RIIZE’s new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened “track videos” for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I’ll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often!

1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back // 3. Ember To Solar // 4. Fly Up // 5. Show Me Love // 6. Passage // 7. Midnight Mirage // 8. The End Of The Day // 9. Inside My Love // 10. Another Life

ANOTHER LIFE

You all know I love drama in my pop music, and a blazing electric guitar solo is a tried-and-true way to inject that sense of excitement into a song. Another Life could have easily settled for some forgettable mid-tempo, but the production wisely injects a grandiose — at times almost psychedelic — layer to the track.

Another Life opens as a pretty (but restrained) mid-tempo before segueing into a more dramatic melody for its pre-chorus. Then, the gloves come off as the track rushes into its chorus. The tempo quickens as stabs of percussion and guitar bring renewed life and movement. I really love this chorus. It’s catchy and theatrical and feels like a real climax in the best way. The guys’ voices are on full display here, belting out the melodies with the kind of fervor we don’t hear enough of in K-pop at the moment.

Then, Another Life moves into its most impressive showcase. With a minute left, the song transforms into a searing guitar instrumental as RIIZE’s voices offer occasional ad-libs over the top. This segment is so exciting. Many groups opt for rock influence these days, but most forget to give these songs the space they need for individual elements to shine. Too often, rock productions are so stuffed that the various instruments cancel each other out and the sound becomes mushy and indistinct. On Another Life, we get to hear the full, crisp brilliance of individual instruments and voices. That goes a long way toward drawing out the charms of the song.

Grade: A-