Credit: SM Entertainment
Following the success of their first mini album and their first anniversary as a group, K-pop stars RIIZE have released the song “Combo” off their new EP RIIZING : Epilogue – The 1st Mini Album. The pop rock track is perfect for closing out the summer, channeling bands like Mayday Parade and Boys Like Girls to produce a powerful and emotional anthem. The lyrics detail the classic 2000s emo tale of two outcasts experiencing a love that shakes up their world and sets them free. It’s a sound that’s familiar, but timeless.
While some of the lyrical tropes may come across as overdone to some (“I’m such a loser, she’s such a weirdo,” and “We are young no doubt,” for example), and the production is incredibly polished, it still feels like a successful attempt at the genre. RIIZE has tried out many different styles throughout their year as a group so far, and trying out alternative music can be a risky gamble. Many artists who set out to emulate a rock/alternative/emo sound end up missing the mark and misunderstanding the appeal of the genre. A generic, safe guitar riff and singing that doesn’t commit to the bit can cause a song to feel underwhelming and cheap. RIIZE pulled the concept off better than a lot of other pop rock tracks in recent years following the nostalgic revival of 2000s alternative music.
Whether you understand Korean or not, the emotion in each of the members’ voices gets the point across. Lyrics like “Perfect storm / Breaking through that snow / Chasing danger, as always” and “You bring me down to raise me up again / In the end, it’s you alone / The fool who made me believe in this so-called love” can be felt through their delivery alone. It’s also easy to tell that the members did their homework when you hear the chorus. Sohee’s scream-like style is spot-on, and the attitude in Wonbin’s voice shines through to really bring it all together. This track is a fun, well-crafted nod to the genre I spent my teenage years submerged in. RIIZE is set to wrap up their first fan-con tour, RIIZING DAY, in Seoul with three shows at the KSPO Dome this month. The final show will be broadcast live on 13 September across various theaters worldwide. For a full list of showtimes and locations, visit https://www.riizeincinemas.com/.
Check out RIIZE’s new EP RIIZING : Epilogue – The 1st Mini Album here!
