There’s a large contingent of us (relatively) old K-pop fans who constantly reminisce about the industry’s “good old days.” I’m sure this is very annoying to younger fans who are immersed in K-pop’s present, and it’s natural for any music market to evolve as time goes on. But whatever era you determine to be your favorite, most of us can probably agree that we miss the days of fully fleshed out, 3+ minute songs with a sense of scope and payoff. In this regard, rookies AHOF have become unlikely saviors of the form, debuting with the brilliant Rendezvous this summer and returning with another well-developed highlight.
Pinocchio (피노키오는 거짓말을 싫어해) is once again composed by El Capitxn, who’s been on quite a roll this year. The song feels like a natural extension of Rendezvous without being a complete rewrite. The guys once again adopt an epic-sounding rock texture, delivering a sense of catharsis at every turn. It took a few listens for Rendezvous to completely click with me and I imagine Pinocchio will also grow more addictive with time and familiarity. Though the songs are similar in tone and execution, Pinocchio is more generous with its sonic peaks. The track explodes after each chorus rather than bottling everything up until the climax. This leaves Pinocchio with less to do in its final moments, and that sense of storytelling isn’t quite as satisfying as Rendezvous‘s bravura finale.
With that said, Pinocchio is still an unmitigated success. AHOF have quickly developed a signature sound that draws upon the past but feels incredibly fresh today. Their music bursts with emotion and draws strength from that raw performance. It’s hard not to come away from Pinocchio feeling utterly captured by the sheer verve of their sound.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
