EXO haven’t had a proper comeback since 2023, but to be honest I haven’t really liked one of their title tracks since 2018’s Tempo — and even that song had some issues for me. These diminishing returns are a far cry from the group’s first seven years, when they reliably churned out some of the best boy group material in the industry. New comeback Crown sees the members depleted to six, but they’ve brought classic SM Entertainment tropes with them.
I very much appreciate what Crown is trying to do. It revisits the agency’s trademark “SMP” sound, a hyper-dramatic blend of rap, rock and theatrical elements. This sound played a huge part in my initial interest in K-pop way over a decade ago and is basically the antithesis of the subdued, Westernized style we hear so often today. This sound is also synonymous with visionary producer Yoo Young-Jin and you can hear his absence here. It’s like a knockoff version of a name brand. Still, there’s plenty to like about Crown.
The song blends older K-pop elements (heavy metal guitar) with newer influences (trap) and creates a pretty convincing hybrid. The lurching melodies are ripped right from EXO’s own Monster, which isn’t a bad place to pull from and honors their own history. It makes me wish all members were present here, as that greater blend of vocals would have added even more power to the track. However, Crown still fires off thrilling shots of its own. The chorus has a wonderfully off-center approach which will likely fare well in the long-term. The verses are less memorable, but they’re propped up with enough bombast to keep things interesting. I don’t think this will go down as one of the group’s many classics, but after the first few listens it feels like the strongest title the group has promoted in a very long time.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Love at first listen for me
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Not bad. It’s alright, but also lowkey forgettable. It has that dynamic vibe you’d find in their 2012-2014 singles, but falters in comparison to them (the bar is too high). It’s a decent return even if I wouldn’t return much to it.
8 (7, 9, 8, 8) for me. And thank god we got a single rated an 8.5 in 2 months
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The verses are the weakest part! With some reworking the song could’ve easily been at least a 9. On a side note, what would it take for Yoo Young Jin to comeback 😭 Regardless, I prefer it much more than Cream Soda. Exo saw a resurgence with Mama gaining some notoriety last year, so I thought they would lean harder to that side.
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YYJ is too loyal to LSM lol
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It really hurts to have the group as six, especially with how important Baekhyun and Chen’s voices have been to all of EXO’s tracks. Not to diminish the current lineup (D.O. and Suho are doing all the heavy lifting in the most challenging vocal parts), but having a track like these without Baekhyun and Chen feels so bittersweet.
Besides that fan feeling, I just can’t help but liking this. To be fair, it sounds like EXO reheated their own nachos, but with 14 years into their careers, I don’t really mind that. You could also say that EXO has become a legacy act, and that’s ok. This sound has a classic K-pop vibe, it really reminds me of late Second Generation and Early Third Generation K-pop, which EXO dominated in a lot of ways.
I was also a fan of their previous work with EXIST, it hit all the right spots for me as an R&B enjoyer. Regardless, I’m also happy with what we’ve been given with Crown. It’s nice to see them return to their more dramatic, theatrical side for this comeback era. Hopefully, the album will have a lot to offer!
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We are so back.
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“chorus has a wonderfully off-center approach which will likely fare well in the long-term”
Come on Nick bump that longevity score up a couple notches! 🙏🏼 This bad boy is a 9 easy, especially in context of the current trend landscape you so bemoan.
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so do the tinny percussions not bother u on this song?
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They always bother me. Fortunately, the rest of the instrumental buries them a bit.
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Unfortunately, I don’t feel this song. It’s like a lesser version of Shinee’s Don’t Call Me but without strong melodies and a sense of progression to evoke drama, so Crown ends up feeling flat and kinda gimmicky. The addition of trap elements don’t help either. To me trap is like the antithesis of this type of song, it’s just so emotionless. By the third time I listened to Crown, the chorus has become rather stale and really in your face, which resembles more of an Ateez or Xikers’ song (both of whose music I’m not a fan of).
I like EXO and the SMP style, but this is not it. 6 (6,7,4,7) for me
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I’d like rate this an 8/10 but it definitely is a return to form. Thank goodness, it would be better if they smoothened the roughness but I guess EXO is very angsty so it tracks. Solidarity to CBX and definitely f to SM always. At least I would have literally ranted if this was another dud like the past 7 years.
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for me this was their best title track since obsession:
8.25/10 (9, 8, 8, 8) for me
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EXO IS 6. That rat Beakhyun will never be back.
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It’s just music
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And we’re back!!!
I came into the new EXO track with very low expectations but I’m so glad I did because they proved me wrong. I’m so glad to see that they brought back the dramatic element they had in their darker songs over their first few years. Also the instrumental is amazing.
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