Pre-releases are all the rage these days, and EPEX are preparing for the release of their first full album with the sentimental Graduation Day (졸업식). Over the course of the past few years, the group has ping ponged between genres, often going to opposite extremes. But we haven’t really heard them slow things down for a ballad.
Graduation Day has a wistful appeal, peppered with filtered chants for extra heft. The members sell the emotion, but the melodies need to work harder. Neither the verses nor the chorus spark much of a chord, simply going through the motions without finding a memorable hook. A song like this is all about its tune, and a knockout chorus would have created a sense of lift needed to break Graduation Day out of its doldrums. As is, the song is pretty but slight. I’m curious how the album will sound.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I had to look up what agency EPEX is from , because this song sounds like a HYBE new debut boy band soft song, except HYBE would have polished up to a high shine, adding even more bucu vocal layering. As is, it just plays it too safe.
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They never rewrote those Brownshirt lyrics to Anthem of Teen Spirit so I’m still a little torqued at them. They have made three great songs among all their shouting (Do 4 Me, Sling Shot, and Sunshower) so that’s a plus. This track is the first one that I’ve just gone, that’s nice. Growth? We shall see.
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Pleasant. This is my first experience with EPEX, and they’ve left an alright first impression. But it’s not grabbing me either. Not sure I’m a fan of the processing on the voices in this instance, if that’s what I’m hearing? But overall, it’s nice. Just nice.
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Graduation themes will always make me add a whole ass extra point smh. Hoping more interesting things on the album tho.
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