EXO’s legacy and myth-making power have always been undeniable. Since their 2012 debut with an otherworldly concept that changed idol storytelling, the group has become synonymous with cinematic world-building, strong vocals, and pop that never plays it safe. From hits like Growl, Monster, and Love Shot to sold-out world tours and million-selling albums, EXO have…
Category: Album Reviews
The Vampire Chronicles: ENHYPEN’s “THE SIN: VANISH” – ALBUM REVIEW
THE SIN: VANISH is a narrative-driven EP which draws on ENHYPEN’s vampire concept and associated lore. Guest starring Park Jeong-min as a newsreader/investigative journalist, the album utilises first-person narration to tell the story of the forbidden romance between a vampire and their lover. While the album has been termed as experimental due to its format,…
CRYSTAL LAKE Deliver Their Most Powerful Statement Yet on “The Weight of Sound”
With The Weight of Sound, Crystal Lake delivers a record that is ferocious yet polished, and what I love most is how it explores what “heaviness” really means. Seven albums in, the Tokyo metalcore titans sound sharper and more focused than ever, turning that intensity into what may be their most complete release yet. Instrumentally,…
KIK Drops New EP “LOW KIK”, A Confident Comeback for the Band
EP LOW KIK goes beyond simply setting where KIK stands as a band. As artists continue to grow, the way they deal with emotions cannot stay the same, and this release is once again completed in a way that clearly reflects “KIK at this moment”. For those who may not be familiar, KIK is a…
Gabby Onme Step Into a Very Emotional Territory with “Gabby Onme 3.0”
Korean duo Gabby Onme, made up of Adrian and KINDA, return with new music. Their newest EP, Gabby Onme 3.0, just hit the market, and without a doubt, it is compact and emotionally dense. Described by Gabby Onme as “a new chapter”, Gabby Onme 3.0 reflects on the past to sketch the emotional outlines of…
Stray Kids Want You To “DO IT” – EP Review
Stray Kids are giving Shia Labeouf a run for his money with their freshest title, DO IT. The promoted song of the same name is a simple little tune, less loud than Stray Kids’ previous ones, and naturally, possesses a repeated motivational mantra to ‘Just do it, do it, do it, do it.’ Its catchy…
Samey, But Listenable: NCT DREAM’s “Beat It Up” Review
What do you get after having a nice bowl of soup at a restaurant? Another soup of the same variety? Likely not. Perhaps a main course, or some focaccia – but you’ve had your fill of one thing, and now you’re ready for another. NCT DREAM’s latest comeback and titular song “Beat It Up” is…
Kang Yuchan of A.C.E Debuts with “REBEL” – EP Review
Kang Yuchan is not the first of his brothers to try a solo run. It’s always seemed like K-pop boy group A.C.E are a tight-knit team; when one or two dabbled in acting, the others followed. Closely following vocal powerhouse JUNHEE’s successful solo debut, Yuchan decided it’s his time to see what he’s capable of…
Sweet and Sour: JUNNY’s “null” Review
K-R&B sweetheart JUNNY has just released a buffet of sonic pleasantries with null. The introductory Korean verse of “No Morning”, the album’s first song, comes in like a live recording on a dusty mobile. JUNNY’s voice is ever-soft, and the moment feels like one you’re living in. When it transitions to studio sound, the fullness…
JUNHEE’s “SUPERNOVA” – A Leader’s Leap Into His Own Orbit – Single Review
When a group’s leader steps into the solo spotlight, there’s always an unspoken question: Will they remain tethered to the identity of their team, or will they break free into a sound entirely their own? For JUNHEE, the leader of K-pop group A.C.E, his debut single SUPERNOVA bursts forth with the force of a cosmic…
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