Article and Photos by: Rudy Salgado
It had been years since DIR EN GREY played L.A., and you could feel how much it meant to both the band and the fans. After some unexpected challenges, including the cancellation of Sick New World 2025 where they were scheduled to perform, their return felt intentional. And they delivered.
To make up for the festival cancellation, they added a third Southern California show at the House of Blues in Anaheim. What was originally a two-night stop became a rare three-day run. I caught Day 2 at The Belasco and the final night in Anaheim. Honestly, I wish I’d made it to Day 1 too.
Both nights were packed. The crowd was diverse in every sense of the word. I met fans who flew in from Japan and a group from Portland who had been following the band across cities. That kind of dedication didn’t surprise me. Once you see DIR EN GREY live, it makes sense.
The second Kyo stepped on stage, I understood why people follow them from show to show. His presence is hard to explain. His vocals are intense — filled with so much pain, so much emotion. You can hear it in every scream, whisper, and growl. I don’t speak Japanese, but it didn’t matter.
One of the most powerful moments for me was during Vinushka. I didn’t know what the lyrics were, but the visuals are impactful — I saw the bomb drop and felt the weight of something much bigger than the stage. Kyo’s screams didn’t feel like performance; they felt like grief. Like generational pain. It was as if the song carried the trauma of war, the bottled-up resentment of a people who haven’t forgotten, and maybe never will. His voice cut through language, through time, and you could feel the sorrow of an entire history in that moment.
That’s what makes DIR EN GREY different. Even if you don’t understand the words, you understand the feeling. You live it.
This was my first time seeing them in person, even though I’ve been listening to them for over 15 years. “Obscure” was the first track that drew me in. That video — dark, disturbing, unforgettable — stuck with me. Hearing the 2011 version live after all these years was surreal. That moment hit hard. There was a brief mistake during the middle of CHILD PREY, but Shinya recovered quickly, the band powered through without missing a beat. Fans found it humorous and have been very supportive on social media.
After this run of shows, it’s obvious why fans go the distance to see them. And after everything — the time away, the cancellations of major appearances — this felt necessary. If you’ve never seen DIR EN GREY live, you are missing out.
*Article updated on May 13, 2025 to correct factual inaccuracies regarding DIR EN GREY’s set and festival schedule.*
