A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

Many specific K-pop sounds get repurposed for new generations, but one that hasn’t been touched often is the swaggering, pirate-esque, strings-assisted thump of Block B’s Nillili Mambo. Early-ATEEZ came closest, but now we’ve got a loving re-creation from an unexpected source. Rookie group Dignity’s Fire brings the bombast in a very 2012 way, standing as an instant highlight from their album.

Right from start, Fire pulses with an addictive brew of thundering percussion, ceremonial synth and tense strings. A post chorus energy shift briefly lands us back in current trends, but overall this feels like a welcome time capsule. And while the song doesn’t offer much in the way of killer hooks, Dignity perform with tons of flair, matching the bristling energy of the instrumental at every turn. I become more engrossed each time I listen to the song, and if the guys are looking for an addictive follow-up to title track Cool Down, this would make a nice compliment.

Grade: B+