We’re knee-deep in wintery releases this month, and SM Entertainment has always been a huge fan of the snow-draped ballad or festive midtempo. WayV are the latest to deliver a winter-themed album, though title track Eternal White (白色定格) is malleable enough to play all year.
Rather than throw sleighbells at the song, Eternal White is primarily a 90s hip-hop track with a few mentions of snow and some twinkling synths here and there. This sound is SM’s bread and butter and they know how to capture the vibe. Eternal White has its moments of upbeat funk and smoother vocal-led highlights. The song doesn’t make any big statement, opting to be straightforward and pleasant. In this way, it feels more like a solid b-side than exciting title track, but it’s nice to hear WayV back in this musical realm.
I find it funny that a big portion of Eternal White‘s chorus is a repeated, excitable “switch up the tempo!” chant when the tempo of the track never really shifts. The guys find their groove early and ride it for three and a half minutes. This gives them room for a bridge and build into the final chorus, hitting all the points you’d hope for. But even with this sense of fullness, the song is simply not notable enough to stand out.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
