Well… look who’s back! I (along with everyone else) assumed DXMON had faded into the K-pop ether. They haven’t released new material since 2024 and for a group of their stature that’s usually a tacit disbandment or at the very least an “indefinite hiatus.” However, today they’ve surprise released new single SSS (She’s Sweet & Sour).
I’ve always thought DXMON was very talented but marred by inconsistent material that made their musical identity a bit unclear. SSS again sounds like nothing they’ve released so far, but given the lengthy hiatus a musical reinvention is probably smart. This plays around with plenty of well-known boy group tropes but does so in an exciting way. The hip-hop percussion is bolstered by the constant presence of electric guitar, which injects great texture and elevates the drama. Best of all, SSS‘s structure allows the song to develop, making time for a standout bridge that segues into a dynamic finale. This entire segment is often jettisoned from K-pop these days, so any song that retains it earns extra marks from me.
I’m also compelled by the vocal performance in SSS. The song opts for full-on singing throughout, climaxing in a long, powerful note at the end of the bridge. This style of singing has become so rare in K-pop that it feels incredibly refreshing. In any other era, SSS might risk fading into the background. But in 2026, the track stands out in the best way.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Does anyone else feel like this is something The Boyz would release? The vocals and power note were indeed a very pleasant surprise. It’ll probably be my pick for song of the week.
On an unrelated note, I think CYE may have just teased their single today https://m.youtube.com/shorts/6A6jSHd2Q7g, and so far it sounds dangerously similar to songs of the dreaded “talking over a club beat” trope. 😬
I know it’s too soon to know what the full song will sound like. I’m trying not to be overly pessimistic, but I’m tempering my expectations to say the least. It’s going to be really disappointing if they trade their unique concept, sound, and identity just to become a clone of their peers (like NouerA did…)
I hope it ends up proving me completely wrong and being one of the best things they’ve released. They’ve never made bad music before, so why start now? 🤷♀️
Sorry for going off topic
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the boyz mention in the big 2026 im home – anyways i wasnt going to take a look at this song but after you said that and i 100% agree! tbz is my ult group so maybe i got a little biased but i can actually imagine them having this on an album. definitely would be better than whatever the hell stylish was.
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Your username is cute and very fitting. 😉😂 TBZ have one of my favorite fourth gen discographies. (Or are they late third gen?? I’m not sure.) Since this song reminds me of them, listening to it made me nostalgic for when I first discovered their music.
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thanks 🤣 they’re widely considered 4th gen – but their earlier music definitely seems 3rd gen-ish. sometimes i wish they’d just go back to songs like right here or no air but then again, they need to keep up with times to keep relevancy 😕
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re: CYE – their b-side CHIC from their last album was kinda already that – if it’s anything like it I wouldn’t be mad, but I hope it’s even better
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You’re right. CHIC is what I thought of too when I first heard it, especially considering that the title is “POSE.” 😂 I like CHIC a lot, so I’ll probably like this one too. I shouldn’t be so defeatist lol
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I went back to see what I thought about their prior songs, and (yeesh) I hadn’t commented on any which is not a good sign.
I am pleasantly surprised today with this song. Song, like real song with sung melodies. It is filling that gaping hole that other nugu groups I stan might have released something like this, shoulda woulda coulda, I am looking at you nSSign and NouerA. I am not wholly pleased with some of the timbres of voices and that guitar-like sample, especially in the 2nd half of the chorus, as they sound shrill to me on my current earbuds – something about the post-production commingling that edge and not in a good way.
In the fullness of time, it should be more like a flat 8 but these days it could be perhaps mid-8’s.
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I’ve been playing around with some AI music makers lately, and this song reminded me of one of the quirks that often comes along with that, when notes are held in an awkwardly long and flat way. I hadn’t heard of this group when I tried it out this morning, and assumed it was some new indie project trying some of this processing out.
Anyway, I’m not sure what I think of the song besides that distraction. It’s a bit paint-by-numbers to my ears.
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you say idles song bothered you, yet you left the blatantly racist comments of “istaynoied” (don’t get me started on the digital black face) up? After all this time? Disappointed in you, it really makes you come off as performative and truly engaged in discussions around race
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huh??
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Who or what is this in reference to? I’m confused.
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there was a user named istaynoied from last year who was on the “wicked” and “live laugh love” reviews defending tarzzan and kiss of life’s cultural appropriation, antagonizing users like gunther who pushed back against his comments and overall just being a complete ass
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ohhh that guy. yeah i saw his comments under kiof live laugh love review and he was being an asshole. i think nick simply didn’t notice the comments, i assume he doesn’t pay attention to every single one
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You would be correct, especially on busy threads and on days when I’m not at the laptop or near my phone.
Unfortunately, there’s no way for me to search comments by username so the best way to let me know if a comment should be flagged is to contact me via the contact button on the blog with the post that the comment is part of. At that point, I’ll use my discretion on whether to keep or delete the comment. I tend to err on the side of free speech, though needlessly offensive comments are of course not acceptable or productive.
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okay:
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I really missed DXMON, and I’m happy to see them back with a great song. However, fuck their label for not giving them a comeback last year.
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