Dir en grey's melancholy metal

By Kirsty Evans

Published on November 24, 2008 at 4:44pm

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Dir en grey is still a heavy band, so it's no surprise that it's best experienced live — which will be possible when the group comes to town on Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Grand. 7 p.m., $29.50-$32; www.goldenvoice.com.

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Dir en grey by Kristy Evans

Japanese underground sensation Dir en grey hits the Warfield on its second U.S. headlining tour. The experimental group just released its strongest album in years, Uroboros, a collection of melodic, goth-influenced metal with technically tricky rhythms that's slowly picking up radio play. It may be the first album to mix harpsichord and mandolin into metal and actually make it work. Try to forgive the group for the radio-friendly pop blandness of first single "Glass Skin" — and for the inexplicable pterodactyl flying overhead in the video.