DIR EN GREY BEATS ARCTIC MONKEYS BUZZ?

Japanese heavy rock outfit Dir En Grey has caused quite a stir in Austin, New York and Los Angeles. All gigs on their brief U.S. tour in advance of their new album, Withering To Death, which is set for a May 16th release, have sold-out. The filled-to-capacity shows are the first the band has played in America, an impressive feat considering the lack of airplay, advertising and promotion.

The band writes songs both in Japanese and English and guitarist Karu, with drummer Shinya by his side, talked about their powerful stage show and connecting with an American audience.

“Actually we don’t set any goals for it. Maybe when you set some goals it would be a good way to expand your ability or something like that. Anyway, we simply love to play music and we’re very confident in expressing our emotion inside so if you really create the music with your soul and spirit maybe something will be delivered to the audience or some melody that people here even in the United States who don’t understand Japanese will be moved by our music. So the five members of Dir En Grey relates that spirit.”

Dir En Grey’s new album, Withering To Death, will come out as a CD/DVD package on May 16. It will feature four videos and live footage from their 2004 tour DVD The Code Of Vulgar[ism].