Dragon Pony Makes Their First Comeback with EP Not Out

If there’s one genre in the Korean space that’s not getting enough exposure, it’s the K-Rock scene. It’s gotten better in recent years with the popularity of bands like DAY6, Xdinary Heroes, and Rolling Quartz, but still in comparison to other genres, known artists are sorely lacking. That’s why we’re happy to see Dragon Pony make their first comeback. The four member group under Antenna made their debut back in September, with this comeback coming on the one year mark of the announcement of the group. As a child of the nu metal and alternative rock wave of the early 2000s, rock music has always held a special place in my heart over any other musical genre, so seeing the emergence of Korean artists in this realm is very exciting. 

The title track “Not Out” is very reminiscent of that era of punk rock music. It’s very much giving early blink-182, Green Day, The Offspring, etc. The nostalgic sound of a heavy electric guitar accompanied by Taegyu’s very strong vocals showcased in the chorus are an ode to the classics. Taegyu’s unique vocal style is certainly what carries the song, and his ability to have strong projection while also having a more subdued sound in each verse (compared to the chorus) helps to build back up to the drop. 

This isn’t K-Pop, so the music video isn’t much more than a performance, but that’s the charm of this genre. It’s simple but it allows the music to take center stage of the performance, and the style is pretty nostalgic too, at least in my perspective. 

Check out the music video for “Not Out” below.

Edited by Cara Musashi