Since their post-Boys II Planet debut, ALPHA DRIVE ONE have sold a ton of records and been promoted everywhere MNET can manage. So, why don’t I feel the same surge of interest I usually get from this franchise? For one, the music hasn’t been great (or even good, most of the time). But more than that, I’m struggling to find a unique sound or identity within AD1’s performance. So far, they feel like the most generic definition of a boy group you could imagine.
New title track Born Dire has an intriguing (grammatically strange?) title and attempts to bolster their sound with a bit more energy. Its promo has described the group as “beast boys,” which makes me giggle. In the older days of K-pop, promo like this would have them dressed up in literally wolf ears, but new K-pop is too “cool” for that. Instead, Born Dire finds the guys chant-rapping their way through a cool drum and bass instrumental pitched at high intensity. The idea has tons of potential. I love the flourishes of electric guitar and the overall pace/energy of the track. In another world, Born Dire could be one of those awesome, genre-breaking K-pop epics the industry made its name on.
Of course, this is 2026 and the industry is allergic to melody. In our chant-heavy hellscape, Born Dire is relentlessly fine. Its hooks aren’t annoying even as they repeat often. They just never land with the force or intention Born Dire‘s instrumental promises. We desperately need some kind of melodic centerpiece to bring a sense of dynamics to the arrangement. Otherwise, we’re just spinning our wheels over cool production.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I actually kinda dig this. The production is great and it’s actually pretty catchy. It’s something different and it doesn’t remind me of those just another boy group songs. If they continue doing this, I might have hope for their future output.
8.5(8,9,8,9) for now
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same sentiments as the NCT 127 comeback, I love the energy, I just wish there were more melodic moments
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I like this much better than Freak Alarm, which quickly became so tiresome that I think even the fandom dreads when it’s performed at award shows. It’s noisy but full-sounding, and I think will grow on me after I see the performance.
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Pop music shouldn’t be a chore to listen to. That said, this may fit nicely on someone’s workout playlist.
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reminds me of the time some bgs would get an SM reject and you definitely knew who this track was meant for (exo) but well its not 2016 anymore. it is very SM-coded but really the vocals are lacking and the melodical oomph to it is missing. 8/10
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The dictionary defines “dire” as extremely serious, terrible, or causing great fear and worry—and honestly, I am a bit worried because this group still hasn’t found a clear, distinct sound of their own. This track sounds like it was pulled straight out of the vaults of ENHYPEN or countless other 4th-generation boy groups. They pivoted from “Freak Alarm” to this style so quickly!
The guitar elements feel a bit unusual, and wait—this genuinely sounds like something Shadow the Hedgehog would listen to (please tell me I’m not the only one who played that game as a kid?). Ultimately, this felt like another unnecessary dose of standard “bad boy” posturing. It makes me wonder what these agencies are thinking when choosing material for them!
7
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Decent song. Probably a 8 rating too.
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