I have not been shy about expressing how completely underwhelming this month (and last month) of K-pop has been. In fact, when January’s average rating is calculated, we’ll probably be looking at a historically low number. Because of this, I’m grabbing onto anything halfway decent I can find. Hell, at this point I’m clinging onto any song that actually involves singing!

8TURN’s Bruise definitely contains singing, and that’s one of its biggest strengths. It’s not the total knockout I was hoping for based on teasers. Its verses are much weaker than the chorus. But like I said, at this point I’ll take what I can get and when Bruise is firing on all cylinders it feels like an olive branch extended to those of us who enjoy singing along with melodic K-pop. Better yet, the track doubles down on the kind of boy group yearning that was a pillar of the industry’s strongest eras.

Bruise‘s calling card is its chorus, which offers generous doses of extended melodic lines over thundering drums. This is a satisfying combination that could build to an even more effective climax. The song doesn’t quite nail that “build and build and build and EXPLODE” structure this template thrives on, leaving the listener wanting more. A second verse trap breakdown also sacrifices some momentum. However, I’d rather a group slightly hesitate with a sound like this than fart out another chant-heavy TikTok meme.

Grade: B