A K-pop group’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.
After a string of VERIVERY releases that didn’t connect with me, the group’s newest album is an oasis of energetic, hard-hitting pop music. I’m surprised at how consistent it is. Each track could have been promoted as a title and garnered a positive review here. After several listens, I think my favorite b-side is Underdog. It balances its experimental instincts with a sleek arrangement that makes for a (veri) very satisfying listen.
Following on the heels of Trigger, Underdog opens with a similarly icy beat before the instrumental kicks into gear and we’re sucked into a funk pop attack that recalls peak-SHINee merged with Bye Bye Bye-era Nsync. Like so many of my favorite tracks, Underdog‘s every moment is dripping with drama and tension. Even when much of its instrumental clears or segues into an unexpected breakdown, the arrangement remains compelling.
Underdog’s verses are especially exciting. They crackle with energy, punctuated by a descending brass riff that’s incredibly catchy. This element ties all the disparate pieces together. The song smartly positions its rap segments as an off-kilter chorus. The production softens to reveal a chanted hook that draws attention even if it lacks the bombast that preceded it. I’m usually not a huge fan of this “anti-drop” structure, but it works incredibly well here. I also love the song’s dynamic bridge, which swerves into a heartier chant that reminds me of vintage SM Entertainment. Taken alongside Trigger, Underdog completes an irresistible one-two punch. I hope it’s a preview of the music VERIVERY will be delivering from now on.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I just hope this will be VERIVERY’s music from now on, It just sounds so…good!
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is it just me or does this song also remind you of SHINee’s u need me and other experimental songs in 1 of 1?
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Kang Hanyong (Or Strong Dragon one of their main producers) kinda seems to have a crisis when it comes to his EDM style
Like at one point he’ll give us G.B.T.B and Numbness and destroy our ear drums with noisy ass trumpets and fake sounding guitars and next he’ll go for glitch pop edm in Trigger and Heart Attack that keeps you intrigued rather than annoyed.
I really hope he continues with the amazing style he found for Trigger next time he’s on the composing team.
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*glitch hop
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I’m in the minority, but i kind of adore Numbness.
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I’m with you tbh. I kind of like how messy and noisy it is. It’s like a total musical acid trip and you have no idea where its gonna take you. For any complaints some may have no one can disagree it’s ambitious at the very least and that’s something. Hahaha
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…and G.B.T.B
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This EP sold me on them. It’s really energetic and tough.
Slightly off topic, have you heard Oneus’s new Japanese song Only One? I think it’s really strong. Also, in pure nugu news Dios put out a song called Touch Me that has an almost hilariously unproduced video, but I like the song very much. It’s kind of standard boy group uptempo fare, but they have a lot of charisma, and the groove is good.
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Heart Attack is my favourite track of this EP and I feel the entire EP was really cohesive and hopefully continues their sound moving forward
Ah yes, I came across the video too and I quite liked the song.
And, Dios is also the name of another Japanese band that is really good. I recommend checking out Runaway by them.
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This mini sounds like the musical direction I would have expected Mirae to go after their debut with “Killa”, and I’m glad someone in kpop decided to !!
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