After three years, BOYNEXTDOOR are finally set to release their first full album next month. This usually means extra promotions including a pre-release or follow-up. Without much teasing at all, the group has dropped Knock Knock (똑똑똑) as a taste of what’s to come. Fans will know the significance of this title given the group’s “door” schtick, though the song itself feels different from their usual fare.

Knock Knock takes a harder hip-hop turn, even borrowing the stylistic vocal effects utilized by groups like Cortis. Unsurprisingly, this is a not a pleasant development for me. BOYNEXTDOOR have always had a strong hip-hop base to their sound, but it’s usually playful and upbeat. In contrast, Knock Knock feels way too serious and sonically dull for a group like BOYNEXTDOOR. Their personality and individual character have been such vital pieces of their success, and Knock Knock feels as if it could have been released by any boy group angling to capture the current trends of the industry.

Beyond everything else, Knock Knock just isn’t very fun to listen to. There’s potential in its sparse, cavernous groove but the guys’ flow is either predictable or obnoxious with very little space in between. The chorus doesn’t inject any new element or texture, maintaining the rhythmic taunts from the verses and pre-chorus. Hopefully this isn’t an indication of the album’s overall sound because this is easily the weakest track the group has ever promoted.

Grade: D+