Song Review: Chanyeol (EXO) – Back Again

EXO’s Chanyeol made his comeback last week, but he’s already back again with follow-up single… Back Again. While Black Out took a subdued rock approach, Back Again dives into a more boisterous 90’s sound. It’s a much more interesting song, pulling together several distinct segments.

Back Again almost feels like a mash-up. The rapped verses are what I’d expect from a Chanyeol solo track, bounding forward with plenty of energy and character. Then, the song swerves into a surprising choral pre-chorus, utilizing an angelic bed of backing vocals to turn the track on its face. This segment offers brief breathing room before Back Again reinvents itself once again with grungy rock energy.

These three pieces shouldn’t fit together as well as they do, but they forge a whole that’s greater that the sum of its parts. By the time Back Again climaxes in its rousing guitar solo, its full vision becomes clear. K-pop has often blended genres together, and this is the latest example. It’s just being heard through a different sonic prism. This feels like a culmination of Chanyeol’s skills and influences and far eclipses the more predictable Black Out.

Grade: B