Riize is Riizing to the Occasion on Their First Album

The new gen is rising and dynamic music along with it. The new group Riize has just released their first mini album, and it is jam-packed with energy and flair. The group is made up from previous members of NCT, SM entertainment rookies, and survival show winners. Debuting just last year with seven members, their sound is young and playful, and their debut single “Get A Guitar” sold around a million copies in its first week of release. Following its success, they released a new album, called Riizing, about the group’s journey and what they’ve experienced while pursuing their dreams as young adults. It features nine tracks, many of which were pre-released ahead of the album coming out in June.

 

The first thought I had while listening to the album was that it had texture and layers that I wanted to explore. The way the claves tiptoed on top of the instrumentals intrigued me as I don’t hear the instrument used in pop music much lately. In addition, the album is packed with fun bops and an array of emotions as the band continues on their mission to “rise” and “realize” (the two parts that make up their name).

 

 

I admit I was taken when I heard the beginning of the title track “Boom Boom Bass”. I wasn’t expecting this much of a banger and it was a delight to get hyped by. The electric keyboard and Daft Punk-like vocal effects immediately set it apart as fun and creatively produced. A part of my brain was also delighted as the members sang “lower, lower” and the melody followed suit.

 

 

The second track also exceeded my expectations, as listening to “Siren” is a trip I thoroughly enjoyed. So much about this song surprised me, from the hypnotic and drawn out ‘siren’ being sung throughout the song, to the excellent raps. The unexpectedly dissonant and slightly jarring harmonies also added perfectly to the ‘siren’ atmosphere and underlying feelings of chaotic energy. The turntable flares also came like adrenaline to my ears, as at each turn of the song I found something new and peculiar in the best way.

 

 

The other song I enjoyed was “Honestly”. I think this song in particular held a lot of emotional depth and I believe it shows the potential of the album's concept: exploring all emotions felt whilst in pursuit of their dreams. A song about moving on from a relationship, “Honestly” has a beautiful flow from one melody to the next with delicate synths sprinkled throughout. The only way I can describe what I hear is waves gracefully foaming and sliding into one another. The tune got stuck in my head for days and it has made it onto my regular playlist.

 

In all, the album surprised me and I think Riize has a lot of potential, especially if they’ve already come out with great songs like these in their first year. I think some of the other songs on the album felt a little random, but seeing as they only have a few songs from the short time they’ve been in the industry, I understand the want to get them into an album. A few of these are definitely going into my regular rotation. Talent shines through these songs and I was impressed by the group’s strong rappers and production. Their sound is fresh, and I hope I’ll be pleasantly intrigued again by their next album.