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Tension continues to climb for the release of DIR EN GREY’s eleventh full-length album PHALARIS, coming June 15. Last week the band revealed a fresh lineup of artist photos, as well as album artwork with a deliciously macabre backstory. It has us “burning up” with anticipation!

Striking new visuals for the five-member band DIR EN GREY.

DIR EN GREY’s newest group photo shows the prolific musicians shrouded in darkness, surrounded by illustrations of torture instruments. Vocalist Kyo seems enshrined in the skeleton of a bull, alluding to the album’s namesake, PHALARIS.

When DIR EN GREY first revealed the title of their eleventh album, fans speculated on its possible meaning. Some were quick to pick up on the reference to Phalaris, an ancient tyrant and rumored cannibal famous for his cruelty. One of his most notable inventions was a torture device called The Bronze Bull, in which victims were roasted alive. An internal mechanism was said to distort the screams of the victims into the cries of cattle.

This theory was quickly confirmed when vocalist Kyo playfully tweeted, “We’re doing a tour! Come get burned alive inside a cow!”.

Drummer Shinya also made more polite references to the bovine inspiration.

As mentioned above, vocalist Kyo is seen encased by the skeleton of a bull, with an unearthly mechanism mounted to his face. Guitarist and bandleader Kaoru, bassist Toshiya, drummer Shinya, and guitarist Die brood in the shadows as if gathered for a dark ritual.

Vocalist Kyo
Guitarist Kaoru
Bassist Toshiya
Drummer Shinya
Guitarist Die

The album artwork for PHALARIS was also revealed, showing a grotesque, smoking profile of that horrific torture device, The Bronze Bull. This suggests a bracing, heavy album full of the pain and suffering, which DIR EN GREY expresses beautifully.

Cover art for “PHALARIS” regular version
“PHALARIS” limited version
“PHALARIS” limited deluxe version

Still can’t get enough? You can check out the ominous, albeit vague preview trailer below.

DIR EN GREY - 11th ALBUM『PHALARIS』(2022.6.15 RELEASE) Trailer

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Phalaris

Limited Edition CD + Bonus CD + Blu-ray / Limited Edition
CDJapan
CD
  1. Schadenfreude
    Schadenfreude
  2. Oboro
    朧
  3. The Perfume of Sins
    The Perfume of Sins
  4. 13
    13
  5. Utsutsu, Bouga wo Kurau
    現、忘我を喰らう
  6. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  7. Mouai ni Shosu
    盲愛に処す
  8. Hibiki
    響
  9. Eddie
    Eddie
  10. Otogi
    御伽
  11. Kamui
    カムイ
CD
  1. mazohyst of decadence
  2. ain't afraid to die
Blu-ray
  1. DOZING GREEN (Acoustic Ver.)
    DOZING GREEN (Acoustic Ver.)
  2. Zetsuentai
    絶縁体
  3. Kukoku no kyouon
    空谷の跫音
  4. Ningen wo kaburu
    人間を被る
  5. Devote My Life
    Devote My Life
  6. CLEVER SLEAZOID
    CLEVER SLEAZOID
  7. DIFFERENT SENSE
    DIFFERENT SENSE
  8. Aka
    赫
  9. Ranunculus
    Ranunculus
  10. Keigaku no Yoku
    谿壑の欲
  11. The World of Mercy
    The World of Mercy
  12. Oboro
    朧
  13. Kasumi
    かすみ
  14. Followers
    Followers
  15. OBSCURE
    OBSCURE
  16. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  17. Sustain the untruth
    Sustain the untruth
  18. Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami
    激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇

Phalaris

Limited Edition CD + Bonus CD + DVD / Limited Edition
CDJapan
CD
  1. Schadenfreude
    Schadenfreude
  2. Oboro
    朧
  3. The Perfume of Sins
    The Perfume of Sins
  4. 13
    13
  5. Utsutsu, Bouga wo Kurau
    現、忘我を喰らう
  6. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  7. Mouai ni Shosu
    盲愛に処す
  8. Hibiki
    響
  9. Eddie
    Eddie
  10. Otogi
    御伽
  11. Kamui
    カムイ
CD
  1. mazohyst of decadence
  2. ain't afraid to die
DVD
  1. DOZING GREEN (Acoustic Ver.)
    DOZING GREEN (Acoustic Ver.)
  2. Zetsuentai
    絶縁体
  3. Kukoku no kyouon
    空谷の跫音
  4. Ningen wo kaburu
    人間を被る
  5. Devote My Life
    Devote My Life
  6. CLEVER SLEAZOID
    CLEVER SLEAZOID
  7. DIFFERENT SENSE
    DIFFERENT SENSE
  8. Aka
    赫
  9. Ranunculus
    Ranunculus
  10. Keigaku no Yoku
    谿壑の欲
  11. The World of Mercy
    The World of Mercy
  12. Oboro
    朧
  13. Kasumi
    かすみ
  14. Followers
    Followers
  15. OBSCURE
    OBSCURE
  16. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  17. Sustain the untruth
    Sustain the untruth
  18. Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami
    激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇

Phalaris

Limited Edition CD + Bonus CD / Limited Edition
CDJapan
CD
  1. Schadenfreude
    Schadenfreude
  2. Oboro
    朧
  3. The Perfume of Sins
    The Perfume of Sins
  4. 13
    13
  5. Utsutsu, Bouga wo Kurau
    現、忘我を喰らう
  6. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  7. Mouai ni Shosu
    盲愛に処す
  8. Hibiki
    響
  9. Eddie
    Eddie
  10. Otogi
    御伽
  11. Kamui
    カムイ
CD
  1. mazohyst of decadence
  2. ain't afraid to die

Phalaris

Regular Edition
CDJapan
CD
  1. Schadenfreude
    Schadenfreude
  2. Oboro
    朧
  3. The Perfume of Sins
    The Perfume of Sins
  4. 13
    13
  5. Utsutsu, Bouga wo Kurau
    現、忘我を喰らう
  6. Ochita Koto no Aru Sora
    落ちた事のある空
  7. Mouai ni Shosu
    盲愛に処す
  8. Hibiki
    響
  9. Eddie
    Eddie
  10. Otogi
    御伽
  11. Kamui
    カムイ
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