The album is named after the Ouroboros symbol, which is a dragon or snake figure depicted in a full circle consuming itself.

The symbol represents continuity and the cycle of power, emphasizing the theme of reincarnation, an idea propagated heavily by the band during promotion.

[8] Following the finale of their 2007 touring, much of the song writing was completed on an individual basis in January and February 2008, without the members meeting to collaborate.

The band recorded with many new instruments, including mandolin,[12] congas, electric sitar,[8] and biwa to create a unique sound,[7] and vocalist Kyo sets emphasis on "non-screaming vocals,"[7] accentuating softer composition, while still blending in his unique screams, screeches, and polished death metal growls.

[13] Uroboros is "stuffed with themes of 'guilt and reincarnation' as well as 'the past, present and future of Dir En Grey'", as guitarist Kaoru stated in a press release.

[15]Together with the band's label, a California-based radio station, Indie 103.1, premiered music from Uroboros on October 19, 26 and November 2.

The former referring to the movement of the Earth, while the latter is a "word from Russian origin" used "to talk about elements that are linked to sins," according to Visual Music Japan's interview Kaoru did with journalist Mandah Frénot.

The live footage includes "Repetition of Hatred", "Agitated Screams of Maggots", and "Hydra -666-" from the band's Zepp Tokyo concert from 22 December 2007, "Dead Tree" from Wacken Open Air 2007, and "Dozing Green" from a show on Tour 07 The Marrow of a Bone; tracks one through four were all previously included on In Weal or Woe.

Allmusic chose Uroboros as an "AMG Album Pick", praising the release for its variety and willingness to escape the band's stereotypes;[1] Another oft-mentioned aspect is the continued use of Japanese lyrics by Kyo;[26] however, the album was also advertised with specific attention to the English revisions of "Dozing Green" and "Glass Skin", while other tracks also had heavy use of English.

A negative that some reviewers identified is repetitiveness in the album's style, though this was interpreted as a strong point by JD Considine of Revolver.

[24] [Uroboros features] muscular funk licks, soaring power-ballad melodies, and creepy atmospherics; moments that have the slow intensity of a dirge, and others that rush with the hell-bent-for-leather abandon of classic metal.

This marked Dir En Grey's first time ranking on the United States' central music chart.