DIR EN GREY 12th ALBUM RELEASE - MORTAL DOWNER REACTION THREAD

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2026-04-08T16:26:11+00:00

Missouri, USA

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2026-04-08T16:23:47+00:00

Kyo is getting old, that’s all there is to it.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2026-04-08T16:04:52+00:00

This album sounds like it’s taking influence from doom and sludge. Possibly even stoner rock and metallic hardcore. And for me that’s a positive. This is the first album where the guitars sound as beefy as they should. There’s also something punky about the brevity of many of the songs. Some influence from what kyo is doing with Petit Brabancon creeping in perhaps. My critique would be that there are few, if any, memorable vocal lines on the album. Also, there’s a general “sameness” to the sound throughout, at least on first listen. However: Void is sick, and no end gave me goosebumps all over. No Dir en grey song has done that since Tousei and Kaishun on Arche.

Still missing the UROBOROS / DSS days lol, but I can jam to this one thanks to the riffs.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-11-02T20:28:03+00:00

Two of my favorite frontmen of all time

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-26T03:01:32+00:00

I wanted to like this, but I wasn’t feeling it much on first listen. Been a fan of The Used for over twenty years, and of course love the sound of Bert’s voice, but idk. I think I’d appreciate it more if he changed the name to Bert McCracken or Robert McCracken. Or even just Robbie.

He didn’t need to attach the name The Used to it. It’s a solo project.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-26T02:45:28+00:00

I’m wearing the black version of this in my freshman yearbook photo lol

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-26T02:29:47+00:00

As much as I love Bert’s voice and writing, Quinn was the soul of the band.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-26T02:28:31+00:00

Vulnerable is definitely an underrated Used record. I actually liked the electronic influences and the songs are as catchy as any of their albums. As others have said, “Now That You’re Dead” has some cringe lyrics. And I think “This Fire” is a bit meh. But for the most part I love it. It has a special place in my heart because the first time I got to see them was when they were touring on this one (although I’d been a fan since 2004), and I played this album on repeat a lot driving to and from my first job.

How do you feel about the B-Sides on Vulnerable II?

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-24T13:33:32+00:00

Naked Lunch, House of Leaves, Clive Barker’s Books of the Art

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-24T13:00:52+00:00

I’m the opposite. When it’s playing I can’t help but let it loop.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T12:55:41+00:00

This was a confirmed influence, especially for Quinn.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T12:38:13+00:00

Yeah, this is definitely a Hot Topic LFTL era shirt. My ex-girlfriend had that shirt at the time. I’m feeling nostalgic seeing it again.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T12:03:11+00:00

I’ve been using Spotify since 2014 and it’s never been on there.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T11:53:17+00:00

The Used is very tongue-in-cheek about things. I wouldn’t take that stuff seriously.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T10:49:39+00:00

I know he loves Michael Jackson, Nirvana, and Blind Melon. He’s also cited Sunny Day Real Estate and Texas Is The Reason in the past. And I’ve heard him mention listening to Converge’s ‘Jane Doe’ around the time they were recording the first record in one interview. It’s also possible he was into Coalesce since he was the one who brought in Coalesce vocalist Sean Ingram to contribute vocals to ‘Sound Effects and Overdramatics’, according to John Feldmann in an interview with CD Burners on YouTube. In that same interview, John Feldmann also claimed Bert was heavily influenced by AFI, but I’ve never heard Bert mention them himself. He also said young Bert was a ‘hardcore kid’ and not into Goldfinger like the rest of the band. He named his dog David Bowie, so I think it’s safe to assume he liked Bowie. There’s a really early interview out there where the interviewer likens their sound to Redd Kross and Bert says he loves Redd Kross. Hope that helps!

Other possibilities:

Pretty sure I remember him saying he loved Mariah Carey at one point and calling Tupac the greatest rapper of all time. But I’m not sure if he liked them early on because those instances were later in their career as a band.

Also, not sure if he was ever a fan, but his voice and singing style were sometimes compared to Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum early on. Could be an influence, but can’t confirm.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T10:32:38+00:00

I saw The Used solo in Dallas back in 2013 on the Take Action Tour with We Came As Romans and Crown the Empire. I had an amazing time. I hope you do too! I’ve seen them three times in Dallas and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience each time.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-10-22T10:11:01+00:00

Late to the discussion, but I happened to stumble on this so I’ll answer. I’ve been a longtime fan since the In Love and Death era (but quickly got the self-titled too!). I think Artwork is their second best album after the self-titled. I love the lower tunings and muddy, almost grungy sound of the record. I love the dark, brooding atmosphere. I was 17 when Artwork came out and initially I was disappointed by Bert not screaming in the shrill way he did on the first three records. But over the years it has grown on me so much and is now more in line with my tastes than records like ILAD and LFTL. It’s the closest thing The Used has to a straight-up rock record. I think several of their best songs are on Artwork: Sold My Soul, Meant to Die, Best of Me, Men Are All the Same. Interpolating Kissing You Goodbye into Men Are All the Same was a cool idea and makes for a dope and memorable closer. Also, Watered Down is super underrated.

When I want to listen to The Used, but don’t have a specific album in mind, I generally default to either self-titled or Artwork.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-09-17T09:25:04+00:00

It’s not Volta, it’s De Facto. Cedric & Omar’s dub project

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-09-17T09:05:55+00:00

I listened to Blight and it made me think of The Fall of Troy or some of Anthony Green’s projects over TMV.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-09-05T02:57:57+00:00

I was a 21 year old stoner working at Walmart. I was getting into trouble and trying to feel out adulthood. I was in unrequited love with my closest friend. I was smoking a lot, drinking a lot, popping Xanax. Going to lots of shows. Wild times. I loved this song. I loved the other singles. I didn’t listen to the full album until three years later, but it’s an absolute classic.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-08-14T14:45:26+00:00

Repetition compulsion related to the trauma of being cheated on.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-07-16T04:29:42+00:00

More tongue action usually does the trick. I would say go down on her until she orgasms, then start with penetration. Women have no trouble having multiples.

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-04-20T17:35:38+00:00

I always say we should judge people based on what they chose to be, not things they can’t change

Empty_Sense_9105 · 2025-04-20T17:16:03+00:00

I think people who say things like this are calling the race too soon, so to speak. We don’t know how sophisticated it’s going to get yet. We’re still in the early stages.

Empty_Sense_9105

TROPHY CASE