It feels like ages since we last heard from GHOST9. After a very promising 2020 debut, the group has swerved from sound to sound — some more successful than others. But after an appearance on this spring’s Peak Time, the guys are back with a new album.
Title track Ruckus is yet another transformation for them, transposing their usual energy into a sleeker package. The song is quite generic by K-pop standards, centering around a funky anti-drop chorus. Its verses also play with familiar rhythms and the song builds to a requisite chant-along finale. If you’re tired of this particular boy group template, you may just want to move on.
I’m pretty jaded over songs and melodies going exactly where I expect them to, so there’s not much here to excite me. I’ve always considered GHOST9’s vocalists very underrated, but Ruckus doesn’t give them a chance to showcase that. I’d love to see the group move back to the towering choruses of their debut year. This is fine, but given its title I expected something a bit more madcap. It’s a very polite ruckus, if such a thing exists!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
It’s a weird bias, but I always give Ghost9 the benefit of the doubt because Mingi from ATEEZ used to be in their company and he could’ve been in this group. Their first album with Flying at Night and Think of Dawn was very good. They also have Uno, which is deliciously melody-heavy. I hope they keep going.
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I, for one, am quite pleased with this. It keeps up a nice momentum throughout, hits all the marks, doesn’t stray from its mission, and delivers on it. In a prior year with other better songs to compare it to, sure it might be an 8. But in this lean year this one passes for mid 8’s for me.
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I like the breathiness in the opening and the snakey hiss at the end of “ruckus”. Sounds a little menacing. Something about this song draws me in. Definitely in the B to B+ range for me.
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At first I was confused what “locust” are they talking about, then I glanced at the title and did a facepalm. Kinda nice sound though.
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I love the post-chorus, but that’s it. The rest is too abrasive and too empty for me.
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