Pentagon are the latest act to celebrate their tenth anniversary this year, and although they’ve lost a few members they’ve brought together seven of the ten original line-up for special single Coward (겁쟁이). Co-composed and produced by member Kino, the track takes the sentiment expected of a career milestone and bolsters it with plenty of energy.

Coward takes an approach I always enjoy in pop music. It snowballs as it goes, opening almost as a ballad before the production gradually builds. This structure rewards patience and has become nearly impossible in our two-minute streaming economy. It gives a song a natural sense of movement and purpose. Just like a good vacation, there’s a destination in mind. We’re headed somewhere. In Coward‘s case, that “somewhere” is a cathartic dance break that also acts as a natural climax.

I’m also heartened by the sheer amount of singing happening throughout this track. Pentagon has always been underrated as a vocal group and it’s nice to hear them tackle such a melodic highlight. There are strong allusions to past K-pop generations but it feels very natural and not simply a pastiche of past songs. And like those older classics, Coward feels built to last the long run.

Grade: B+