UROBOROS

After the 2007 tour ended, most of the writing was done separately in January and February 2008, with the members not meeting to collaborate. They regrouped after two months alone and shared what each had built; the guitarist Kaoru said the intent was to show "I'm making this song right now", and to end up with a wider variety of songs. The first tracks were recorded that spring in the Sony Building in Tokyo, after which the band went back to pre-production for the rest. They brought in a great many new instruments — mandolin, congas, electric sitar, biwa — and the singer Kyo put the weight on non-screaming vocals, bringing out the softer writing while still folding in his own screams and growls. Kaoru and Die used several different guitars and techniques, and some guitars were recorded straight from the amps. In a press release Kaoru said the album was "stuffed with themes of 'guilt and reincarnation' as well as 'the past, present and future of Dir En Grey'", and that it moved into heavier, darker sound than before while carrying an oriental and religious mood. The title comes from the Ouroboros, the dragon or snake drawn in a full circle consuming itself, standing for continuity and the cycle of power. Koji Yoda, the band's long-time artist, designed the sleeve after King Crimson's Lizard of 1970. The running order here is the Japanese standard edition's as printed.