VERIVERY Ramps up the Intensity with “G.B.T.B.”
Leave any expectation you have of VERIVERY at the door, because this new release will definitely smash it. In the past, the group has tackled a number of different concepts, but nothing has gotten quite as dark as “G.B.T.B.” While the boys began going in that direction with last comeback “Thunder,” it was still particularly tame in comparison. Buckle up, because this ride will be quite wild compared to their debut days of cutesy, upbeat pop.
The Title
The song kicks off with a jarring Silent Hill-esque siren, accompanied in the video by Kangmin screaming at the top of his lungs with his hands covering his ears to showcase the intended intensity of the song. It’s a powerful opener, only accentuated by the opening lyrics: “Who’s gonna pull the trigger to determine one’s fate? No more barriers.” Before the lyrics drop in, the melody is muffled as if to aurally personify Kangmin’s experience of sensory overload (though this only occurs in the music video, not in the album track). It immediately captures the attention of the listener, and if you weren’t impressed by the fierce opening, you’re definitely listening closer now. This muffled sound effect makes multiple appearances throughout the song at random intervals, notably at the first bridge where the melody builds up to indicate a drop, but is instead replaced with this sound effect (again, only in the video. A bit disappointed it’s not present in the album version). The base of the melody is a catchy hip-hop beat with elements of EDM, though that is most obvious in the dance break. Speaking of the dance break, none of the musical elements used in that are predictable, as the beat breaks down completely into something new. The song all together is extremely experimental, which is what makes it so unforgettable and certainly a new favorite if you’re into artists breaking the mold.
We’ve already discussed how the dark tone is set from the first moment of the video. Most of the shots have a ton of darkness, most notably the choreography shots that have no background and only a simple light shining on the members while they dance. There is a futuristic element seen in a number of sets. The choreography is definitely the focal point of the video, with the sharp and fierce movements of the members accompanying the piercing melody with incredible precision. If the song alone didn’t capture your full attention, the addition of the video surely will.
The Album
FACE US features five tracks, kicking off with the title. The B-sides kick off with “MY FACE,” which has a calmer feel than the title as it begins. The catchy R&B beat is accompanied by airy vocals, but shifts at the chorus to a more EDM-influenced beat in the bridge that once again shifts the beat to something a bit different with more focus on a steady beat that is overshadowed by the opening electronic line. It’s hard to describe the musical shifts in this song, but the contrasts are very stark and keep to the experimental tone that the title track sets. It overall has a futuristic feel due to the heavy use of electronic rhythms and musical elements, including filters on the vocals.
“Hold me tight” shifts the musical expectations, opening up with a soft and bright melody that sounds like it is meant to convey the retro sounds of an arcade game before shifting into a more classic pop beat. Rather than some of the traditional musical fake-outs that both “G.B.T.B” and “MY FACE” employed to keep the listener on their toes, “Hold me tight” has a classic arrangement, including a build up and drop into the chorus. If you weren’t digging the experimental music going on in the previous tracks, this will be a welcomed shift to the familiar.
“Get Outta My Way” opens with a heavy focus on the rappers, the hip-hop-influenced beat mellowing out the atmosphere of the album. The verses have the members employing more of a subdued tone, which helps deliver a heavier punch at the chorus. Finally, the album concludes with the soft “소중력 (So gravity),” a sentimental ballad that has a simplistic melody, placing a heavier focus on the vocals. It’s a classic warm-hearted track without much complexity and serves as a bit of a palate cleanser after some of the ups and downs in intensity of the album.
All in all, this may be VERIVERY’s strongest comeback to date, both in the title track and the album as a whole. The production of the title track is extremely experimental, yet executed so flawlessly that it’s impossible to deny the talent behind the song and the performance of it. In a K-Pop world saturated with boy groups, it takes a lot to stand out amongst the crowd, but this comeback proves that VERIVERY has the stuff to do exactly that.