Just a few weeks after the release of their first full album, Xdinary Heroes are already back with a special digital single. Their recent output left a good impression on me, so the unexpected drop of Boy Comics (소년만화) is certainly welcome.

Some of my favorite moments on the group’s album were when the music pulsed with the intensity of 80’s hair metal. Boy Comics doesn’t hearken back to the glitzy glam of that era, but its pummeling energy is ferocious right from the start. This harder edge is a good match for the group, especially when the guitar riffs really get going during the second verse.

The song itself is less memorable than the sheer intensity of its presentation, especially when compared to the group’s strongest material, but the chorus has an anthemic quality that will likely grow more addictive with each listen. Touches of strings give the instrumental a cinematic quality and the combative performance feels like the soundtrack to a big boss battle. If you’re looking for a burst of rabble-rousing energy, Boy Comics has you covered.

Grade: B-