So for a couple of weeks I do what I do with all my music. With my first Moi dix Mois, cd, Nocturnal Opera, I found it was the first cd I would pop in, or listen to on the MP3, for several weeks. I think before that the longest run for a Cd like this for me was Green Days American Idiot, and that was only a week.

With Mdm's other cd the case was much the same as N.O., with the possible exception of Beyond the Gate.

Eventually I put all CDs on my Mp3 player and filled the left over space with my other music.

Well, for the last couple of weeks, I took a break from Mdm, and rarely listened to the one Versailles Cd I have (Noble). So in effect it was a break from Japanese metal/rock music.

So, yesterday in my set of Cds to listen to on the way to my friend's house I included Dix Infernal, and Noble.

First I listened to American Idiot, then an Ozzy cd through the Mini's sound system.

Then I popped in Dix Infernal.

The first two cds for me are great to me, American Idiot is like a story, and Ozzy's cd had many of his major hits.

Dix Infernal? A level of its own, and it is above the prior cds. The music style and composition is just so different and unique. The only song I have a problem with is Glorie de silence, and that is only because of the rapid fire machine gun like drumming. (other song of D.I. have a lesser version of this problem for me), but aside from that the music is great. When the notes of Dialog Symphony faded out, I realized I missed this music, there simply is nothing else like it.

Then Noble (I know, this is not Mana's work, but I think he had at least some influence:). Let me just say, I would love Hizaki, to join up at least for one album with Mana. I just think the combination of Mana's composition with Hizaki's incredibly fast and intricate guitar work, would just be awesome on yet another scale. When this cd finished, D.I. went back in.

Mana's work is now back in my main rotation. ALL OF IT. When I loaded up my Mp3 player, I first put on All of my J rock (Mdm, MM, and Hizaki), then fill the empty slots with random choices from my regular library.

Mana is definitely on a level of his own. :dix: :mana: :dix:

Reading this brings back memories.......
I remember when i first bought D.I. It would not leave my stereo for 3 months.....

I have a bad habit of over-rotating CDs. I just played the shit out of Seasons in the Abyss from Slayer and Midian from Cradle of Filth. (the opening track "at the gates of midian" still strikes me as one of the greatest instrumental openings)

Also Chthonic's new album Mirror of Retribution still wont leave my stereo!!!

Dix Infernal has to be my favorite MdM album!

I dont dig DI that much.... or beyod the gate.... he used drum machines!11 unnaturally fast ones...!!! nocturnal opera and dixanadu are written waaaaay better in that aspect

I <33 drum machines! DAMN MY LOVE FOR AGGRO TECH!!

But Mana sucks at using them XD

The funny thing about the drum Machine is, if I recall correctly Mana himself said he would want to remake D.I. without the drum machine. This was either in an interview, or a Madousho, I forget. But the gist was he didn't like the result.

For me it is not that bad on some, and really grating on others. On one of the songs the image of an AK-47, which has a characteristic CLACK-CLACK-CLACK, the drumming sounds so much like one of these guns.

Aside from the drums though, the music is great.

I never really noticed the use of drum machines. I thought Dix Infernal was fine, but definitely not the best album.

I love the nostalgia and the raw quality of it.