D'espairsRay @ CROSS ROAD Fest Live Report

[Demivee]

I‘m literally in tears - The crossroad show was so unbelievable good! It seemed they had no break at all, the energy was so good, like if they have never been gone.

First Highlight was that they played BORN as soundcheck - I got literally goosebumps!

The curtain raised and we already saw the setup. Tsukasa had his stacked drumset and Hizumi got a nice new D‘espa stand. He also had a microphone stand with a bird skull or something like that.

Lights went out and you could feel the excitement in the hall. Some nice industrial sounds came up and the band entered the stage. There where many screams in the audience. They had the same look as in the new artist photo.

First ever comeback Song: TRICKSTER. Nice! It felt so nostalgic and everyone went crazy.

Next song without a break: REDEEMER - oof this went so hard HIZUMI killed the breakdown. Yes, he screams!

Next song: forbidden! Dann they are pleasing us. They had so much fun and interacted a lot.

And after that: Infection wtf bro! Never ever had I imagined that they Play one of my favorite Songs of all time today!

Next song: Human-clad Monster as expected. The song is so good live!

Last song: MIRROR - the audience went crazy! It was so nice! Karyu even did his dramatic moments on the Sound box as he did back then.

I was really surprised that they didn‘t take the easy Route with playing only „new“ Songs but the did go all in with those oldschool bangers.

Sorry if the report is not as detailled as I‘m really emotional at the moment. But guys:

D‘espairsray is back! For real!!

[ghost]

Ahhh what a setlist! Reminds me alot of what they played on their US tour in like…..2012.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Love reading about all these details. Must’ve been quite the live. I’m very jealous.

[radioactivestardust]

you know, it’s so cool they started with Trickster. Leaving out the live in 2014, Trickster was the last song they played live as an encore before they disbanded in 2011. So it’s very special they started again here. Like saying no time passed.

Also Despas ALWAYS played old songs. It was kind of what made them different from other bands. They never looked back on their band history and were ashamed of their old songs. Maverick is as great as Human Clad Monsters, and it’s all amazing and the songs stand beside each other. Rather i am very surprised they did not play Death Point, because they love it so much.

I am very jealous you got to see them life yesterday, but i am also very grateful you shared the live report <3

[zeus]

So glad to read two live reports that confirm the same thing. I’m happy D’espairsRay have returned because the scene could really use what they have to offer. So jealous that you got to see them live!

[Tio_Hyde]

I’m really surprised they didn’t played Maverick. I mean, it’s their most important song. Let’s hope in the future they also look back the really old stuff of the 2000s like Diru does.

[radioactivestardust]

They will play Maverick as long as Hizumi can sing it. I do think one should not compare Despas with Dir en Grey. Dir en Grey rerecorded all their songs, to make them fit their current style. Distinctly drawing a line between old school Dir en Grey and new stuff. And it took them like 10 years until they realized that their old stuff was actually good and rewrite it. I cannot listen to new Dir en Grey because it’s not the old stuff, it’s a different band, and it breaks my heart to listen to it.
Despas just were fine with everything they did before, songs are still the same banger as they were before, they just accepted that they’ve become older and do not dress the same anymore, but the music stayed consistent (even if they got less industrial and more poppy)

[funeralinthevoid]

Fucking incredible. Never thought I’d see the day Such good songs, too.

[funeralinthevoid]

Based on their current promotional look, I’d say they’re not shying away from VK but embracing it even harder than their last few years as a band.

[Kumanosuke]

I think they only did that to be more perceived as a “metal band” overseas. Something that MANY vk bands did during that time unfortunately.

[viridian]

Haha as someone that doesn’t really care for the visual aspect I kind of liked it. As long as the band makes good music I didn’t care if they dressed in vk attire lol

[Dorian]

It was absolutely incredible to see them live again after such a long time I was fighting tears for the whole set and it flew by way too fast but the athmosphere was nothing short electric at the huge venue. Lacrima was ofc the headliner but it was clear Despa was at least almost as highly anticipated. They are so back, it was incredible

[CyberLip]

I was in Tokyo on 11/15 and would have gone to this but Kaijin Nijuu Mensou was playing that night. Easy decision as I’d never seen Kaijin Nijuu Mensou and I had already seen D’espairsRay when they came to Seattle in 2012. No regrets, Kaijin Nijuu Mensou was great