Before their early-November comeback, xikers have divided into two sub-units to deliver pre-releases of vastly different genres. I really enjoyed the breakneck pace and energy of Just For Fun a few weeks ago. Now, it’s time for the remaining members to take us to the rock club with Runners High.

xikers’ music has often played around with rock influences, but they’ve never dived headfirst into the genre in a straightforward way. Runners High might as well be the work of an actual rock band. It disposes of idol tropes in favor of an unembellished guitar-rock approach. The guys pull it off with the requisite energy and charisma a song like this requires, even if the actual music is pretty generic for the genre. We’ve heard a ton of music just like this in 2026, part of a mini-trend that seems to be bringing guitars back into K-pop’s fray. Stacked against many of those efforts, Runners High doesn’t stick out at all. It’s professional and polished, but lacks the unique touch that begs for repeated listens.

Grade: C