With the release of Dir en grey's latest album, Mortal Downer, the members gave interviews in various magazines, online and printed, to explain their writing process and promote this new milestone. Seeing as I knew that their answers would overlap or would literally be repetitive, I've collected the highlights from all those interviews. The result is massive though, so I figured to break it down into three segments: 1) pre-release/recording stage, 2) about each song, and 3) general trivia.
Here is the first part, but all in all, don't be a dick - don't plagiarize/take screenshots any of these posts.
Pre-release:
The members mentioned that the song selection process was chaotic this time. There was one meeting, then another, and a third after. Meanwhile, they were each working on demos individually, approx. 40 in total, enough for three albums. It took a long time for them to get a clear picture of what the album would be, which explains why they just keep writing new songs. All Kyo could do was wait, because he said that he can't compose songs. It was when songs from Kaoru like Kaijin no Kisu and the songs on the second half of the album came to life that the album finally appeared whole. And then, at the end of 2025, it was decided that they would start recording, but Shinya only learned the day before which song he would be recording, and he hadn't even come up with the complete drum melody for that song. He recorded it while looking at his music sheet.
The album was originally planned for release in the summer 2025.
For all the demos that were composed, Kyo had added vocal melodies for them. This isn't usual for Dir en grey, but he felt that his vocal tracks would help the rest of the band get a better idea of the demos' potential.
Shinya reiterated that Kyo's vocal melodies are the first thing to be concretely recorded on songs, then it's Shinya's drums and the rest of the instruments. Since the date for the recording of the drums was set in advance, Shinya came up with most of the final melodies at the last minute, so he congratulated himself for what he produced in such tight time constraints.
This time around, rather than developing "plot points" in the songs like they would have done in previous albums, Dir en grey consciously decided to let things end or to strip them bare instead. Toshiya is aware that listeners might be disappointed by this, but they also want to resonate with themselves. Toshiya felt anxious about the new album, because he finds it strange himself and realizes that a lot of people might think: "I don't get it" upon the first listen.
Kaoru had noticed that he preferred songs where he could enjoy "space" more during live shows, as opposed to songs crammed with several elements. He literally looked at the audio wavelengths while composing songs to make sure that each member had their own peaks, to highlight their individuality more.
Kaoru retouches all of the songs, except if he realizes that the original composer had a clear intention with one of them. Meanwhile, nobody re-arranges his songs. It takes him longer to arrange his own songs, to fit the idea that he has in mind, but other members' songs have more colour, so he finds them easier to work with.
To Shinya, it didn't matter which song was selected, whether he composed it or not [although he felt frustrated in the past that his songs weren't chosen]. He wouldn't push for one to be selected over others. Also, it takes him little time to come up with the phrases for each song, as long as he knows which parts have vocals or not.
The members find out about the lyrics basically at the same time as the fans, when the booklet is released. They don't know what Kyo is singing while they work on the recordings.
When they record the backup vocals, they still stand side-by-side. They find out what the lyrics they are supposed to sing are right before the recording session, but they basically just try to replicate the example that Kyo recorded, after listening to it once.
In the past, songs were selected to go onto the album with demo tracks that didn't involve vocal melodies yet, so this time Kaoru got the impression that Kyo was really involved or inspired by the demos since he added melodies on all of them.
Toshiya was conscious of looking at the band from a broader perspective while composing, erasing his self-expression by the same token. Doing that allowed his bass to bring cohesion to the group.
What was different about Die's approach to composition this time around is that he asked Kyo to add a vocal melody to his demos earlier than before. That helped him take the draft back home, work on the arrangements more, maybe even fiddle with where certain vocal parts were located, and produce something better to then suggest to the band as a whole.
The band did talk about writing a long song, but the idea was abandoned along the way.
The title "Mortal Downer" was chosen to reflect what Kyo realized about Dir en grey's live performances: they are able to create a unique heavy and gloomy atmosphere, so it was emphasized with this album. Shinya's initial thought on the new title was: "Aah, this time it's just two words."
Kaijin ni Kisu, Kusabi and Moumoku ga yue ni were composed last.
I recently got a copy of Phy volume 5 with The Mortal as the cover feature. There are no silly Polaroids here like in Ongaku to Hito, but there are still funny editorial comments at the back of the magazine. This one is super short, and here is my basic translation of it:
"The photoshoot took place at a cheddar-style, Western-styled house on the outskirts of Setagaya. Antique sofas, pianos, dolls... The owner lives alone in this house that is anything but ordinary. The atmosphere is mysterious, but Jake [Cloudchair] is brimming with curiosity. Camera in hand, he took pictures of all sorts of things. He seemed to get along well with the owner, who brought something out of the attic that he 'normally never shows to anyone.' We can't reveal what it was, but everyone was amazed. Oh, but as soon as we arrived, Demon Lord Sakurai, perhaps tired, went to sleep on an antique bed. Even in his sleep, he was as beautiful as an antique ornament."
Happy International Women’s Day to my female ocs because they are all slay ladies ❤️ We love female alcoholics, religious nut jobs, hating your father, and being perfect ❤️
happy birthday toll! we love you so, so much. keep lighting the world with your beautiful and sweet smile (even though you look serious as hell in these jsjdjksk). 62 and maaany more <3
Have a Traditional drawing of mine! It’s….a Work in progress….😅….Traditional Color blending is so hard, damn. I used PrismaColor for this one! My beloved!
Her name is Phy! Or…Sphyraena! She is my MHA Oc, known in the hero world as “Barracuda”. Her Quirk consists of a Beach Quirk. She is far more practiced in Sand than she is in water, due to her preferring to stay dry, as if sea water hits her, it makes her become a Sea Monster. She would purposely avoid any water activity in a hypothetical Beach Episode.
