Around this time last year, IVE kicked off a successful run with pre-release Rebel Heart and title track Attitude. Now, they’re seeking to replicate that hat trick with a similar approach surrounding their second full-length album. We’ll hear the title track later this month, but today we have Bang Bang as a taster of what’s to come.
While IVE debuted with a specific sonic attitude and stuck with that for their first year or so, their material has run the gamut over the past few promotion periods. You never know whether you’ll get big, anthemic melodies or an icier hip-hop beat. Bang Bang borrows mostly from the latter while injecting new sounds to their palette. The song’s main calling card is its high-tempo dance beat. It boasts that kind of steady “oontz oontz” club sound that’s become quite popular with K-pop’s girl groups. I love this energy when it’s paired with equally bold melodies, but most current groups opt for a steady dose of sing-talk instead.
Bang Bang is no different in this regard. Its spoken-word chorus is trussed up with some vocal layering that gives it extra presence, but when it comes down to it there’s very little singing involved. Several momentum-killing breakdowns (including the entirety of verse one) neutralize the song’s potential and the hook is so threadbare that I assume it will quickly become grating. There’s only so many times you can hear “bang bang!” over a basic club beat and pretend that you’re thrilled. However, I’m sure the song will do well. These low-effort, catchy-in-the-most-obvious-way tracks seem to be beloved at the moment, even if I find their “style over substance” approach undercooked and uninspiring.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I expect a godlike title track(10/10 worthy) like I am for the TT this time around(considering what we saw in their first full album). This will do for now, but I feel the hooks are a bit lacking here, it feels a very repetitive at times.
7.75(7,8,8,8) for now
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this is not the title
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Maybe it was bad wording, but I meant that I expect THE title track to be godlike
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This reminds me of ALL(H)OUR’s Gimme Gimme in the sense that both are inspired by repetitive, sing-song/talk hooks and a Western-inspired club beat, except Gimme Gimme had a more propulsive, consistent energy and the hooks were better executed. This one tries, I love the energy, but my god is the first verse so grating and clunky. At least they switch up the energy from second verse onwards but nevertheless, it’s still so threadbare and doesn’t guarantee good longevity.
7.75 (7, 8, 8, 8) for me.
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I think BANG BANG had potential if only it was properly EDM with synth variations. This version ends up being just BPMs and no fun. It’s very ÆSPA/ Supernova coded especially the pre chorus/ chorus but without the rich electronic production.
The rap is the best part and I wish the song was build around it, plus the last minute and final bridge are very repetitive and lacklustre .
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Rei is such a good rapper 😭
This song is endlessly reolayable.
8/10
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their best song since HEYA/Accendio for me. it’s better than I expected and it lowkey sounds like an aespa song lol. I hope the title track is even better though
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oh no, i love it.
as far as pre-releases go this one is in like with most of them! Love how the beat keeps up after the first chorus rather than slowing down like how it was at the start.
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+ The Wavys are slowly becoming one of my favourite producers in Kpop.
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Shoutout to 1:57 when the vocal wake up for literally one second. Still, it’s a cool song for IVE, not their strongest but not their weakest.
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I can hear the chorus as a feature in a cheerleading or dance squad competition routine, mixed in with some better verses. For that, I guess its OK. I’d give it a flat 8.
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