Late last year, Boys Planet spin-off group EVNNE became permanent, though this came at the expense of two members. Now a five-piece, they’ve reoriented their sound to fit the trends of the day. If new single Backtalk (뱉어) is any indication, their A&R team has noted the success of Cortis’s rage hip-hop and decided to give it a try.

This is such a weird genre for K-pop to latch onto. It’s not really mainstream anywhere in the world and doesn’t match so many of the hallmarks (ie: big, glossy presentations) that the industry built itself on. But, I guess it gives these guys a chance to put bandanas under their hats and puff up their chests. To EVNNE’s credit, there are some nice vocal moments buried within this hulking presentation. The problem is, they never amount to anything memorable. The hook is a dull spoken-word catchphrase, boasting little character. Everything surrounding this centerpiece feels like window-dressing. Vibes, vibes and more vibes.

Worst of all, this musical transformation just isn’t convincing. At least with Cortis, I can tell the guys had creative input and want to be making the music they make — even if it’s often not to my taste. Backtalk feels like the corporate-stamped version of this sound. Its squealing synths and clobbering percussion may evoke a sense of don’t-give-a-f*ck swagger, but the entirety of the K-pop industry begs to differ.

Grade: C-