IRC-Galleria

In the studio with... DIR EN GREY

Kings of J-Rock take the impulsive approach for new album

Primed to launch a fresh assault on the rest of the world, Japanese metallic whackjobs Dir En Grey are in the midst of recording their seventh full-length album. The follow-up to 2007Â’s widely acclaimed The Marrow of a Bone, the bandÂ’s new opus is being recorded in Japan and produced by Yoshiki Hayashi, a founder member of X-Japan, one of the countryÂ’s biggest rock bands. Hammer spoke to Dir En Grey guitarist Kaoru about whether the new album was going to be the one to break the band both in the UK and the United States.

“Absolutely!” says Kaoru. “But we are trying to create Japanese sounds that are not British or American. We thought about getting an international engineer or producer, but we decided not to. We thought that recording in Japan might be more suitable for our work this time. We’ve never worked with Yoshiki before, but he’s like one of our forefathers. We call him ‘Abarenbo Shogun’ which means he’s a rowdy general.”

As with their previous albums, the as-yet-untitled new one is likely to feature a dizzying array of disparate styles alongside Dir En GreyÂ’s trademark metal chops. As Kaoru explains, the band favour spontaneity over planning.

“I guess we well recognise the right direction for the songs as we progress,” he states. “Whatever happens, the album will be stuffed with guilt and reincarnation, as well as the past, present and future of Dir En Grey.”

Already huge in Japan, Dir En Grey look certain to build on their international reputation during 2008, as anyone who witnessed the scenes of hysteria when the band hit London last year will testify. As Kaoru explains, UK fans should prepare themselves for their imminent return.

“We will spend half of this year making an album and the rest touring,” he says. “There’s no specific plan right now, but we will be in the UK in the near future. Our shows in London last year were really amazing."

THE NEW DIR EN GREY ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR VIA GAN-SHIN RECORDS.