DATE: JANUARY 25, 2012
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANGELA VILLANUEVA/AARON FETERL/BARI LIEBERMAN
DIR EN GREY
TO RETURN TO U.S. FOR RUN OF TOUR DATES
INCLUDING THE STILL RECKLESS TOUR
WITH ASKING ALEXANDRIA, TRIVIUM, I SEE STARS, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE AND THE AMITY AFFLICTION
SOLO HEADLINING SHOWS ADDED AS WELL
BAND TO RELEASE REISSUE OF THEIR 2008 ALBUM ‘UROBOROS’
Japanese rockers DIR EN GREY wrapped up 2011 after releasing DUM SPIRO SPERO (The End Records) in August to critical acclaim and conquering the globe with their pummeling and artful live performances on their 2011 tour. A new year brings an announcement from the band that they will be touring North America on The Still Reckless Tour also featuring Asking Alexandria, Trivium, I See Stars, Motionless In White and The Amity Affliction. They have also plotted a pair of solo headlining shows in Seattle, WA on 3/7 and St. Petersburg, FL on 3/20, as well as the reissue of their 2008 album . 2012 dates are listed below with more to be added in the coming weeks.
The band has plans for the U.S. release of UROBOROS [Remastered & Expanded], a reissue of their experimental 2008 album which brings fans 14 tracks, including the long version of “Sa Bir” that was only heard live before; the exclusive version of “Bugaboo” that was previously only available on the limited first press analog release; “Dozing Green” and “Glass Skin” with Japanese lyrics; and “Hydra -666-” the coupling track on single “Dozing Green.” With the return of sound engineer Tue Madsen, who worked on the band’s latest album DUM SPIRO SPERO, the sound of UROBOROS is reborn.
Critical praise continues to pour in for DIR EN GREY who released their latest album DUM SPIRO SPERO (The End Records) in August 2011, a 14-track unrelenting musical assault. Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly noted: “Japan’s finest shape-shifting metal machine’s latest may be their most bipolar, but it’s also their most complete…moments of beautiful brutality…punishing slogs through the grind-and-growl swamp.” (8/5/11).
The global release of DUM SPIRO SPERO prompted European and South American tours before closing out the year in North America. Nathan Smith of HoustonPress.com caught the N.A. kick off date 12/4 in Houston and wrote: “…Dir En Grey ripped open a pummeling collection heavy on cuts from its new album, Dum Spiro Spero…Dir En Grey is hardly content to keep it simple, mixing in progressive tempo changes and Maiden-esque vocal wailing to arrive at a sound all its own. Kyo may be metal’s best-kept secret. Showing off the incredible range that has him fairly compared to avant-metal god Mike Patton…He effortlessly shifted vocal styles from gutturals reminiscent of George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher to soaring histrionics eerily indistinguishable from Queensryche’s Geoff Tate…It takes a special metal band to transcend a pretty dramatic language barrier and connect with a U.S. audience as easily as Dir En Grey did on Sunday.” (12/5/11)
Witness DIR EN GREY’s renowned live performance in one of the following cities:
Solo Headlining Show
Wed March 7 The Showbox at Market Seattle, WA
The Still Reckless Tour w/ Asking Alexandria, Trivium, I See Stars, Motionless In White and The Amity Affliction
Fri March 9 Senator Theatre Chico, CA
Sat March 10 SOMA San Diego, CA
Sun March 11 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
Tue March 13 Las Palmas Race Track Mission, TX
Thu March 15 Red 7 Austin, TX
Fri March 16 White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
Sat March 17 Quiktrip Ballpark Grand Prairie, TX
Solo Headlining Show
Tue March 20 State Theatre St Petersburg, FL
The Still Reckless Tour w/ Asking Alexandria, Trivium, I See Stars, Motionless In White and The Amity Affliction
Fri March 23 Amos South End Charlotte, NC
Sat March 24 The Norva Norfolk, VA
Sun March 25 The National Richmond, VA
Tue March 27 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ
http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/top.html
http://www.facebook.com/direngreyofficial
http://www.myspace.com/direngrey
http://twitter.com/#!/DIRENGREY_web
http://www.youtube.com/direngreyweb
For more information on DIR EN GREY, contact MSO:
Mitch Schneider, 818-380-0400 x235, mschneider@msopr.com
Angela Villanueva, 818-380-0400 x232, avillanueva@msopr.com
Aaron Feterl, 818-380-0400 x237, aaron@msopr.com
Bari Lieberman, 818-380-0400 x222, blieberman@msopr.com (Tour Press)
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