VERIVERY have enjoyed a second life after members appeared on Boys II Planet, though they haven’t been particularly busy since that time. One comeback came and went at the end of 2025 and now, nine months later, they’re finally back with a new album. The bouyant Don’t Panic! takes them back to their bright, poppy roots.
Gone are the rhythmic touches of New Jack Swing, replaced with a bubblegum funk and repetitive chorus seemingly designed for memes and short form content. Don’t Panic‘s relentless cheerfulness might be polarizing, as it’s not a song intended for every mood and its more cloying elements are constantly thrust center stage. I’m not sure how I feel about the shrill “don’t panic!” hook. I wish it was used more sparingly and replaced with a more robust melody, but that’s just not the pop music landscape we find ourselves in at the moment.
Overall, I like Don’t Panic‘s energy enough to give it a small recommendation. The instrumental might not be particularly unique, but it has a buoyant quality that makes you feel good in spite of yourself. My issues lie more with the song itself, which flits between forgettable filler and kiddie-show-style glee. I don’t quite know what to think about it, but I can’t help but remember how much better a group like Golden Child delivered this sound.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY TO KPOP’S FIRST GROUP AND THE BIRTH OF KPOP: H.O.T!!! 🎉🎉🥳 THANKS FOR ALL YOU’VE DONE IN MAKING THE KPOP WE KNOW AND LOVE TODAY.
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Wow, I just listened to this song and you summed up my thoughts on it EXACTLY. Usually song reviews are just fans being like “it’s so fun! perfect for summer!” but yours felt more thought-out and objective, and (again) exactly how I felt about it. Gonna need to check out your other reviews now, because I feel like I’ve found someone who gets me, lol.
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This is like a fluffy decadent dessert that is almost too cotton candy sweet to eat the whole piece.
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So true the song was definitely fun enough for summer but it just did not have enough powerful bite to left the mark on my heart or brain. It came up a little short but I appreciate the cheerful buoyant energy. It might sounds more exciting by watching the performance in person and basking in the positive energy of the song. Other songs in the album were good, including the unit songs, especially the intro Way to Zero.
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