[Review] Looks Can Kill – IVE

IVE is gearing up for a comeback next week. But ahead of that, the group (as usual) has unveiled a pre-release single that shares the same name as next week’s mini-album: Looks Can Kill. This comeback follows their ReViVe+ studio album, released in January, led by the singles BANG BANG and BLACKHOLE. My initial impression of Looks Can Kill is that it isn’t like their other successful pre-release singles. I find the new single to be on the safe side of the spectrum and lacking the strong hooks of their predecessors. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy Looks Can Kill, but I think there are better IVE pre-releases out that. The track is an electronic dance-pop song, with consistently channelled dynamic energy throughout. It’s good, but it also shows where the song felt ordinary. I wish it had a bit more flair to add dimension and depth to the instrumental, perhaps making Looks Can Kill sassier and more provocative. The choruses were catchy, and the “Da Da Da” refrain is hard to get out of your mind. The bridge was also a promising sequence, with a more melodic, smoother focus. Plus, the transition from bridge to chorus was super cool. Elsewhere, Looks Can Kill falls short in both the ver...