Though I never reviewed it on the blog, with the anthemic rock of pre-release Broken Melodies, NCT DREAM set a solid precedent for their upcoming comeback. It was a track that only got stronger and more affecting with time, slowly turning into a standout in a year littered with otherwise middling material. But while that track stood as a notable sonic shift in the groups discography, ISTJ sees the boys revert to a more standard NCT trope. But not without a few twists and turns up its sleeve.
Despite me consistently wishing that Dream would stick to a brighter more pop oriented sound more in line with their original concept, it would be wrong to say that their material hasn’t been pretty solid. While the NCT soundscape feels interchangeable between any of its subunits, Dream still manage to retain their own little spark even with the more soundalike efforts. Such is the case with ISTJ. The percolating percussion that powers its verses is pure NCT/SuperM cheese, powering forward on real sense of propulsion that feels much more directed than expected. Sure it’s a little harsh but boy does the fast paced delivery match the soundscape perfectly. The airy pre-chorus is also expertly utilised, crafting a soft respite before the hook comes crashing in.
And for once in a long time, SM have chosen to gift us with an honest to goodness centrepiece. One that rekindles so much of the spark that made the agency’s older work such a joy. The rapid-fire opening is an utter thrill, propelling the listener forward into the industrial dystopia that is ISTJ‘s claustrophobic production. The layered harmonies are even better, recalling the kind of larger than life layered sound that used to characterise the best of SM’s gloried past. It’s absolutely killer, carrying a sense of weight and gravitas that really elevates it above so many of this years releases. I would have loved for a few more punctuations in a similar manner but I’ll no doubt take what we have here.
This brings me to the bridge, which I just love. This kind of RnB based shift is one of my absolute favourite type of musical switches and the one here is especially strong. The performances are excellent, crooning yet undeniably focused and full of life. In fact, I could do with an entire track in this vein from the boys. If anything, I wish ISTJ would ease up on its post chorus hook. It’s the only part that feels a little at odds with the classic SM’ness of the track, resorting to a shouty chant that threatens to grate even after a number of listens. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means but I could do well without it. But that’s but a small hitch for a very strong comeback, one that harnesses the kind of propulsive industrial sound that SM used to put out on the daily.
Verses: 8
Chorus: 9
Production: 9
Performance: 9
Final Rating: 8.75 / 10
KBopped 