After being formed on MNET’s Steal Heart Club, hrtz.wav made their debut earlier this year. I didn’t think much of that title track, though the band showed promise. Thankfully, their new album sounds like a major upgrade and Alive offers proof of their evolution. They even secured RIIZE’s Sungchan on the track (which feels very random!).

Alive isn’t all that different from Nineteen in spirit, but it’s bigger and bolder with a better hook. Its ascending chorus hits the sweet spot when it comes to “I want to sing along with this in my car” and offers the shot of catharsis you’d expect and hope for from a song like this. Hints of electric guitar add granduer to the arrangement while Sungchan’s second verse rap brings a different texture to the group’s soft rock sound. Alive is not seeking to reinvent any wheels nor is it likely to make much of a splash beyond the group’s core fanbase, but they’re definitely moving in the right direction.

Grade: B