[Album Review] LIVE AND FALL (5th Mini Album) – Xdinary Heroes

8 hours ago 4

In the pursuit of the end of the year, I will be reviewing the remaining 2024 albums that I have yet to review. One of these is Xdinary Heroes’ LIVE AND FALL, their 5th mini-album, which was released in October 2024. Leading the mini-album is Night Before The End, two additional new songs and 4 (or 5 if you count the instrumental intro) singles from their Open ♭eta series released throughout June to September 2024. Put all of these songs together, and you have a mini-album full of a variety of rock styles. And it is a good variety of songs and styles to enjoy. It isn’t their strongest album release to date, but it is still worth checking out.

More recently, Xdinary Heroes released 2 mini-albums this year: Beautiful Mind (led by Beautiful Life) in March, and LXVE and DEATH (led by the single ICU) in October.

1. XH_World_75 – Xdinary Heroes begins the mini-album with a fantastic instrumental track, which was previously featured as a side track on their Open ♭eta v6.3 single release (alongside Save Me, also featured on this mini-album). XH_World_75 begins quite atmospheric at first, then develops into an emotive rock track, before ending briefly with some synths. It definitely sets the tone for what is to come on Live and Fall.

2. Night Before The End (Title Track) – Click here for my full review for Night Before The End. (7.5/10)

3. Save Me – As mentioned earlier, the songs released as part of Xdinary Heroes’ Open ♭eta are also featured on this mini-album. First up in the series on the mini-album is Save Me, released in August 2024. It is an alternative rock ballad in which Xdinary Heroes pour their emotions into an upbeat song. I quite liked the energy of this one when it was first released, as well as its straightforward nature (relative to the other songs featured on this mini-album). (8/10)

4. Boy Comics (소년만화) – The second song on this mini-album from the Open ♭eta series is Boy Comics, which was released in June 2024. If you also cast your mind back, I also nominated Xdinary Heroes for Best Band Performance of 2024 for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards based on Boy Comics. This was because of the intense, consistent energy Xdinary Heroes put behind the upbeat rock song, and the anthemic qualities the chorus exudes, both of which I really enjoyed since its initial release. Sure, it is another straightforward track, but why mess with something that works well? (9/10)

5. iNSTEAD! (ft. Yoon Do Hyun of YB) – Xdinary Heroes join forces with Yoon Do Hyun from YB for iNSTEAD!, the third single from their Open ♭eta series, to feature on the mini-album. This collaboration unexpectedly delivers a metal track with a screamo hook. As far as I can remember, this is new territory for the band and also KPOP in genre. While I liked the edgy energy and powerful intensity from the metal side of the song, I don’t think the screamo hook resonated much with me, as I hadn’t paid much attention to the song since its release, and it is simply not my style. Based on what I am hearing, Xdinary Heroes can rock this genre, just without the screamo centrepiece. (7/10)

6. FEELING NICE – FEELING NICE is one of the three new, fresh singles on the mini-album. It features an upbeat electro-rock instrumental that evokes punk and headbanging vibes. I liked the intensity of this song (especially from the get-go), as well as the consistency the vocalists brought to it as it shifts in tempo and other ways. (8/10)

7. XYMPHONY – Hands down, XYMPHONY is very much the song on the album. From the very intense rock energy to the sinister, striking piano in the background to the catchy melodies and hooks, XYMPHONY is bold and powerful. For me, this is the unique, individualistic style I am looking for in artists. With regards to the piano, JUNGSU gets his solo moments in the song, and those parts were quite beautiful and felt calming. I appreciate that it sounds like a lot is going on in the song (I won’t deny it), but if you like Xdinary Heroes’ music or style, then XYMPHONY is definitely the one you need to check out. (10/10)

8. LOVE and FEAR – LOVE and FEAR is the final track from the Open ♭eta series featured on this mini-album. It again puts rock energy in the forefront, with the head-banging and foot-tapping potential behind it very hard to deny. I really liked the build-up during the pre-chorus of LOVE and FEAR, as well as the launch into the chorus. The way all of this was handled was very clean and straightforward. As for the vocals, I could feel the yearning and desire behind them, which makes LOVE and FEAR more impactful alongside the song’s more anthemic moments. (8/10)