Diabolos | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 21, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Genre | Art rock, neo-prog, alternative rock | |||
Length | 45:42 | |||
Label | Nippon Crown | |||
Producer | Gackt | |||
Gackt chronology | ||||
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Singles from Diabolos | ||||
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Diabolos is the sixth full-length studio album released by Japanese solo artist Gackt on September 21, 2005 in Japan, and on October 26, 2007, in eighteen countries across Europe. [1] [2] [3] As a concept album, it is a sequel entrant to the "Moon Saga" found in the eighth studio album Last Moon and theatre play Mysteries of Yoshitsune I&II , as well prequel to his third and fourth studio albums, Moon and Crescent , the film Moon Child , and novel Moon Child Requiem.
In April 2005, with the release of the album's first single "Black Stone", was the turning point from compilation and unplugged themed albums in 2004 and early 2005, to alternative rock and continuation of "Moon Saga" from the fourth album Crescent in 2003. The name of the album doesn't literally symbolize Latin diabolus , but the darkness in human's heart, which is shown through the characters of the story. [4] [5] The album cover represents a person "taking off the mask", realizing another part of himself inside which is dark and evil. [5]
Conceptually, the story of "Moon Saga" is separated in four chapters, roughly, first chapter from the year 700 to 1300, second from 1300 to 1600, third from 1600 to current time (2000), and fourth from the current time (2000) to near future (2045). [6] [7] The previous work covered the fourth chapter, while Diabolos in between the second and third chapter, [6] roughly between 1500 and 1600. [8] The whole story is set in both Europe and Asia (mostly Japan), depending on the story and meaning wanted to be expressed. [6]
The story from the first chapter follows the "darkside inhabitants" - darts, who were scattered all over Europe, fighting for different countries even against fellow inhabitants in the shadow of history. [7] The second chapter how they tried to make something that will surpass them and for purpose of fighting, so were created 13 "shitos" (使徒, apostle, disciple), but their body was incomplete and couldn't appear under the sun. [7] From the third chapter, now known as "vampires", is followed their life. [7] They didn't pursue their purpose of life, and as become aware of the darkness inside them, raises the question what is now their purpose of existence. [7] After the awakening, two of the thirteen shito died (the man and woman shown in the music video of "Todokanai Ai to Shitteita noni, Osaekirezuni Aishitsuduketa..."), leaving behind eleven. Five out of the eleven decided to stand up and fight against the darts, their creators. They wanted to prove that there was meaning in their existence, however they were outnumbered, and there was only one shito survivor. [7]
However, it is not a vampire's story as they were presented as a way of expressing a certain evil side and existence of humans. [6] They long for immortality believing it's a wonderful thing, while vampires know how painful such an existence is and seek a peaceful death. [6] The "Moon Saga" story is a symbolic story about the repetition of human sins, war and Diabolos carries the meaning of evil in the world, ephemerality of destiny, sadness as well hope in future. [6] [5] [7] While the album Moon expressed the darkness inside which is locked away, Diabolos deeply opens it up and acknowledges it in ourselves. [5]
In the album's booklet every song is accompanied with an image, each of which have a specific meaning to the story. [5] The first song's, "Misty", picture is set in Europe, and symbolizes the wheel of fate and meeting with love companion after realizing their fate. [5] The second "Farewell" is set in Japan during the first chapter, and means memory which is passed down to the next life. [5] The third "Noesis" is both in Japan and Europe, showing the predicting of future through past memory. [5] The fourth "Ash" is in Europe, and means feeling own soul. The fifth "Metamorphoze" is in Europe and asks the question: what's the purpose of existence and fighting? [5] From the sixth track, "Dispar", to the eight track, "Black Stone", the pictures are set in Europe, and depict going to a battle ground, fighting to prove one's worth and the meaning of existence. [5] The ninth "Storm" shows a "shito" hiding among "darts". [5] The tenth "Road" depicts the tragic meeting of love companions, while the eleventh "Todokanai Ai to Shitteitanoni Osaekirezu ni Aishitsuzuketa..." is set around the year 2000 and serves as a link to fourth chapter, as well it is linked to Crescent's booklet. [5]
When compared to Gackt's past albums, it's notable for its heavy sound and rhythm. [4] [7] [9] [8] [10] The songs on the album, although conceptually related, are independent from each other, [6] and the overall sound vary from hard, progressive, alternative, symphonic, and ballad rock elements up to more melodious instrumental tracks "Misty" and "Future". [7] [9] [8]
The album was released on September 21, 2005 in Japan by Nippon Crown. In the initial counting week of October it reached number four on the Oricon chart, with sales of 61,047 copies. In the upcoming week, it was at number seventeen respectively, with sales of 13,405 copies. It charted for 9 weeks, [11] and sold over 100,000 copies, being certified Gold by the RIAJ. [12]
Preceding the album release, were released three singles, "Black Stone", "Metamorphoze" and "Todokanai Ai to Shitteita no ni Osaekirezu ni Aishitsuzuketa...". The first single "Black Stone" reached number three on the second counting week of May, with sales of 42,712 copies. In the upcoming week, it was at number thirteen, with sales of 11,212 copies. It charted for 7 weeks, [13] and sold over 100,000 copies, being certified Gold by RIAJ. [14] The second single "Metamorphoze" reached number two on the first counting week of June, with sales of 90,588 copies. In the upcoming two weeks, it was at number seven and seventeen, with sales of 31,169 and 14,052 copies. It charted for 13 weeks, [13] and with sales of 156,709 was the 62nd best-selling single of the year, certified Gold by RIAJ. [15]
The third single "Todokanai Ai to Shitteita no ni Osaekirezu ni Aishitsuzuketa..." reached number three on the fourth counting week of August, with sales of 38,910 copies. In the upcoming week, it was at number fourteen, with sales of 13,669 copies. It charted for 9 weeks, [13] and sold over 100,000 copies, being certified Gold by RIAJ. [16]
On September 23, 2005, Gackt went on a, at the time, his longest nationwide tour Diabolos ~Aien no Shi~ (Diabolos ~哀婉の詩~, ~A Sorrowful Poem~) at Toda, Saitama, Japan. There were held 36 concerts in 26 cities across Japan, [4] which ended with a final New Year's Eve spectacle at the Tokyo Dome, in front of more than forty-two thousand people. [4] The final concert costed 500 million Yen (roughly $4.3 million) [17] [18] and included entering the arena on a horseback in full gallop, in a suspended coffin during "Lust for Blood", singing hanging 20m in the air, and disappearing in a sudden smoke explosion. [18] [19] In 2006, the tour was continued with a concert on January 14, in Korea, at Fencing Stadium in Korean Olympic Park, which was his first Asian solo concert. [20] [21] [22]
All tracks are written by Gackt. C
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Misty" | 2:18 |
2. | "Farewell" | 4:28 |
3. | "Noesis" | 5:50 |
4. | "Ash" | 4:32 |
5. | "Metamorphoze" (Metamorphoze ~メタモルフォーゼ~) | 3:40 |
6. | "Dispar" | 3:27 |
7. | "Future" | 4:48 |
8. | "Black Stone" | 3:14 |
9. | "Storm" | 3:41 |
10. | "Road" | 5:06 |
11. | "Todokanai Ai to Shitteita no ni Osaekirezu ni Aishitsuzuketa..." (届カナイ愛ト知ッテイタノニ 抑エキレズニ愛シ続ケタ… "Even Though I Knew This Love Could Never Reach You, I Continued to Love You Uncontrollably...") | 4:38 |
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Gakuto Oshiro, better known by his mononymous stage name Gackt, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actor.
Rikako Kakiuchi, professionally known by her stage name, Rina Aiuchi and formerly known as R, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, businesswoman, fashion model, and YouTuber. Born in Higashiōsaka, Japan, she won the first season of the audition Super Starlight Contest, winning a recording contract with Giza Studio. Her eurobeat-sounding debut album, Be Happy (2001) was certified gold in Japan and spawned a top-five single, "Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense", which served as the theme song to the Japanese anime television series Case Closed. Aiuchi's second album Power of Words became her best-selling album, selling over 419,000 copies nationwide and certificated platinum in Japan.
Mars is the first full-length studio album released by Japanese solo artist Gackt. It was released on April 26, 2000.
"Mizérable" is the debut extended-play or mini album of Japanese singer-songwriter Gackt, released on May 12, 1999, by Nippon Crown. It marked his solo debut, four months after he left Malice Mizer, immediately gaining success reaching second position on the Oricon Albums Chart.
The Sixth Day: Single Collection is a compilation album released by Gackt on February 25, 2004. The album collects the artist's previous single's title songs from 1999 up to 2003, some of them having been re-recorded for this release. The Sixth Day complements The Seventh Night, an unplugged album released three months later.
The Seventh Night: Unplugged is a compilation album released by Gackt on May 26, 2004. It contains acoustic arrangements of previously released songs and complements The Sixth Day, a single collection released three months earlier. The unplugged theme of The Seventh Night would be continued by Gackt's subsequent album, Love Letter.
Moon is the third full-length studio album released by Japanese solo artist Gackt on June 19, 2002. Instead of a booklet, the concept album comes with a printed note by the artist, asking readers to "sense" the record's story, rather than analyzing the lyrics. The booklet was eventually included in the packaging of Moon's 2003 follow-up Crescent. Both albums are linked, as well as his more recent albums Diabolos and Last Moon from the "Moon Saga".
Crescent is the fourth full-length studio album released by Japanese solo artist Gackt on December 3, 2003. It is a concept album linked to its predecessor Moon and comes with booklets for both records. Crescent also features a duet with L'Arc-en-Ciel vocalist Hyde for "Orenji no Taiyou" with whom Gackt co-starred in the 2003 movie Moon Child.
Love Letter is the fifth full-length studio album originally released by Japanese solo artist Gackt on February 14, 2005 in Japan.
"Redemption" is a single released by Japanese musician Gackt on January 25, 2006. Its songs "Redemption" and "Longing" were theme songs of the video game Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII.
The discography of Japanese recording artist Gackt consists of eight studio albums, eight compilation albums, one extended play, and forty-eight singles. In 1999 Gackt signed a recording contract with Nippon Crown. His breakthrough success was the EP Mizérable, which peaked at number 2 on the Oricon albums chart. His single "Returner ", released on June 20, 2007, was his first and only single to reach the number one spot on the Oricon charts to date. In 2007, his entire back catalogue, with live song recordings from Drug Party tour, was released on the iTunes Store, video collection "The Greatest Filmography" was released in the United States and Canada, and his album Diabolos was released in 18 European countries. From November 2008 until March 2010 his records were released under his own independent label Dears, but still supported by Nippon Crown. In April 2010, Gackt transferred to Avex Group. Since February 2014 they're released by his independent record label G&Lovers, which is supported by Crown Tokuma. As a solo artist, since 2009 are reported sales of over 10 million, and holds the male soloist record for most top ten consecutive chart singles as of July 18, 2011.
"Metamorphoze" is a single released by Gackt on May 25, 2005 under Nippon Crown.
"Returner " is a single released by Gackt, on June 20, 2007, by Nippon Crown. It is Gackt's first single to top the Oricon Singles Chart, and first by record label since Kaze's "22-Sai no Wakare" released in 1975.
Ju-ken is a Japanese session bassist. He was a support member of Gackt, The Wanderers and Anna Tsuchiya. He is one of the most in-demand bassists in Japan.
"Todokanai Ai to Shitteita no ni Osaekirezu ni Aishitsuzuketa..." is a single released by Gackt on August 10, 2005 under Nippon Crown.
0079–0088 is a compilation album released by Gackt on December 19, 2007. It contains eight tracks, which had either previously been used on the soundtracks of the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam movies or were covers of earlier songs from the Gundam franchise.
"Kimi ni Aitakute" (君に逢いたくて) is a single released by Gackt on October 27, 2004 under Nippon Crown. It peaked at second place on the Oricon Singles Chart and charted for seventeen weeks. In 2004, it was the 96th best selling single of the year, with sales of 98,335 copies. It ultimately sold 124,280 copies, making it Gackt's ninth best selling single. It was certified gold by RIAJ.
Moon Saga: Mysteries of Yoshitsune I & II is a duology of theatre stage plays written, composed and directed by Japanese recording artist Gackt. The original productions are notable for the first major use of projection mapping in theatre stage plays. The original soundtrack was released on October 1, 2014 and compiles music from the plays. It consists of two music CDs, one for each chapter, the first of which was performed in 2012, while the second was performed in 2014.
Last Moon is the eighth full-length studio album by Japanese recording artist Gackt released on April 27, 2016 in Japan. As a concept album, it is considered to be the final, but not ending part of "Moon Saga", a conceptual story by which is linked to its predecessor albums Moon (2002), Crescent (2003), and Diabolos (2005), as well as the movie Moon Child (2003), theatre play Mysteries of Yoshitsune I&II (2012–2014), and two novels.
"Ai o Sakebe" (愛を叫べ) is the 47th single by Japanese boy band Arashi. It was released on September 2, 2015 under their record label J Storm. "Ai o Sakebe" was used as the background song for the Recruit Zexy commercial. The single sold 462,550 copies in its first week and topped the weekly Oricon Singles Chart. With over 519,000 copies sold, the single was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). "Ai o Sakebe" placed 12th on Oricon's 2015 yearly singles ranking.