Of all of Ok-pop’s forays into non-Korean markets, Katseye have had the most important push and have essentially the most potential to turn into stars exterior the trade. Although they’ve solely launched one EP since their debut final summer time, they’ve performed a good quantity of promotions and appear to have discovered a pure place inside the general pop music dialogue. With such an extended hiatus since their final single, Gnarly is a crucial second within the group’s evolution.

Maybe HYBE is aware of this, as they’ve given the group an entire sonic makeover. Gone is the breezy pop of their debut, changed with one thing rather more confrontational. As is the case with so many too-short HYBE songs of late, Gnarly runs a paltry two minutes eighteen seconds. That’s about two minutes eighteen seconds too lengthy in my estimation, but it surely’s proper consistent with the edgy hyperpop sound the track is concentrating on. It seems Ok-pop businesses have taken a really sluggish bus and are simply now arriving to final yr’s “Brat summer time.” I urge of you, Ok-pop … don’t tackle this specific pattern. You’re not well-equipped to tug it off in any manner that feels genuine.

On first pay attention, it’s exhausting to differentiate Gnarly as a track in any respect. It feels extra like a parody, particularly given its laughable string of cuss phrases thrown round like children desperately making an attempt to freak out their dad and mom. A beneficiant manner of receiving this observe can be to name it “camp,” however camp doesn’t work once you’re making an attempt so rattling exhausting to promote the gag. There’s an insufferable quantity of “making an attempt” occurring right here. Gnarly strains so exhausting to be leading edge and in-your-face that it finally ends up not doing a lot of something. Skilled pop followers have heard its rugged, electro distortion earlier than and Gnarly‘s lame shout-outs of every part from Tesla (actually?!?) to takis go down with a uninteresting, eye-rolling thud. The spotlight (lowlight?) for me comes throughout verse two the place the women really say “I’m making beats for a boring dumb b*tch” earlier than bragging about their “mansion.” I don’t understand how I’m presupposed to interpret this, but it surely actually seems like they detest their followers. That’s an fascinating lyrical method! I want them… all of the luck in that regard?

However actually, I believe this group has a lot potential if given the best materials. Gnarly is certainly not that materials. I really like my pop stars to be a bit prickly and misbehaved, however not in such a contrived manner. This can be a huge, obvious, deeply unclever cringe emoji all through. I’m really embarrassed on their behalf.

Grade: F