Late last year, DAY6 shocked me with their fantastic – and musically varied – full album The Book of Us: Entropy. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the group’s music before, but Entropy really pushed their sound to another level. Retro anthems like Deep In Love and Emergency were particularly impactful, and gave me hope that they’d lean further into this refreshing approach. Unfortunately (for me, at least) new single Zombie reverts to a more standard idol rock template.
I don’t think that DAY6 have ever released a bad single, but some just haven’t grabbed my attention as much as others. For the most part, Zombie falls within this category. It’s perfectly competent, and infused with emotion, but there’s no element that stands out as a musical highlight. I like the crisp percussion that opens the track, and kept waiting for it to build into something more. Instead, the song takes a brief guitar break and segues back into its subdued arrangement. The second chorus is bolstered by a beefier layering of instrumentation, but it still adheres too closely to generic radio rock for my taste.
The same could be said about Zombie’s chorus as a whole. It’s well-written and performed, but I just don’t like it very much. The melody feels repetitive and rote, playing out in a sing-song fashion that lands exactly where I’d expected it to. And without the incredible energy of a song like Time Of Our Life or even Sweet Chaos, the result is just kind of flat. Again, Zombie isn’t a bad song. But, stacked against DAY6’s incredible discography, it’s not one that I see myself seeking out often.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I get you–this was my initial impression, too. This isn’t my favorite single of theirs, but it *is* a bit of grower, and hearing the English version made it hit a bit harder for me.
On another note, there is at least ONE song on the rest of the album I’m sure you’ll love, if I’m reading your preferences correctly. Hehe.
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Oops…I prefer Zombie more than I’m in trouble.
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To be honest, when I was listening to the preview, I was reminded a lot of the album All Time Low released around this time last month. Zombie sounds like it could be an add-on track; it has the same sort of downbeat somewhat melodic structure of a song like Basement Noise. Hell, even the lyrics could fit in well with an ATL track. The song itself is alright, and it’ll probably grow on me just for being a Day6 track, but I definitely agree with you that it’s fairly generic for what the guys usually go with. As a fan I appreciate their willingness to experiment with different genres and hope the members themselves are able to get the rest they deserve. Sometimes I just wish they adopted more of the energy of their Japanese tracks.
Love me or leave me on the other hand though…that’s a song.
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I shuddered when I heard the start of the first verse, I thought oh no another song going the Winner and Zico Any Song pop song route.
It gets better as they lift the melody up higher in the tenor range. I think it is a solid base hit, at least a single perhaps a double. It shows off their vocal abilities nicely, but doesn’t do anything to show off their instrumental or composing abilities.
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It’s the kind of song I’d listen to on an afternoon car drive through like… cornfields or something. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a certain feel.
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Kpop has felt so loud this year. This is a breath of fresh air for me, with gorgeous vocals riding on, to me, a perfect melody from start to finish. I especially like the melody that leads into the first chorus. A really beautiful song, and well paced.
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So far both of today’s releases have been weirdly fresh. Both singles have done their share to stand out, and that is appreciated. These songs might not be perfect, but at least the albums are great!
Consensus: 8.75, was disappointing on the first listen but after that I couldn’t stop listening to it!
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Update: This is officially my favourite k-pop album of this year thus far(Not that it had much competition)!
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One of the rare times where literally every other song on the album is better than the title track. But I see why Zombie was chosen, clearly it’s the most public-friendly (i.e. melancholic introspective coffee shop music). And it’s working as it is arguably their most successful title track on the charts so far.
Buried treasure is easily 1 to 10. Basically Deep in Love with a modern pop layer. Can pass of as an early 5SOS song.
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Yeah….this song lets the vocalist takes control a bit too much, not giving him much to work with.
That being said, i do prefer everything after every day6 project. This one is still kinda okay.
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Thought it was fine but I actually was much more taken with the rest of the album.
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I think the song was rightfully restrained and emotional, though I do agree with you Nick — the result is kind of flat without the energy that drove their past releases. Given the lyrics of the song and the emotions they were trying to capture, I’d say they nailed it. Just not super catchy.
My guess is Day and Night / Love me or Leave me will be your Buried Treasure for the album!
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STOP has won me over
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I also vote for 1 To 10 as a hidden treasure. Too good. 🙂
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I think the “flat” and “repetitive” nature of the song was intentional and was kind of the point of the song, to mimic and capture feelings of the repetition of everyday life . I felt it worked perfectly and is actually my 2nd favourite track of the album
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You’re probably right. I guess I just have little interest in hearing the “repetition of everyday life” put in song form. Life is repetitive and boring enough at this particular moment!
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