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Dir en grey - DOZING GREEN Review

After the raw, stripped-down wall of noise that was The Marrow of a Bone, the first difference you will hear in Dir en grey's new single is the layers. "Dozing Green" features melodic guitars, pounding bass-lines with rumbling drums, ambient noise, and what can only be described as a "choir" of vocals from enigmatic front man Kyo. The melodic quality of the song permeates throughout despite the constantly changing backdrop of sound. Crunching riffs give way to soft yet menacing verses before culminating in an angst-ridden, soaring chorus. Don't be fooled by the eerie quietness in the final third of the song. "Dozing Green" explodes in the final forty seconds as heads start banging and Kyo unleashes a demon from within. Though still noticeably untrained, it's hard to deny the sheer range that sparks from that voice. Kyo croons, growls, harmonizes and at the cathartic ending, squeals his heart out!

For your hard-earned yen you also get a re-imagining of the Macabre-era song, "Hydra." Now "Hydra -666-", the song is an onslaught of growling and roaring, a reminder that the band is still enjoying the Marrow sound. Finally, there is a live performance of previous single, "Agitated Screams of Maggots," which begins with a haunting a Capella before the thunder and lightening booms and all hell breaks loose. Dozing Green is a single that lingers in your mind, as haunting as the title track's closing lyrics:

"Love me. Abandon hope."

- Billy Goss