My problems with writing music

So I write music in my spare time. It's probably not going to change the world, but I'm happy with it and I definitely think that some of them are really very good.

It's all in Japanese (except for a few), and it ranges from J-pop to progressive death metal. I've written about 24 songs but now I'm starting to encounter problems...

Problem 1: I'm writing too many slow/soft songs

This was great at first when I had no songs written down. However it seems to be all I can write (the only consolation is that they are all completely different). Don't get me wrong, I'm immensely proud of some of the riffs and melodies I have come up with, but it's stating to become the only thing I can play when I touch a guitar.

Problem 2: When I try to write heavy songs, I can only play deathcore

The title says it all really. Maybe it's because I'm 'trying' and not letting it come naturally. Whenever I kick on the distortion the only things I can play are either the riff from 'The Final' by DIR EN GREY or Nu-metal/Deathcore. I don't even like the last two genres of music. This is really annoying, as so far I have only written one heavy song I am happy with, and that took influence from Kabuki music.

Problem 3: All my lyrics are too similar

All. My. Lyrics. Are. About. Love. All of them. Whether its breakups, falling in love, killing your ex, stalking, ANYTHING to do with love, I've written a song about it. I just can't write anything else! Well actually that's a lie, I've written TWO songs about 'being yourself'. I am happy with these lyrics, and I think they have deep meanings behind them (they're not pop music style lyrics about love, but I want to move away from this...

Well that's it, and this is the end of probably one of the most pointless posts I have ever written. :D

DIR EN GREY Rinkaku Review.

1: Rinkaku

2: Kiri To Mayu (Remake)

3: Rinkaku Remix

Now, I know it's not out yet, but I downloaded the single because I could not wait. Don't worry though, I ALWAYS buy my music afterwards, I own every DIR EN GREY release as of this single. However, I can't really prove it to you, so judge away...

This is probably one of the strongest singles I've heard from DIR EN GREY, on par with my favourite single 'Hageshisa to...'; all three tracks are great. 

Rinkaku

I'm sure most of you have heard the endless previews of the title track 'Rinkaku', but these were only the edited version. The full version has an extra verse and an exquisite piano bridge, as well as extended intros, etc.  'Rinkaku' is an extremely atmospheric song, aided in a large part by Kyo's haunting falsetto singing. This song is very much a cross between 'Wari, Yami Tote' and their 'Dum Spiro Spero' material, mixing heavy instrumentation with clean singing. I have a strong mental image in my head of 'Rinkaku' being akin to a puzzle, with each part slotting in perfectly at the right moment. 

As I said in a previous short review of the preview, the production is immense and Shinya's drumming has never sounded better. The guitars sound amazing in this song and do not sound too overproduced. They successfully create a blissful wall of sound, which isn't too in-your-face either. Toshiya is slapping again, which adds a driving motion to the song which would probably otherwise be static.

If this is the direction DIR EN GREY are going in, I have no complaints.

Kiri To Mayu

Fans wanting to see 'heavy' DIR EN GREY do not despair, as 'Kiri To Mayu' delivers exactly that. However it is a different 'heavy' to that of 'Dum Spiro Spero', and I feel slightly indifferent to it. 

Kyo can obviously still scream. He's actually sounding better than he did. The only problem I have with his 'new' screaming (I don't know if this is because of his accident or the production), is that it is very much like Suicide Silence and other contemporary American deathcore bands. It's hard to describe without listening to the song, but I've always thought American deathcore singers have a very 'cloudy' scream, and this is the sound I'm getting from Kyo. 

I think a few more clean vocals would have been nice, the only part using cleans being the chorus (I think it's the chorus?). This song is very in-your-face, but less so than say, remakes of 'Zan' and 'Rasetsukoku'; the atmosphere from 'Rinkaku' continues very much into this song and is reminiscent of the inside of a church (for me). 

You can tell the song is 'Kiri To Mayu', as it uses the same intro riff, just heavier. It's very much like the remake of 'Zan'; HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY. Each riff ends on a note that threatens to change into a breakdown, which is sort of frustrating, but also a reminder of how full of surprises DIR EN GREY are. The solo mid-song is VERY Americanized, but also strangely very DIR EN GREY, making for an interesting listen. I was disappointed with this song at first listen, but with every listen I am becoming more and more attached to it. 

Rinkaku Remix

This remix screams out 'DOOM DOOM DOOM'. It conjured up many emotions at first listen, even more the second time round, emotions such as despair, grief, sadness, anger, etc. It sounds like it wouldn't go amiss on a Silent Hill soundtrack. It's darker than anything DIR EN GREY could ever do (no hating!). This remix adds an interesting twist to the song in general. Whilst the original is actually quite hope inspiring (for me), the remix is the complete opposite, and compelled me to interpret the lyrics differently as well.

Overall I am very happy with this single and happy that DIR EN GREY are very much back. It's just a shame that more people don't listen to this utterly original, mesmerising, brilliant band.

10/10

DIR EN GREY -THE UNRAVELING- tracklist revealed

Wow. What a surprise. I thought this mini album was going to be 7 new songs; instead it seems as though it's going to be 1 new song followed by 6 remakes. And I'm not upset in the slightest.

As a musician myself, it has always amazed me how a band such as DIR EN GREY, who already churn out classic songs, can remake their own songs so easily and yet retain the overall original feeling of the song. Apart from their remake of 'undecided', I have loved every single one.

Although I understand that they are taking songs from their whole discography, the choice of songs has baffled me a little, as some are not that well known. Also the fact that the songs only go up to the 'WTD' era says to me that a second remake album is a possibility.

The tracklist is as follows:

Disc 1:
1. Unraveling
2. Karma (from 'Kaede -if trans-')
3. Kasumi (from 'Vulgar')
4. Karasu (from 'Kisou')
5. Bottom of the death valley (from 'Kisou')
6. Unknown.Despair.Lost (from 'Jealous' single)
7. THE FINAL (from 'Withering to death')

Disc 2 (bonus):
1: MACABRE (from 'Macabre')
2. Unraveling (Unplugged Ver.)
3. THE FINAL (Unplugged Ver.)

Disc 3 (DVD):
1. THE UNRAVELING (Scenes From Recording)
2. Interview & Documentary Footage

I have ordered the VERY limited edition, which comes with disc 2. I am not a fan of the 'unplugged' version of songs that DIR EN GREY do, but it's DIR EN GREY, so I'm not complaining!

I just hope that they don't mess up 'THE FINAL'...