ZEROBASEONE’s post-2025 future stays undecided, however they’re lastly set to present us a full album on September 1st. Weeks earlier than that, they’re again with pre-release Slam Dunk — an uncharacteristically hip-hop dance monitor.
In Ok-pop, there’s typically this urge to throw many alternative ideas and types at a bunch fairly than allow them to settle into the one sound that followers love essentially the most. I definitely don’t flock to ZEROBASEONE for hip-hop, however just like the mission songs on Boys Planet or Produce 101, businesses like to decorate their acts in all kinds of guises. On this case, they’re enjoying basketball gamers a la the favored anime Slam Dunk. I really like this concept, however I’d adore it extra if it got here packaged with a track as superior as that present’s Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai. As a substitute, we now have a really shouty, very chant-heavy monitor that sounds method an excessive amount of like method too many different boy teams.
There’s this particular tone that’s solid when a bunch of Ok-pop boys’ vocals are long-established collectively right into a shout-chant. With few exceptions, it’s remarkably cut-and-paste for just about each group. It’s a bit shrill and fairly grating and I want it could fade from reputation. Sadly, this sound overtakes Slam Dunk‘s refrain and far of the monitor. There are moments of extra melodic funk through the verses however they don’t quantity to a lot. The pre-choruses are positively the track’s strongest aspect. In any other case, when you benefit from the sound of idols screaming at you Slam Dunk will scratch that itch. Personally, it’s in no way what I covet about ZEROBASEONE’s music and does the members no favors.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C