Artist: Dir en Grey Album: ARCHE

Year: 2014
Duration: 1:21:35

Dir en Grey's ARCHE: A Critical Review of the Album

Dir en Grey is a Japanese rock band that has been making music since 1997. Their music is a mix of different genres, including rock, heavy metal, and experimental. In 2014, they released their ninth album, ARCHE, which received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. In this blog post, we will be taking a closer look at the album, its genre, best songs, most innovative parts, and providing our own review of the album.

ARCHE is an experimental album that defies traditional genre classifications. It features a mix of heavy, aggressive, and melodious sounds. It is not an album for casual listeners, as its sound is complex and requires multiple listens to grasp entirely. The album explores a wide range of sounds, from deconstructed riffs to chaotic drumming with effects pedals and feedback loops. It is a daring attempt by the band to take their sound to the next level.

The best tracks on the album are Un deux, Kukoku shoujo, and Chain repulsion, in my opinion. Un deux is a haunting track that builds up slowly into a wall of sound. Kukoku shoujo is a heavy song that features aggressive drumming and a chaotic guitar riff. Chain repulsion is a mellow song that showcases the band's lyrical prowess. The album's best features are its intricate soundscapes, which are both complex and enthralling.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is its experimentation with different sounds and genres. The band uses elements from different genres, including trip-hop, industrial, and alternative rock, to create a unique sound that is distinctively their own. The album also features bold song structures that subvert traditional musical norms.

The album is not perfect, and the biggest criticism is its production quality. Some of the tracks sound muddy and poorly mixed, which can be jarring and offputting to listeners. As a result, some of the beauty of the band's sound is lost in translation. Additionally, some of the tracks feel repetitive and lack the cohesion that is expected from a full-length album.

Dir en Grey's ARCHE is an album that showcases the band's ambition and creativity. It is an experimental album that explores the band's sound in new and exciting ways. The album's best tracks are intense, haunting, and beautiful. Its soundscapes are both complex and enthralling, but the album is let down by its production quality and some repetitive tracks. Overall, ARCHE is a daring experiment in sound that should be heard by anyone who enjoys exploring the boundaries of music genres.