You get one chance to make a first impression, and with their debut LP We break, you awake, Lee Siyeon's new band ChRocktikal struck it big, particularly with singles like "PEACE" and "KALish." When guitarist Lee Wonseok promised a brighter sound on the upcoming EP, fans may have been of two minds: either cautious excitement, or genuine confusion given how in-your-face the aforementioned album was. Now that it's here and we've had time to take it all in, Bloom & Gloom is five tracks and an instrumental that helps the band spread their wings and reach beyond the darker vibes.
The intro and "REQUIEM" are upbeat and energetic, and absolutely fit the lofty promises that Wonseok set out a couple months back. Once again, though, things take a turn into the power ballad with "Green," which is powerful if a bit saccharine. At this point, those who found ChRocktikal badass might be calling that to question, as things have fallen into accomplished but passe hard rock territory. That isn't to say that going for soulful is a bad thing, certainly not with a vocalist like Siyeon, who is operating at the full extent of her powers here.
The second half of the EP is for the sickos, as the opening riff to "WTH" jolts listeners awake. It also bears mention that hearing an idol like Siyeon drop an F-bomb clear as day is a surprise to anyone who knows anything about the usually squeaky-clean, image-conscious world of K-pop. The kid gloves have been off, and the expletive is well-deserved given her tenure.
On the LP, "KALish" was the most nu-sounding effort, and here that nod goes to "Guilty," with its orchestral elements, minor key, and dual guitar harmonies. It feels like something that could have featured on We break, you awake and no one would have batted an eye, but getting it on what is meant to be a brighter release is a welcome surprise.
We close with "¡CORRE!" and its corrido glory. We even get lead vocals from Wonseok on the second verse, and his guitar work keeps things fresh throughout. It's interesting to see the recent wave of K-pop and K-adjacent acts embracing Latin sounds (see also ATEEZ's "Mamacita," ENHYPEN's "Bloody Paradise," or KATSEYE's "Hootie Frutti" within the last year alone), and clearly the K-rock of it all is far from immune to that, and frankly it's better for that.
This ends up being an EP that stands on its own. It's not We break, you awake part two, welcome though that may have been. Bloom & Gloom is a necessary step in ChRocktikal's evolution with its own modus operandi, and it's allowed for greater exploration while not losing sight of that guitar-driven sound that the band has kept at its core. It's a fun time, all told, and more than warrants a listen.
Bloom & Gloom is available now via LEEGEUM ENT and Dreamcatcher Company.
