Phalaris (album)

Phalaris is the eleventh studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Dir En Grey, released on June 15, 2022 via Firewall Div./SMEJ.^[2]

Phalaris
Studio album by Dir En Grey
Released	June 15, 2022 (2022-06-15)
Genre	Avant-garde metal progressive metal alternative metal
Length	53:45
Language	Japanese English
Label	Firewall Div. SMEJ
Producer	Dir En Grey
Dir En Grey chronology
The Insulated World (2018) Phalaris (2022)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Sputnikmusic	3.5/5^[1]

Background

Phalaris is the first album in 4 years since The Insulated World, and marks the 25th anniversary of the band's formation.^[3] Re-recorded versions of two earlier singles "Mazohyst of Decadence" (from Gauze) and "Ain't Afraid to Die" are included exclusively for the limited edition bonus CD of this release.^[4]

The title and artwork for Phalaris is inspired by the ancient tyrant Phalaris and the torture device he invented, the Brazen bull,^[5] "in which victims were roasted alive. An internal mechanism was said to distort the screams of the victims into the cries of cattle."^[6]

A music video for "Perfume of Sins" was released on June 14, 2022, "just two hours before midnight of the album's official release on June 15."^[7]

A Blu-ray/DVD that has included live recordings taken from performances in Shinkiba Studio Coast in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan on January 26 and 27, 2022 (additional show), will be released in support of Phalaris, titled The Final Days of Studio Coast.^[8] A series of online live events to celebrate the release of the album has been scheduled for July 1, 2, 3, and 18, 2022.^[9]

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews from JRock News^[10][11] and rockin'on.com.^[12]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Kyo; all music is composed by Dir En Grey.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Schadenfreude"	9:58
2.	"Oboro" (朧)	3:59
3.	"The Perfume of Sins"	4:18
4.	"13"	3:42
5.	"Utsutsu, Bouga o Kurau" (現、忘我を喰らう)	3:30
6.	"Ochita Koto no Aru Sora" (落ちた事のある空)	3:19
7.	"Mouai ni Shosu" (盲愛に処す)	2:51
8.	"Hibiki" (響)	3:58
9.	"Eddie"	2:52
10.	"Otogi" (御伽)	6:03
11.	"Kamuy" (カムイ)	9:11
Total length:		53:45

Personnel

Dir En Grey

• Kyo (京) – lead vocals
• Kaoru (薫) – guitars, programming
• Die – guitars
• Toshiya – bass
• Shinya – drums

Charts

Chart performance for Phalaris

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[13]	5

References

1. "Review: Dir En Grey - Phalaris". Retrieved July 16, 2022.
2. "DIR EN GREY excites with details on album "PHALARIS"".
3. Yamazaki, Yoichiro. "[JAPAN latest issue] Dir En Gray's masterpiece "Phalaris", which was the 25th anniversary of its formation, and the current location of Dir En Gray". rockin'on.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
4. Erica. "Dir En Grey reimagines old songs in album "Phalaris", holds online events". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
5. "Dir En Gray, new album jacket & new album inspired by torture equipment" (in Japanese). Natalie. May 20, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
6. Erica. "Dir En Grey tortures with "Phalaris" new look, album art". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
7. Erica. "Dir En Grey burns alive in "Perfume of Sins" music video". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
8. U, Nori. "Dir En Grey immortalizes venue's legacy in "The Final Days of Studio Coast"". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
9. "Dir En Gray new album contents announced, BD / DVD fully recorded last year's Tokyo Garden Theater performance" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 28, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
10. U, Nori. "Review: Dir En Grey forges brazen album "Phalaris"". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
11. Kyo, Mazohyst. "Review: Is Dir En Grey's album "Phalaris" the next step for an ever-changing band?". jrocknews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
12. Takahashi, Mio. "Vivid, supple and strong truth is revealed- "Phalaris" Dir En Gray". rockin'on.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
13. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-06-27" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 19, 2022.