Album Review: D=SIRE — 終末の情景 (Shūmatsu no Jōkei, 1995)

Verdict: ★★★★★ (5/5)  •  Style: Dark, atmospheric early Visual Kei  •  Why it matters: A cult classic that shaped the underground aesthetic of 90s VK.

終末の情景 — released in 1995, a milestone in underground VK.

Context & Legacy

In the mid-90s, Visual Kei was exploding with both mainstream breakthroughs and deeply underground, shadowy acts. D=SIRE belonged firmly to the latter, and 終末の情景 stands as their defining statement. Recently resurfacing on streaming, it’s a reminder of just how experimental and emotionally raw this scene once was.

Sound & Atmosphere

This record is drenched in despair and theatricality. The guitars cut like broken glass, the vocals oscillate between whispers and agonized cries, and the production has that unmistakable “90s underground” grit that makes it feel even more dangerous. Tracks like 静寂 (Silence) and the title track 終末の情景 are suffocatingly dark, yet oddly beautiful — the sound of a band painting with shadows.

Standout Track

静寂 might be the most haunting track here, but the title song is the one that lingers longest. It’s not “catchy” in the usual sense — instead, it claws at you with atmosphere and emotional weight. Fans who stumble onto it today often call it “timeless” because it feels as relevant now as it did in ’95.

Listen

終末の情景 is finally available on Spotify, giving new listeners access to a once hard-to-find gem.

Why It Still Resonates

Albums like this remind us why Visual Kei isn’t just about fashion or hooks — it’s about atmosphere, extremity, and the raw edge between beauty and chaos. D=SIRE may never have reached X JAPAN levels of fame, but in terms of mood and cult following, 終末の情景 is every bit as important. The fact that it’s resurfacing on streaming platforms in 2025 feels almost poetic: a dark whisper from the past that refuses to stay buried.

Final Thoughts

This is not an easy listen, and it’s not meant to be. But for anyone curious about the true DNA of Visual Kei’s underground, 終末の情景 is essential. A haunting document of an era, and proof that some records only get more powerful with time.

Tags: Reviews, D=SIRE, 終末の情景, 1995, Visual Kei classics