Dum Spiro Spero (album)

For the Latin phrase, see Dum spiro spero.

Dum Spiro Spero
Studio album by Dir En Grey
Released	August 3, 2011 (2011-08-03) (see release history)
Recorded	2010–2011[1]
Genre	Experimental metal, metalcore, extreme metal, progressive metal
Length	67:31
Language	Japanese, English
Label	Firewall Div./SMEJ (JP) The End (US) Okami (EU)
Producer	Dir En Grey
Dir En Grey chronology
Uroboros (2008) Dum Spiro Spero (2011)
Singles from Dum Spiro Spero
"Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" Released: December 2, 2009 "Lotus" Released: January 26, 2011 "Different Sense" Released: June 22, 2011

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Revolver	[3]
Rock Sound	[4]
The Metal Critic	[5]

Dum Spiro Spero (stylized as DUM SPIRO SPERO, Latin for "While I Breathe, I Hope") is the eighth studio album by the Japanese metal band Dir En Grey, released on August 3, 2011. It was released in both a single-CD edition, a deluxe edition digipak with two bonus tracks ("Rasetsukoku" and "Amon (Symphonic Ver.)"), and a limited edition featuring the deluxe digipak, a DVD and two LPs.^[6]

The bonus track "Rasetsukoku" is a re-recording of the original song found on their 2000 album Macabre, and the three singles featured on the album ("Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami", "Lotus" and "Different Sense") have all been remastered. The second disc marks the first time Dir En Grey have released remixes of their own songs since the 2001 single "embryo".

The album art was designed by the band's long-time artist Koji Yoda. This artcover probably represents Tara, the Mother of Liberation in Tibetan buddhism. The scenery of the bamboos is very meaningful to the band. According to guitarist Die, "the bamboo conveys the idea of sacredness and serenity [...]. Ultimately, it means to keep faith and hope alive even though you are living the worst : While I breath, I hope.^[7]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Kyo, all music composed by Dir En Grey.

Disc one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kyoukotsu no Nari" (狂骨の鳴り; "The Cry from Lunatic Bone")	1:58
2.	"The Blossoming Beelzebub"	7:35
3.	"Different Sense"	5:03
4.	"Amon"	4:03
5.	""Yokusou ni Dreambox" Aruiwa Seijuku no Rinen to Tsumetai Ame" (「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟の理念と冷たい雨; "'Nesting Within the Dreambox', or Cold Rain and The Philosophy of the Mature")	4:49
6.	"Juuyoku" (獣慾; "Animal Lust")	3:28
7.	"Shitataru Mourou" (滴る朦朧; "Trickling Ambiguity")	4:02
8.	"Lotus"	4:03
9.	"Diabolos"	9:51
10.	"Akatsuki" (暁; "Dawn")	3:33
11.	"Decayed Crow"	3:48
12.	"Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" (激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇; "The violence and the darkness of the burning heat entwines in my heart")	4:03
13.	"Vanitas" (Emptiness)	5:27
14.	"Ruten no Tou" (流転の塔; "Tower of Vicissitudes")	4:27

Disc two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rasetsukoku" (羅刹国)	4:41
2.	"Amon (Symphonic Ver.)"	5:02
3.	"Ruten no Tou (Unplugged Ver.)" (流転の塔 (Unplugged Ver.))	4:56
4.	"Diabolos (Demo 2010, Short Ver.)"	5:01
5.	"Akatsuki (Demo 2010)" (暁 (Demo2010))	3:29
6.	"The Blossoming Beelzebub (Remix)" (Remixed by Kaoru)	6:24
7.	""Yokusou ni Dreambox" Aruiwa Seijuku no Rinen to Tsumetai Ame (Remix)" (「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟した理念と冷たい雨 (Remix), remixed by Toshiya)	5:19
8.	"Shitataru Mourou (Remix)" (滴る朦朧 (Remix), remixed by Shinya)	3:47
9.	"Akatsuki (Remix)" (暁 (Remix), remixed by Die)	4:23
10.	"Decayed Crow (Remix)" (Remixed by Kyo)	3:40

Japanese Deluxe Edition DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Recording & Interview"
2.	"Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" (激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇; "The violence and the darkness of the burning heat entwines in my heart", Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon)
3.	"Lotus" (Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon)
4.	"Different Sense" (Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon)
5.	"Juuyoku" (獣慾; "Animal Lust", Scenes From A Knot only Tour2011 The Decomposition of the Moon at Kyoto Fanj on May 26, 2011)
6.	"Vanitas" (In-Studio Footage)
7.	"Zan" (残; "Remains", PV)

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Japan	August 3, 2011	Firewall, Sony Music Entertainment Japan	2-CD album with bonus DVD, 2-LP box set (Limited)	SFCD-0092-96
			Compact disc	SFCD-0097
Europe	August 5, 2011	Okami Records	Compact disc	B0057GW5WS
			Compact disc (Limited)	B0058TRG3M
			12" LP album	B0058TRFOC

Charting

Country	Provider(s)	Peak position	Sales/ shipments
Japan Weekly Albums[8]	Oricon	4	37,586[8]
United States Billboard 200[9]	Billboard	135	3,900[10]
United States Top Heatseekers[9]		2
United States Top Independent[9]		22
United States Top Rock Albums[9]		39
United States Top Hard Rock Albums[9]		9

References

1. ^ Bosso, Joe (2011-07-26). "Interview: Kaoru and Die from Japan's new kings of metal Dir En Grey" (in English) (Interview). musicradar.com. http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-kaoru-and-die-from-japans-new-kings-of-metal-dir-en-grey-483939/3. Retrieved 2011-07-26. 
2. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Dum Spiro Spero - Dir En Grey". http://www.allmusic.com/album/dum-spiro-spero-r2228728. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
3. ^ Wood, Mikael. "Review: Dir En Grey – Dum Spiro Spero". http://www.revolvermag.com/reviews/review-dir-en-grey-dum-spiro-spero.html. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
4. ^ Moorhouse, Giles. "Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero". http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/dir-en-grey-dum-spiro-spero. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
5. ^ http://www.themetalcritic.com/reviews#!__dir-en-grey
6. ^ "Dir en grey Official News Release". http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-newrelease.html. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
7. ^ Mandah Frénot. "Dir En Grey (2011)" (Interview). verdammnis.com. France: VerdamMnis. http://www.verdammnis.com/interviews.php?id=64. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "2011年08月第3週の邦楽アルバムランキング情報" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=ja&types=rnk&year=2011&month=08&week=3&submit5.x=20&submit5.y=16. Retrieved 2011-08-13. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dum Spiro Spero US charting" (in English). billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums?order=gainer#/album/dir-en-grey/dum-spiro-spero/1509694. Retrieved 2011-08-13. 
10. ^ "Dir En Grey: 'Dum Spiro Spero' First-Week Sales Revealed" (in English). blabbermouth.net. 2011-08-10. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161796. Retrieved 2011-08-13.