There’s something admirable about a K-pop act from a small agency who just keeps on churning out material. XODIAC has never been in conversation with the big leagues of the industry, but they’ve released several comebacks a year since their debut in 2023. The quality of these songs has varied, and new single Phantom Fire feels like a missed opportunity to do something different.

The guys have opted for a slightly darker sound this time, cresting in the kind of bass-driven anti-drop favored by so many boy group tracks of the past. In fact, if you were to feed “typical boy group song” into a computer, Phantom Fire is what might emerge from ChatGPT (second verse trap breakdown and all!). I always say that these smaller groups can’t afford to play anything safe. If they want to stand out, they need to release music so unique or ear-catching that you’ll forced to listen. Phantom Fire is fine, but does nothing new and will likely fade from memory very quickly.

Grade: C-