[Review] Chains – HIGHLIGHT

HIGHLIGHT is back with their new single, Chains, from their 6th mini-album, From Real to Surreal. This is their first comeback since their Switch On mini-album and BODY single from last year. It is also the first release since the group announced that they had regained their former name, BEAST, a massive win for the group. The pre-release Endless Ending was released under the name BEAST (HIGHLIGHT), but the group has chosen to keep and promote under their current name, HIGHLIGHT.

My initial impression of Chains was that it was decent. The chorus was my main favourite segment by far, especially with that deep pounding beat that kicks it off. The melodies and hooks in Chain‘s centrepiece were pretty prolific. I wish the same could be said about the clarinet sound (which I previously described as ‘flute-like’ in other reviews) in the background. There was potential for it to be a standout element in the Chains that really pulls the audience in. However, although it is audible and detectable, I find that it is often masked by the rest of the instrumentation and doesn’t get much opportunity to truly stand out. Another weak aspect of Chains is the verses. I didn’t remember much from these segments aside from being chic and sleek. Each time I have listened to Chains since its release (it has only been two hours, but I had to replay it several times to write this review), I have been anticipating the chorus more than the verses and have not paid much attention to the verses. HIGHLIGHT/BEAST songs, in the past, have had much stronger verses that add significantly to the songs. But in Chains, I didn’t get that same feeling from the verses. Overall, my initial impression of Chains still stands even after consolidating my thoughts into this review.

Chains conveys the feeling of a “mad all-consuming love” (taken from Soompi). While I am unsure of what the video shows, my best guess is that it depicts the influence the person has on the members, leading them to engage in some sort of heist together. Gikwang kills or knocks out a bunch of guards on the inside; Dongwoon blocks the police from coming in; Dojoon keeps watch from afar, and I think Yoseob steals whatever the lover wants. I could be entirely wrong, but that is what I got out of the music video. I like the black outfits they wore throughout the video, which match that chic and sleek vibe I mentioned earlier about the song. Keeping the amount of colour (and their prominence) also matches the same vibes.

The choreography also gives me a similar decent impression. It is not their best or most memorable work, from what I could see in the music video, but it isn’t terrible. I think more can be said once they perform Chains for the first time, and I may return to review the choreography again. For the time being, the choreography remains on par with the above, at this stage.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7/10