There have been quite a lot of nice boy group debuts this 12 months, and KickFlip had been the primary out of the gate. However regardless of their (over)lengthy gestation since 2021’s Loud survival sequence, their music didn’t instantly join with me the way in which different teams’ has. It’s been a slower burn, with Might’s Freeze simply their greatest title monitor but. Their third mini album is scheduled for later this month and promotions kick off right now with pre-release Band-Assist (반창고).
Regardless of a number of misgivings (does that incessant lure percussion recall the irritating twisting of a wind-up toy to anybody else?), Band-Assist is anchored by a standout refrain that gives a really promising roadmap for KickFlip’s future. As TWS’s good hey! hey! confirmed us final 12 months, there are a variety of nice sounds (and melodies!) to be mined from idol-pop-meets-teen-rock. Band-Assist is at its greatest when it leans into these components. Its opening verse is a complete buzzkill, pulling again with that annoyingly tinny percussion. However after this, we’re off to the races because the monitor bursts into its thrilling refrain.
Whereas the percussion stays a problem, I really like the blazing guitar that takes priority throughout this section. There’s an actual sense of launch throughout this refrain, echoed by effusive melodies that completely channel the power. The slowed-down verse two is a little bit of a disappointment, however works significantly better with out the tinniness. From right here, Band-Assist truncates its segments, choosing briskness somewhat than improvement. This seems like a missed alternative, however I’m prepared to miss the failings with a refrain this enjoyable.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B