On August 19th, the two-man concert of D'espairsRay and Moi dix Mois, 'Dark Sanctuary' took place at the Shibuya O-EAST.
On a hot muggy day where you could feel the humid air clinging to your skin, the floor was crammed full packed with the many fans gathered in Shibuya O-EAST. People wore various fashions: some of them wore MANIA T-shirt's and put a towel around their necks, some wore Lolita fashion, some put on yukata and bright colored wigs and others (both men and women) wore classic gothic style dress. The presence of an audience eager to enjoy the live and trying to become part of the show through their choice of clothing was just overwhelming.
When the dark SE started and the venue became dark, the crowd cheered. The curtain then opened and the band appeared on the brightly lit stage; the cheers became screams. The first song, Garnet, started with TSUKASA's drums sounding heavy and HIZUMI singing seeming more like shouting. Synthesizer sounds and a female chorus were added to HIZUMI's vocals and D'espairsRay's heavy rock became even harder, which made the crowd go absolutely wild. With the audience roaring along they played the upbeat song TRICKSTƏR.
Karyu, who wore a long black scarf on his neck, moved nimbly to the front of the stage and played his guitar furiously while bending backwards. ZERO played with his feet set far apart, slamming on his bass while looking around at the audience with his sharp eyes. The song SIXty∞NINe followed from SE, which thrilled all of us with its mix of unique rhythms, beautiful melodies and heavy performance.
When Angeldust started with HIZUMI's 'death voice' shouts, the audience flooded forward all at once. "I don't care if you tear your skirt! Let's go wild!", he shouted, then dashed into MIЯROR. Fans jumped in sync with the sound explosion. ZERO and Karyu played in the front stage and head banged wildly.
The mood changed when the SE became very quiet, and BORN started in the darkened venue. HIZUMI looked up and sang enthusiastically, as though he were alone instead of in front of an audience. The following song, DESERT, played further on this feeling, with the melodies developing from a mix of silence and harsh noise and HIZUMI's shouts piercing the moments of stillness. Infection followed after some computer sound effects. In an eerie blue light, the mood became almost mysterious. ZERO almost stood his bass as he played. All of sudden, a cacophony exploded as TSUKASA threw his drum sticks over his head and hit the drums hard.
The spot light centered on HIZUMI and SCREEN started quietly. "Moon, hold me and light me......" he sang and his voice changed and he began shouting,and thick sounds of the guitar, bass, and synthesizer were added on. "I'll live with wounds
through my given time, until the flame of my life burns out." HIZUMI's singing seemed to come from his soul and the passion he displayed moved us and made the hearts of the people in the audience ache at the same time. In Squall, the phrases of guitar, bass, and drums washed over one after another like waves. In this dramatic song, HIZUMI sang of how he would make a clean break with his past and start afresh, which touched our hearts deeply.
Towards the finale, the excited audience screamed "Oi! Oi!" while pumping their fists in the air to the beat of the drums. HIZUMI took off his jacket, revealing a golden tank top. The live then charged into its last spurt. In Fuyuushita Risou and "Forbidden", the audience raised their hands, jumped and head banged wildly. That momentum continued and reached its climax in Hollow, which made everyone go crazy. HIZUMI and Karyu looked at each other happily when the audience sang together loudly "la-lala...la-lala..." This carried on until the audience was exhausted but satisfied; then the band left the stage.
The music of D'espairsRay always wakes the basic instinct and wildness inside of all of us and listeners can't help but move to the music. People who experience a live of D'espairsRay's will truly understand and appreciate what such music can do for the heart, body and soul.
Set list
1. Garnet
2. TRICKSTƏR
3. SIXty∞NINe
4. Angeldust
5. MIЯROR
6. BORN
7. DESERT
8. Infection
9. SCREEN
10. Squall
11. Fuyuushita Risou
12. "Forbidden"
13. Hollow
