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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ahh, usually the pre-release and the title dont reflect each other that well so!
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Why though?
Respectfully, there was no evidence to suggest a 10/10 song was coming, quite the opposite actually.
And this is coming from someone who thinks this song is really good
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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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This is the most disappointing song from IVE’s comeback. Personally, I’d give it a 5 at best. However, if you interpret it as a song suited to live performances, I think it would be around 7.5, as Nick said.
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ATEEZE – Adrenaline 2.0 but sounds worse in comparison imo. So scores should be worse
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this is what I thought! How did it score higher? Both are of similar calibre…I personally like both too but don’t get how Ateez scored a D- and Ive a C- for songs that have the same issue.
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The bang bang part made me automatically think of Love Shack haha. Other than that for me, this is pretty forgettable; won’t change it if it comes on but won’t really seek it out.
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is it just me or the instrument for the chorus a bit similar to Kaarija’s Cha Cha Cha?
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Sounds like a lesser version of “Jump” by Blackpink without the good production and the gigantic hook melody. Not impressed I’m afraid. Also concepts are becoming more and more stupid or is it just me. “I’m going out with a bang” – “I don’t care what sh** you say” really? In 2026?
Love Dive and I AM still remain my favourites BY FAR by IVE
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Sounds a lot like “Kill It” by Aespa
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sounds nothing like kill it🫥
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The verse does for sure?
Ngl a lot of times when I say a song sounds like another one it’s because it fits in the voids
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I’ll keep it short…I cannot believe this is IVE. It is unlistenable. Worse comeback from the ladies. 5/10
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Did anyone else hear elements of the “Batman” theme song from the 1960s TV series? The “Bang Bang!” was giving “Batman!” from each song’s chorus along with a similar spy/surfer instrumental vibe.
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I’m such a nerd because when I keep hearing Misirlou. I hope they sampled that song to prove that I’m right haha.
Anyway, I feel like they keep losing their identity because they keep chasing what’s trending. At least they still keep a bridge in this song. I hope it grows on me.
At this point, I no longer expect much from them but I’m looking forward to their b-sides in the album.
8/10
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**because I keep hearing Misirlou
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I simply gave up on it once I heard the Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang……
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lovechild of unforgiven, armageddon/savage, and charli xcx brat. i enjoy the dark house vibe though, i think it will do well in clubs. i do think ive has been meandering here and there with their past 2 years of releases; they’ve yet to recapture the charm of their mega hits, but i like this a little better than last year’s run.
kinda sad that wjsn kickstarted this dark club vibe among ss groups groups with sequence album and now their juniors are getting the club hits. sigh.
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Huh, for someone who really hates Rebel Heart and their other Camp Rock-style music, I really love this! For the last 2-3 albums they have been a nothing-burger for me, except Xoxz. I do prefer their Eleven/Love Dive/Kitsch/Heya/Baddie/Xoxz music over their other side. I know most people prefer the Rebel Heart/I am/Off the Record sound. To me this is a welcome return to form. Love it, solid B+ for me.
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ashnikko reject.. but still good. This will be played and remixed at the club that’s for sure.
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i mean its definitely not perfect (the bang bang bang 2nd (?) prechorus goes on way too long) but to me its definitely their best song in quite a while. this feels genuinely refreshing to hear cuz its actually breaking new sonic ground for then
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I enjoyed the song, but I wish the chorus was stronger. I can’t wait for the rest of the album.
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more dance music yay!
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I think the first half of the song is really solid. The track has a real sense of drama, especially on the buildup to the first chorus. The first time everything hits is quite good. The first rap in the 2nd verse is also fire, and the following rap is acceptable. It is here that I think the track starts running out of ideas and ways to keep the drama fresh. Apart from the bridge, the song is too repetitive with elements that should be more threadbare. I would say the 3 repeated “BANG” pairings would have been good about twice in the song (once for that first chorus and once during an outro) but beyond that ruin their drama by repeating too often.
Overall, I’d say this is 8,8,7,7 = 7.5
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I just cant get over the metal stick banging on the wall sounds I keep hearing nowadays. It is so grating for me
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I completely agree. Too much of K-pop’s percussion is simply unpleasant these days. Plonky, tinny and lacking in depth and fullness. It turns me off of a lot of songs that could otherwise be good.
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