It didn’t take lengthy for QWER to go from little-known woman band to chart mainstays. 2024’s T.B.H shot them to instantaneous stardom they usually’ve been profitable ever since. Bands have loved a resurgence total in Okay-pop, however I like when QWER perform much less as a band than a poppy idol group who simply occur to play devices. Such is the case with new single Ceremony.

Strictly by definition, I suppose you possibly can name Ceremony a rock track. Nonetheless, it’s simply as straightforward to think about it being given to a gaggle like Twice again of their early years. Take away the guitar and also you’ve bought a typical idol pop monitor, sugary candy and singalong. In fact, this solely makes me need Ceremony to lean additional on this path. It’s crying out for an addictive, synth-led manufacturing that injects a shiny bubblegum bounce into the monitor. As it’s, I really feel like Ceremony is making an attempt to have it each methods and finally ends up much less distinct due to these compromises.

On the plus aspect, Ceremony‘s refrain is addictive on very first hear. It’s the form of hook you possibly can simply sing together with, which makes it excellent for streaming. I’m undecided how effectively this melody will age with time, however QWER promote it with loads of power. The Korean charts will doubtless eat it up, and that’s the precise trajectory the group wants to keep up.

Grade: B-