EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018.

Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out!

1. Crown // 2. Back It Up // 3. Crazy // 4. Suffocate // 5. Moonlight Shadows // 6. Back Pocket // 7. Touch & Go // 8. Flatline // 9. I’m Home

Flatline

No song title better describes this album than Flatline. Apart from Crown, which is a solid if unspectacular EXO single, REVERXE‘s songs are largely flattened of any element that might make them gripping. Ironically, the song Flatline actually injects a different texture via its rock sound, but this is decidedly muted rock music. It sounds like something that would be at home on one of Suho’s solo albums, though even there it wouldn’t be a particularly memorable cut.

As I’ve said about a few other songs on REVERXE, Flatline would actually make for nice album filler if it had been surrounded by stronger music. But sandwiched between dull midtempos and ballads, it kind of fades in with the wallpaper. That’s too bad, because the soundscape itself is very pleasant and atmopsheric and the guys sound great. It’s just that the song itself is too dull and uneventful to make much of a mark.

Grade: C