Despite consistently releasing new music, AB6IX have struggled to recapture the buzz of their debut era. Instead, they’ve expanded their sonic palette, exploring a variety of genres with generally strong results. 2021’s funky Cherry was one of those successes and new single NVKED echoes that upbeat energy.

NVKED has an effusive, bounding instrumental, pulsing with the drive of dance music and the added bonus of exuberant brass. House piano is used well in the pre-chorus while a funky synth line adds character to the brief rap bridge. It’s a party through and through, and that sense of excitement is always welcome. The members dig into the groove, providing a hearty performance that mixes falsetto with more forceful vocals during the verses.

While this overall sound is quite enjoyable, I’m not as enamored with the song itself. The chorus gets its job done, but in a way that feels melodically obvious and a bit underwhelming. The hook just doesn’t appeal to me as much as the music underpinning it, and that’s a difficult roadblock to overcome. So while I appreciate NVKED‘s approach, I don’t see myself listening to it as often as I’d like.

Grade: B-