The EP Missa is the first thing that Dir en grey ever released as a group. Missa is one of the hardest, if not THE hardest album to find due to the fact that it is a collector’s item and that not many copies were printed. Good luck hunting this gem down.
As it is an EP, there are only six songs and my review will be shorter than normal. If you click on the names of the songs, it will (in most cases) lead you to a link of either a music video, the file itself, or a live performance.
Missa (1997)
霧と繭 (Kiri to Mayu) [Fog and Cocoon] 5:08
「S」 3:31
Erode 6:30
蒼い月 (Aoi Tsuki) [Blue Moon] 5:01
Garden 5:28
秒『』 深 (Byou『』 Shin) [Second『』 Truth] 5:39
Overall Length: 31.3 minutes
Honestly, even a hardcore Diru fan like me will warn you now that this is a hard piece of music to get into. In fact, Dir en grey did not recieve widespread attention for this EP simply because it sounds…generic. Honestly, this sounds like little more than your average VK indie band. At first. After multiple playthroughs, you begin to see the Diruness behind the whole EP. That really doesn’t help at all. I warn you now: if you want to get into this band now, start with Gauze, and work your way back once you feel comfortable.
The first song on the album is Kiri to Mayu. Not exactly my favorite, but it sits up there in this album. A blowing wind followed by an opening door and Kyo muttering weirdly starts off the song excellently. Kyo’s alternate singing in each ear also make this song a pleasure to listen to. Shinya’s steady drumming throughout the song is just 0_0.
The guitars kick in with that nostalgic VK tuning of theirs and it carries the song along for the next 5:08. The solo in this song is quite brilliant, if a little too overdone at parts, and Kyo delves back into the singing. The way Kyo layers his voice in the song helps to cover the bland parts, but that scream/yell/self-choke at the end ruins it until the guitar fade out at the end of the song actually pays off for it.
Drums immediately start off the next song, 「S」, before stereo guitars courtesy of Die and Kaoru kick in and Kyo starts singing very distinctly. Kyo, being the producer of this song, makes it quite evident due to the slightly disorienting nature of the guitars and the prevalent bass. The disorienting factors work once you understand that he discusses the nature of sex and how we all treat it. Yes, he talks about sex. 「S」 is the shortest song on the entire EP, but it is a good listen, although it takes a good while to get into. The guitars are tuned to an even higher pitch than Kiri to Mayu, but you can actually HEAR the bass correctly in this song. The end of this song also leads to some more excellent drumming thanks to Shinya and then the guitarists jump back into what sounds like the five-piece beat to this song before it ends and Erode starts up almost immediately after.
Erode clocks in at a lengthy six and a half minutes. Just for your information, this was the first song I had heard and needless to say I suffered. Yes, suffered. If you aren’t prepared for this kind of style, then it will lose you. Upon subsequent listens (and consulting Gauze, the best VK album ever), I came to appreciate this song more. However, it just goes to show you that you shouldn’t jump into this style unprepared. Now that that is all out of the way, Erode was composed by Totchi, so it is naturally a bass-heavy track. Kyo’s voice is more laid-back yet he stretches it to hit notes that you haven’t heard so far. The bass also supports the track well, but at parts it feels like the guitars are an afterthought. A nice addition to this track is that the bass actually has times to shine through. Still, the “togetherness” of it all seems a bit off. The solos initially feel off as if the members wanted to show off their prowess and do their own thing. You can argue though that the guitarists share it equally, and you don’t sense it too much if you don’t nitpick like I do. Oh, shouldn’t have said that. Time to say something positive. This track, once you prepare for it, is quite simply the second-best track on the EP. Yes, it is. Remember when I told you that I suffered at first? It was because I wasn’t ready for this kind of laid-back music. Acoustic parts come in and out and the guitars are played slightly differently from their music today. Other than that, the song is just AMAZING. Give it a listen AFTER YOU CONSULT GAUZE and you will be amazed! The message also hits home quite close for some people, as Kyo wails on about unrequited love, cheating spouses, and meaningless relationships. In fact, this track is so good, it doesn’t even feel like 6 and a half-minutes. I would recommend putting it on repeat if it wasn’t so damn long.
Aoi Tsuki begins as soon as Erode ends, and the song is very distinct. This should be the first song you listen to, as it was for me and was the primary motivator for me to actually find this album. This track is the first track that features all of Diru’s elements cohesively. The bass is there, but it doesn’t overpower the guitars. You can sense the drums fade in and out, but they are constantly there to support the track. I can’t really say what Kyo sings about here, but it does have a deep meaning. About Kyo’s singing: it is so DIFFERENT. He goes from mumbling to singing to shouting in different ears before jumping back to singing and then moaning while HOLDING THAT NOTE! His singing is just fantastic. I would recommend you listen to it just to hear him sing. The instruments aren’t secondary however. They complement the song perfectly. Shades of blue almost run down your eyes as you listen. My only problem with this song is that you have to wait so long to hear it and that the lyrics get repetitive around the four minute mark. That shouldn’t matter, as this song is 5:01, so you can bear with it for a while longer. And just when you think that this track can’t get any better, it does when the women voices and Kyo’s synchronizes at the end and just melts away, sending shivers down your spine. Epic indeed.
Garden is the best song on the EP, hands down. There is no comparison. A second pause at the beginning lets you know that the epicness ensues. With a feeling different than that of Aoi Tsuki, it actually sounds happy and upbeat. As long as you forget what he is saying, this song can actually cheer you up and bring tears to your eyes. Yes, that’s how good the guitars are. Die and Kaoru play the guitars slightly different but Totchi’s bass lines hold them all together perfectly. If you take out one headphone, the song sounds drastically different. Don’t though, the song sounds FRICKIN awesome. I think you can get into this song without consulting Gauze. It’s just that good. Kyo keeps the same style and pitch that he used in 「S」, and it actually works better here. This is also a good example of a song that works best when the guitarists also blend in with the chanting. And then, you wait for the epic solo and…..it slows down to guitar plucking and humming before the bass comes back in. Definitely different, and it suits the song well. A solo of a different kind and it begs your attention each time before Kyo and the epicness comes back. This song is just beautiful. Thly are no other words to describe it. Kyo sounds like the only man capable of having sex with his voice and these five and a half-minutes feel more like two in my book, especially when Kyo holds that last note of his. LISTEN.
Byou 『』 Shin is the hardest track on this album, and is a favorite by many. It starts out with rapid drumming and guitar chords before a slight variation comes in and Kyo starts his singing. It’s more shouty than the previous, and it helps to dispel that “pop” sensation that some idiots would get otherwise. He sings about deception and perceived intentions, and he yells, grunts and screams like a maniac at some parts. If you like furious and fast music, this is the song for you on this EP. The chords are simple, yet you WILL find yourself coming back to this song again and again. It really is good and ranks up there with Garden and Erode and Aoi Tsuki. This song was later remade for sixUgly, but this version was better. Better by a long shot. Let’s all just say Kaoru is a genius and he knows how to keep you listening when he isn’t busy doing drugs. This song also has a kick-ass solo unparalleled by anything else with the exception of the two in Erode. Pity it’s shorter, but Kyo makes up for it. He always does. Then, that stereo part with Kaoru’s guitar kicks in followed by silence and then the refrain. You can tell they didn’t recycle anything for this album. The only bad part: the location. After Garden, it can’t compare. But then again, it doesn’t. It’s different, and it isn’t afraid to be, just like Diru isn’t. It shows through this song as well. The only thing that would have make this song better is if the solos didn’t sound so detached. Kyo’s random screaming at the end also seems a bit out of place, but only a bit. The fade and then the epic door close at the end end the song (and the EP) nicely, also adding to the weirdness you’ve been feeling throughout this review (or is that just my fandom scaring you there?).
And that brings an end to the six songs. Scared now? You should be. Wait until you see Gauze, and I promise you you will have a NOVEL. But this EP is well worth a listen. Just go for Gauze first. If you disobeyed and listened to this first, and you found that you actually liked it, Gauze is even better. Better by miles. Now, for my final thoughts.
Rating: 4/5 (Detracted for the disjointedness in the entire EP, but marvelous nonetheless)
Best song: Garden
Worst Song: 「S」 (it just can’t compare)
Recommended (in the following order):
Garden
Erode
Aoi Tsuki
Kiri to Mayu
otoroe kuchite yuku kono karada sae nakereba ii
anata to itsu made mo aishi aeta no ni
kono mama watashi wo itsumo aishite hoshii tame ni
anata no yorokobu kao ga mitakute itsu made mo
tsukue no naka ni itsu made mo shimatteta kapuseru wo…
kore wo nomihoseba futari zutto kuchizuke wo
are kara dore kurai tatta no darou ne
anata wa kono yo ni mou inakute hi ga shizunda
mawari no hito wa tsugitsugi to wakare wo tsugeta kedo
shizuka ni nemuru anata ni sotto kuchizuke wo
kono mama modorenai toki wo anata nashi de iki tsuzuketa
kioku ga watashi wo kurushime soko kara maku ga akimashita
futari de sodateta hanatachi mo ano koro wa
anata no soba de kirei ni sakimidarete ita ne
hitotoki no yorokobi sae kurushiku nagai yoru no naka
eien ni mezamenai tsumetai naifu de watashi wo
Translated
I don’t need this body which will only grow weaker and rot
Even though we could have loved each other forever
So that you’ll love me this way always
I want to see your happy smiling face forever
When I swallow the capsule… that I always kept locked in my desk
We can kiss forever. How long has it been since then?
Without you in my world, the sun has set.
I’ve said goodbye to those around me one after another but,
I gave you a kiss as you slept quietly.
I’ve lived out the time without you, that can’t be turned back
The memory tortures me, since then something new began.
The flowers we grew together back then
Now bloom in profusion beautifully by your side
Even a moment of joy pains me through this long night
With a cold knife to close my eyes eternally….
S
puragu wo neji komi biteki . hatsujou . ka
atari wa ichimen kuroku somatte ita
suiteki ni utsutta nageki no kyanbasu
hitomi ni yakitsuku kuroi nosutarujia
karada wo mushibame
kiseichuu no you ni
kokoro wa mienai
manekin no you ni
shiroku hikatta suhada ni kuchizuke
buzama ni korogaru anata no nikukata ga…
Translated
Screw on the plug beautiful*lustful*scent
Everything around me is dyed black
The grieving canvas reflected in a drop of water
The black nostalgia burned onto my eyes.
Spoil my body
Like a parasitic worm
I can’t see the heart
Like a mannequin
Kiss the naked flesh glowing white
Tripping in an ugly way, your hunk of meat…
Erode
kanji aeta ano yoru wa tsumetaku ite tsuki
okubukaku nemuru kaihou no soko e
kimochi wa touku hanareta kimyouna kankaku
kirei ni mieta hibi doku no hanazono
kyokudo no iradachi oboeta hi kara mou
hoka no dare ka wo sagashite ita
mou kuzushite shimatta yoru wa modorazu
kimi ni au tabi uso wo tsuite ita
boku ga soko ni ima wa touku hanareteta
ima wa aisenai jijitsu ga
omosugite kurushiku kanashii
yoru ga nagasugita setsunai
kimi ni okotta hitotsu no jiko ga boku wo nayamase
kimi wo sukuu kotoba no hitotsu mo iezu sameta
boku ga soko ni ita
ima wa uso de mo ii nara dakishimeyou ka
kimi no tame ni naru nara nando demo mitsumeta
hoka no dare ka ni idakare…
dakara sukoshi demo chikaku ni irareru you ni
uso demo ima wa kokoro wo koroshiteta
saisho de saigo no yoru wa sugisatta
anata wa saigo made mo kizukanai furi wo shite ita
Translated
That night we were able feel each other, turned freezing cold
Deeply slumbering, to the depths of release
The feeling, is a strange sensation far removed from me
Days that seemed so beautiful, in the poison flower garden
From that day I felt such extreme aggravation onward,
I’ve been looking for someone else.
That night it all fell apart will never be again
Everytime I meet you, I’ve lied.
Because now I’m so far removed from there.
The fact that I can’t love you anymore
Weighs heavilly on me, tortures and saddens me
The night was too long, it pains me
The accident which happened to you, causes me concern
Unable to say any words of comfort, I cooled to you
I was there.
If you don’t care that it’s not for real, I’ll hold you
For you, I looked as much as you wanted
While getting fucked by someone else…
So that I can be even just a little closer to you,
Even if its not real, I stifled my heart for now
That first and final night has passed
You pretended not to know until the very end
Aoi Tsuki
Akai sora aoi tsuki kugi tsuke ni sareta boku
muriyari umekomareta gizou no yume ga kobiri tsuki
ochiru mawaru ochiru daraku no soko e buzama ni
akai sora aoi tsuki kugi tsuke ni sareta boku
Kimi no aoi tsuki ni boku ga utsukushiku ukibori ni sareta
tainai ga nozomu
Blue & Die
Ne anata to itsu made mo
iraretara shiawase na no
sotto anata no te wo otori
ano sora wo itsu made mo mite ita
Ne itsu made mo hohoende
iraretara shiawase darou
kondo futari de ao iro no
ano sora wo itsu made mo mite iyou
Translated
I am captivated by the crimson sky, by the blue moon
mired in the conterfeit dream that was buried against my will
falling, turning, falling, to the depths of degredation, clumsily
I am captivated by the crimson sky, by the blue moon
in your blue moon I am brought into relief beautifully
my insides on display
Blue & Die
well, if I can be with you forever
I’m happy
gently I grip your hand
forever staring into that sky
well, if you keep smiling forever
maybe I’ll be happy
next time, together
let’s watch that blue-coloured sky forever
Garden
aishi hajimeta ano hi kara boku wa kawari hajimeta
anata dake wo mitsumeraretara ii to
anata wa itsumo ano niwa de sabishisou ni tatazumi
chitte yuku hana dake wo mitsumete ita
todokanai negai wa setsunaku kokoro ni kizu wo tsuketa
me no mae ni fusagatta genjitsu dake ga boku wo ima mo zutto
nayamaseta muse kaeru kuuki dake ga ima no boku wo
wasurenai you ni
GARDEN itsu no hi ka wa deaeru to negatta itsumo
GARDEN sugi yuku kono kisetsu no nake de itsu made mo… anata wo
karete yuku kanashii hana wa ikusen no yoru wo mita
sepia iro ni utsushita anata no sugata
wasuretai wasuretakunai mujunna kimochi sae mo
nejifuseta boku ga soko ni tada hitori tachi tsukushita
sabishige ni yuki dake ga keshiki wo iro zuketa keredo
ima mo zutto wasurenai you ni
wasuretai wasuretakunai mujunna kimochi sae monejifuseta boku ga soko ni tada hitori tachi tsukushita
toki ga sugiru no wa hayaku genjitsu kara kiete yuku omoide wo
wasurenai you ni
Translated
from the day my love began, I began to change
when I was just staring at you
you were always standing in that garden, looking lonely
as you stared at nothing but the scattering flowers
my unfullfilled wish made another wound in my aching heart
this reality bound up before my eyes still haunts me all the while
so that only the stifling atmosphere will
not forget me now
GARDEN wishing that someday I’ll be able to meet you always
GARDEN in the midst of this passing season, forever… you will…
the sorrowfully withering flowers that have seen a thousand nights
in sepia your figure pictured
I want to forget, I don’t want to forget, these contradictory feelings
subdued, I stand here all by myself
lonely, with only the snow to colour the scenery, but
still, always, so that I will not forget
I want to forget, I don’t want to forget, these contradictory feelings
subdued, I stand here all by myself
time passes quickly, vanishing from reality, so that I will not forget
these memories
Byou Shin
Hako ni tsumerareta koritsushita mono sanpuru no katamari
Eizou no ura ni kakusareta bijon towa ni utsukushiku
Koe ni himerareta hisokana negai kasuka ni utsutta
Me ni yakitsuketa sanpuru no naka de gi. to. gi. to no maria
Toge no aru kotoba tekubi ni himerareta
Sukoshi zutsu raku ni towa ni kaihou sareta
To SLAY
Mirai e no yorokobi kawarihateta maria
Risoukyou no moto de ochiru ochi yuku yume
Shi ni mukau yorokobi mirai e no yorokobi
Kawarihateta maria ochiru ochi yuku yume
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