BVNDIT is back and better than ever with their long-awaited third mini-album [Re-Original]. With their last release being the EP Carnival in May 2020, this mini-album follows a two-year hiatus that saw member Seugeun participate in Mnet’s Girls Planet 999, a survival competition where 99 trainees from South Korea, Japan, and China competed for a chance to debut in the nine-member girl group Kep1er. Since their debut with “Hocus Pocus” in 2019, BVNDIT have been delivering hit after hit, and [Re-Original] is no exception. This mini-album consists of five tracks: “Re-Original,” “VENOM,” “JIGGY,” “AWAKEN,” and “DON’T MESS WITH ME,” with "VENOM" serving as its title track, complete with a fierce music video release. 

Now let’s dive straight into the album and the music video. We’ve waited long enough already!

Opening track “Re-Original” is an EDM instrumental piece that goes hard. At just one minute and eight seconds, it is so short but so effective, and is one of those tracks you could imagine playing across striking visuals of the band as an introduction tape before they step out and wow the crowd at a concert. If only it was a full-length song, “Re-Original” could have been perfect as a workout track too.

Next on the album is title track “VENOM.” This track is a fun, catchy, EDM-dance track that will have you singing “venom, venom, yeah” on repeat immediately after your first listen. Like the meaning behind the group's name - Be Ambitious N Do It - “VENOM” is a self-empowerment song with them hyping themselves up and stating they are, “original, riginal, riginal, riginal, so let’s pop it.” With its energetic sound, “VENOM” has a vibe that is perfect for a club or dance setting while also being a song that (I think) is quite reminiscent to the sounds of JYP Entertainment girl group ITZY, with its catchiness and repetitiveness that makes the song fun and memorable. 

The music video for “VENOM” is hectic, switching from black and white to dark yet colorful pink neons and inside and outside factory locations. Not to mention the inclusion of stuffed teddy bears, motorbikes, quad bikes, swords, and, to top it off, animated fires and smoke clouds. This is a really fun music video despite me having no idea what is actually going on. 

As well as the official music video, BVNDIT also released an [In the Studio] performance version for Stone Music Entertainment’s YouTube channel. This video is less chaotic but still fun to watch as it focuses more on the girls’ choreography. 

Following “VENOM,” the third track on the album is “JIGGY,” an upbeat track that veers more toward the slower side in comparison to “VENOM.” With slight hip-hop vibes, “JIGGY” continues the theme of reptiviness and cachiness that “VENOM” gives.

The fourth track on the album is “AWAKEN” and is my personal favorite. It's an incredible B-side and is the song that I think should have been BVNDIT's title track, although I can see why they chose “VENOM.” “AWAKEN” carries a heavy Latin-infused instrumentation that, along with the members’ stunning vocals, creates an excellent vibe that is perfect for the summer. I would love to see a music video for this one day; just imagine the visuals! 

Closing the album is the fifth and final track “DON’T MESS WITH ME.” This song infuses a pop, EDM-type instrumentation with ballad-like vocals, creating an interesting and beautiful sound to complete the album. After “AWAKEN,” “DON’T MESS WITH ME” has to be my second favorite song off of the album and another I hope they release a music video for.

So, after two-years away, BVNDIT have proven that they are more than capable of being the next big thing in K-Pop, with [Re-Original] being a great beginning to this new and exciting chapter for them. This mini-album showcases BVNDIT’s talents of music and vocal versatility, and I cannot wait to hear what these girls have in store next. 

Listen to [Re-Original] here and on all other streaming platforms today.