Proving 15 seconds is all they need to give us the chills, DIR EN GREY delivered a 15-second teaser for its 32nd single “Oboro”. The release date looms just around the corner on April 28, but the visceral teaser leaves us with more questions than answers.

Last month the quintet released grotesque promotional photos which contradict the serene nature of the album art. We speculated on Oboro‘s possible themes, including birth, or rebirth. The teaser video seems to confirm our suspicions, as vocalist Kyo emerges from the abdomen of a humanoid creature.

Witnessing the birth of vocalist Kyo. From the “Oboro” teaser video.

Visually, we see bits and pieces of the band’s releases throughout its nearly 25-year career: the bloated humanoid creature of Ningen wo Kaburu, the scenes of bloody birth from Child Prey, and even the Japanese Noh-like masks worn in the cult favorite Obscure.

Musically, we can hear a new direction for the band. While their previous release, Ochita koto no aru sora shook us with heavier riffs and vocals harkening back to The Insulated World. This one gives us a sense of the new album to come—a “Different Sense”, if you will.

According to the DIR EN GREY’s official site, this single will explore the pain and emotions of the heart created by human weakness, and we can hear that vulnerability in this teaser clip.

The title “Oboro” means “hazy”, and we are certainly still hazy on the details of this new single. However, DIR EN GREY’s unique world view and magnificent sound are more than enough to whet our appetite and keep us on the edge of our seats.

Check out the teaser for yourself and see what you think the new single will bring:

DIR EN GREY – NEW SINGLE『朧』(2021.4.28 RELEASE) 15sec Teaser (CLIP)