Sandwiched between Western and Lunar New 12 months, January has been fairly dry relating to new music. And, most of what’s been launched hasn’t felt notably noteworthy. In some ways, it’s as if we’ve merely kicked the beginning of 2025 down the highway, lastly able to open the floodgates subsequent month. If that’s the case, I hope CIX’s Thunder acts as a clarion name to unleash power and verve all through the business.
CIX’s music has a blended monitor report on this weblog, with occasional synthpop stunners battling it out with murkier materials. Thunder marks their first new music as a 4 piece after Bae Jinyoung left the group final 12 months. It additionally looks like a press release of intent, straight putting them within the new-gen funk-pop lineage re-popularized by teams like RIIZE. On its face, there are many current boy group tracks that sound like Thunder (WHIB’s glorious Rush Of Pleasure involves thoughts), however its success lies within the particulars. The propulsive melodies and ethereal vocals really feel fairly acquainted. Generic, even. But, the monitor is buoyed by a crackling electro spine that provides a competing texture. This grows extra addictive as Thunder develops, climaxing in a unbelievable dance break towards the track’s finale.
Thunder additionally advantages from a fully-fleshed out construction, making room for 2 central hooks, a brisk second verse rap and a few surprisingly dramatic vocal prospers throughout its pre-choruses. I’d love to listen to extra particular person character in these vocals, however CIX give a refined efficiency that matches the hermetic association. General, Thunder looks like the primary main musical second in Okay-pop’s 2025.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
Grade: A-