything else. It released at a weird time for me and I was also neck deep in a lot of classic VK at the time, so this Withering to Death initially came across as derivative and “too western metal” to me. As time went on I continued to listen to it, and I came to appreciate a lot of the guitar work, but that strange first impression unfortunately has always stuck. However, now you’ve heard more of Shinya’s potential. He was way more varied and versatile up until DSS, and even then I think it was touring behind DSS that truly broke Shinya down and pushed him into going more simple for heavy parts. I recall an interview where he said recording his part for Different Sense was very difficult, so that was probably when he got forced out of his comfort zone. This is one of the better sounding DEG records, I just with the bass was higher in the mix and there was more of a “crack” in the snare. Hearing this again thru your ears was, as always, pure joy. Good to see you back, and stay safe.

Sir, please do more larc en ciel.

24:15 But you haven't listened to it yet :(... oh wait...

Check out some Pirate Metal from Scotland. Alestorm - Drink.

idk if youve heard dum spiro spero but to me that album is dir en grey magnum opus

It's been too long since you've done Dir en grey! Thanks again for your opinion, experience, and dissecting the songs It's an overal 'easy to listen to' album, in my opinion. Alot of fun, catchy and groovy songs ^^ I was wondering if you maybe 'look' different or 'experience' Dir en grey a bit different now that you've finally seen them live? For me, I've seen them a few times in 2018, and went to all the ones (except the last Paris one) from this year's tour, and every time I see them live and hear them (on album versions or live versions) I get kinda a sort of homesick feeling, and for example Aka is completely ruined in the best of ways for me now. I cannot hear that song without choking up since seeing them preform it the way they did.