Review

Song Review: WHIB – Rock The Nation

Since their 2023 debut, WHIB have alternated between lighter and darker sounds. For me, they were at their best in 2024 when they felt a rush of joy, but that rush proved fleeting as they quickly moved into the more aggressive Bang Out. New single Rock The Nation has a delightfully earnest title that made me hope for some cheesy, guitar driven anthem. Maybe even something Def Leppard adjacent? What we get instead is decidedly less light on its feet.

Oh, boy. If you enjoy the sound of someone smacking a metal trash can and shouting nonsense to the sky, this song will be for you. There are times when the beat becomes more sprightly and the track even briefly clears the air for a vocal-led bridge, but the vast majority of Rock The Nation is the same tired boy group bluster we’ve been subjected to since groups like Stray Kids and NCT started leading the K-pop trends. Imagine how tired we are.

The thing is, there’s not much “song” here. The chants are monotone and repetitive, delivered over lurching production that sucks the joy from the production’s bombast. You can’t tell me this topline took more than five minutes to write. With stronger, more memorable hooks this style of track can actually be a lot of silly fun. Everyone deserves a good scream-along anthem. Sadly, this ain’t it.

Hooks 5
 Production 7
 Longevity 6
 Bias 6
 RATING 6

Grade: D-

15 thoughts on “Song Review: WHIB – Rock The Nation

  1. I listened to that Hedda Mae album you recommended on my commute this morning, it was a lot of fun! Big Heart is the big standout for me, nearly every aspect is upbeat and catchy, and that horn hook is gonna be stuck in my head all year.

    Like

    • Glad you liked it! Big Heart is probably my favorite on the album, too. It’s such a breezy, fizzy sound.

      Her EPs are worth checking out as well. This Might Get Loud is particularly good.

      Like

  2. Definition of a hot mess.

    I feel like this is Spinal Tap but make it kpop. Behold! Stonehenge!

    At least they got the volume correct, that being ear splitting, turned up to 11.

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  3. There are so many depressing things about this song: that it’s only 2:36 long, that the only melodic part is 20 seconds long, that barely anyone had heard of this group before, that any attention Junmin got from B2P has been wasted, and that this group is going straight back to nugudom.

    I’m surprised this isn’t an F.

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  4. Ngl, I lowkey vibe with the abrasive electro textures of this song. Granted it’s not original, but it has its good moments, it just needed that extra kick. The melodic “rock the nation~” also could have been utilized better, but alas beggars can’t be choosers. But overall, it’s okay, not as bad as expected, but it’s also unoriginal and highkey forgettable (I had to give it 5-6 listens to remember something about it)

    6.75 (6, 7, 7, 7) for me

    Liked by 1 person

  5. “If you enjoy the sound of someone smacking a metal trash can and shouting nonsense to the sky, this song will be for you.” Omg. Remember STOMP on Broadway?

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  6. it always make me feel rly sad to see bp/b2p contestants coming back to their groups with all that hype and popularity only for their agency to completely fumble with it all from the first comeback. like the song isn’t horrible (im easily pleased tho) but i fear this was just not the move😭

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  7. I really don’t want to say that sometimes the header is foreboding of the song quality, but I saw that photo and expected this score (and I don’t even hate the costuming, it’s just… if this is the costuming I see in a photo 80% of the time the music product just does not hit). How do I put it, you can listen to Xikers at what is considered their worst and come out with a better listening experience than this. And it’s not even 2:40. What is their goal here?

    3.5 (4, 4, 3, 3), every aspect of this is done with more effort and with better results by another group that already exists. They at least have a main vocalist which is a step above A.D.O.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. this feels like a 2020 song. So in a way it’s nostalgic, but I would listen to this unless I was blasting it from my speakers

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