Though they’ve started experimenting with their sound more and more, there’s a certain brand of song that feels like it belongs to IVE. Think I Am, Rebel Heart and even Love Dive. It’s a resounding pop style, almost Eurovision-esque in its bigness. It’s also a sound that brought K-pop Demon Hunters‘ Golden to such great chart heights, so it makes sense for IVE to reclaim it. New title track Blackhole does just that… with a few twists.
The most surprising thing about Blackhole (though it shouldn’t be that surprising given K-pop’s current trajectory) is that the bulk of its bombast occurs during its verses and pre-chorus. The percussion thunders here as the song climbs anthemic heights. Blackhole‘s sound also becomes more diverse as it goes. Its first verse is predictable from a structural standpoint, but from that point on the track is constantly in flux. It swats us here and there, playing with expectations as its sonic landscape grows in intensity. In a way, this works well because it sidesteps some of the obviousness that can often make this sound become too Disneyfied.
On the other hand, I wish Blackhole boasted a more exciting chorus at its center. The production bolsters its “La, la, la-la, love flame” refrain more and more as the song goes on, but it still feels like a missed opportunity. The pre-chorus ends up being a bolder musical hallmark for the track. However, I appreciate how Blackhole‘s chorus only repeats once in its original form, replaced the second time by a streamlined (yet somehow more exciting) version. Small structural shifts like this keep the track engaging and will likely play well in the long run. Overall, I can’t tell if this is a homerun or just a solid double, but it’s definitely my favorite IVE title track in awhile.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.5
Grade: B
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