Dir en Grey - Rinkaku

The postcard with the whole image that was used for the cover (For some reason it got turned upside down)

A sticker with the normal editions cover-image

The packaging

A photobook with lyrics and thoughts from the band

Inside of the packaging

Rinkaku is the new single from the Japanese band Dir en Grey, which has become one of my many favourites in a short time. Their sound is really great, but might need a while to get used to, because Kyo´s vocals range from low growls to high pitched screams in a matter of seconds.
Well, onto the single itself: Rinkaku was released in three different versions in Japan; The normal edition, the limited edition including a DVD with clips from recording, and the Deluxe order-only limited edition. Normally I don´t buy singles from artists because they don´t have that much on them, but what got my mind turned was the live videos on the DVD. For the Deluxe edition Dir en Grey recorded most of their main setlist from their Ratio Ducat, non Fortuna live in Japan in 2011. What makes it so special is that every song that they recorded was symphonic versions of their new and old songs that they played during the live. I was mesmerized by their symphonic version of the song Amon on the deluxe version of Dum Spiro Spero, so I just had to buy this to get the live DVD.
The contents of the single are as follows:
CD:
01 輪郭
02 霧と繭
03 輪郭 （Remix）〈Remixed by Akira Yamaoka〉

DVD:
TOUR2011 AGE QUOD AGIS Ratio ducat, non fortuna
2011.11.11 TOKYO DOME CITY HALL
01 AMON
02 LOTUS
03 OBSCURE
04 流転の塔
05 暁
06 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇
07 THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB
08 mazohyst of decadence
09 蜜と唾
10 「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟の理念と冷たい雨
11 DIFFERENT SENSE
12 DECAYED CROW
13 輪郭 (Scenes From Recording) 

 The single itself was released towards the end of December, but it took until a week ago to arrive in the mail, but I couldn´t have been happier when it finally dropped through the mail slot. 
The live is brilliant, and Kyo´s stage presense is of no match. Vocally the sound isn´t as pure as on the album, but that is to be expected from Kyo´s vocals anyway, because he sure hasn´t made it easy on himself. 
My personal highlights of the DVD are probably Amon, because I like the song so much, and then THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB, because of Kyo´s facial expressions. They are just so awesome that I can´t find words for it.
The main song itself, Rinkaku is also something that I can´t get enough of. I can play it on repeat and never get tired of it. It´s so fresh and overturning when it comes to the band´s concept, showing that you can´t ever guess what Dir en Grey will come up with next. It also shows that Kyo has made a good recovery from his operation from almost a year back, being the first release in a while. I´m also glad that Kyo´s harsh vocals are alive and kicking in Kiri to Mayu, the B-track of the single. This is going to be an interesting year following Dir en grey with a new mini-album coming out in april.