The moment I heard a brief preview for It’s Raining, I nearly jumped out of my seat with excitement. I’ve long held the opinion that Infinite’s The Chaser is the best k-pop song of all time, and It’s Raining seemed to be using its sound as a template. Snuper have made their name in partnership with producers Sweetune, but this is the first time they’ve dabbled in a slightly darker, more aggressive edge to their music. And while The Chaser doesn’t have anything to worry about when it comes to keeping its top spot, It’s Raining is still an unqualified success.

The song bursts into its central refrain right from the beginning, accented by brilliantly brassy synth stabs and blitzes of programmed drum fills. This titular hook is one of the most instantly gratifying bits of melody we’ve heard all year long, and is undoubtedly the song’s greatest appeal. The filtered production on the guys’ voices gives it a strong 80’s vibe that catapults the track forward on a sense of nostalgic momentum. From here, the verses slow things down a bit, with an instantly recognizable Sweetune melody that feels more atmospheric than the big pop moments surrounding it. Ditto for the pre-chorus, which actually feels like a sub-chorus of its own. It’s not quite as impactful as it could have been, but smartly counters the delirious catchiness of that aforementioned hook.

I do wish the second verse would have sped things up a bit. Instead, the beat kind of drops out and momentarily stalls the momentum the song had been brilliantly building up to that point. It’s not a huge deal, as the track quickly recovers, but it’s one of the few moments that prevent It’s Raining from being absolutely perfect. The other is Snuper themselves. It’s hard to listen to It’s Raining without imagining just how much a group like Infinite could have elevated it, with their tight harmonies and abundance of powerful vocals. Snuper are still a bit young, and lacking in vocal variety, to pull off something as grandiose as The Chaser. Still, I’m thrilled that they’re even attempting this sound. They need to keep working with Sweetune as long as possible, because they’re quickly racking up one of modern k-pop’s best discographies.