It can be difficult to keep all of K-pop’s three-letter-acronym-named boy groups straight, especially when that moniker changes midway through an act’s career. TNX were briefly known as “The New Six,” but have seemed to revert back to the acronym for this new promotion. We last heard from them about a year ago when they released digital single Fuego. Now, they’re back with a new mini album.
Title track For Real? (아 진짜) recaptures the rock sound of 2023’s Love Or Die with added grit. It fits nicely within the “K-pop boys approximate the energy of 2000’s-era pop/punk” realm currently occupied by Just B’s Daddy’s Girl and RIIZE’s Combo on my playlist. It’s not nearly as catchy as either of those songs, but the chugging heft of the chorus gets the job done well enough. And just as you assume the song has deployed all its tricks, the energy ramps up further for its bombastic climax. I would have loved to hear more of this intensity throughout, as it’s easy for this genre to feel staid and safe.
Overall, I think this style is a good match for TNX. However, the way the song is constructed and expressed feels a bit generic. Purely listening to the audio without watching the music video, I’d be hard-pressed to identify the group. I’m not sure what it would take to imbue For Real with more individual character, but that’s definitely a quality TNX could leverage to increase their visibility in this competitive market.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I mean, continuing the “The New Six” name after Kyungjun’s departure didn’t seem to make sense, but again, we all know almost, if not every group with a number in their name do not possess the same number of members (and “The New Five” or TNF? doesn’t have a ring to it like The New Six/TNX kinda does).
As for this song, I’m glad to see them go the Love or Die route, even if not as strong as that. This song is cute, catchy (the “say yeah~” part of the hook tickles my brain well), but also incredibly generic and plays things too safe. Well, judging by their highlight medley, the B-sides sound promising, so hope my expectations don’t get ruined :p
Rating’s the same and I hope, I genuinely hope Piss Nation gets their shit together and promote these guys cause they’ve been on hiatus for longer than they’ve been active (and this would prolly get released last year if they were more regular), and it’s depressing seeing the hype from debut get squandered horribly.
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I have to admit that I thought NTX with their song Over N Over from earlier this month were these guys (but there seemed to be too many members). This feels pretty typical for the genre but I’m glad that they’re dipping into this sound again…the Glen Check remix of Love or Die is still one of my favorite Kpop rock songs ever.
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On first listen, I quite like it! Took them a while to release something after Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace (they could’ve gone farther imo), but maybe they had to do some restructuring after Kyungjun left. I do feel like their voices are recognizable, especially Jun Hyeok’s and Hwi’s, but that may be because they’re in my regular rotation of catching up to nugu groups.
Pleasant rock title track for me, and I’m excited to hear the rest of it!
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This song made me very nervous because I heard Just B’s “Daddy’s Girl” immediately at the beginning and unlike Nick, I HATE HATE HATE that song so much I can’t even tell you. But then it got to that great chorus and I really enjoyed it. It’s like an 8.25 for me— could be better but still solid. I’m just glad to see them releasing music, I thought they might be very discouraged after their back to back Kingdom loss + member departure.
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I love this song, and this TNX album is one of my surprise favourites so far this year.
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