HYBE has gotten very good at delivering anthemic pop/rock confections from their boy groups, and I eat them up every time. Japanese act &TEAM has cornered the market on this style, but their soon-to-be-formed junior group seems poised to take up the baton. The final team will be decided as part of yet another survival series, with Finish Line ~Last Race, New Start~ acting as its spirited signal song.
The track opens with this big fat guitar riff, which turns out to be a frustrating red herring. If only the entire song had maintained this intensity! But true to the HYBE formula, the verses pull back for an airier sound. This usually works for me, but the contrast here is a bit jarring. Finish Line’s chorus brings back the bombast, fleshing out the instrumental once again. I love the sound but I wish the melodies had a bit more unique character. The hook is catchy and optimistic but never touches those great &TEAM songs (to say nothing of TWS’s transcendent hey! hey!). Personal music bias certainly keeps this afloat, but I can’t help but be frustrated by the unfulfilled promise of Finish Line’s punchiest moments. Let’s let the guys really rock out next time! It sounds like they have the vocals to do so.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
hey, just wondering: what do you think of “high horse” by nmixx? You said you don’t want anymore mixxpop but I think they made it work in that song and their vocals get to shine for once.
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oh I didn’t notice that, thanks!
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What, another one? I had to look it up, and it is now perhaps 5 HYBE boy bands thatlookandsoundthisclosetoeach other. Is this just a variation of the AKB48-style strategy, but instead of rotation within the same group, they just launch the same group every year?
Yeah, I’m out, I fold. I couldn’t keep before but now there are (checking notes) wait hold it, since I started typing ANOTHER one has been announced. just kidding, almost, surely the next next next set of teenagers are already in their dorms practicing all day.
Song. Yeah fine. What Nick said, another solid hype feel good pop song. There are one or two good voices in there who could carry the whole song by themselves.
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