Album Review: TVXQ blend past and present in new EP 'Epitaph'

TVXQ are one of the modern greats of East Asian music, with 19-20 studio albums, depending on your definition of the format of an LP. Despite that, they have only released 1-2 EPs, depending on how you define the term, both within a year with an LP, and one of them being a Christmas album! With the new Japanese release Epitaph, TVXQ have released their 2nd/3rd EP. Given their status as one of my favorite

Epitaph (For the Future)

TVXQ are one of the few K-Pop legends still active, and Epitaph's identically-titled single thumps with an aggressive SMP rock beat that instantly recalls their massive triumphs of yore. From the dichotomic concept to the dramatic and sonant vocal performance, Epitaph feasts on its dramatic capacity, supported by Kenji03's production. The verses provide a rock-tinged edge reminiscent of their previous Japanese LP XV, while the swirling mystical drama of the electrifying chorale is the definitive peak of the tune.

As an album opener and single, Epitaph works quite productively. It clamps down on the duo's nay-sayers, recalls their past hits, and sonically evolves their soundscape further. While the verses do not provide the adrenaline that the central refrain does, Epitaph is a fantastic addition to TVXQ's modern discography.

Rating: 9/10

Like Snow White

In the album's subsequent track, Like Snow White, TVXQ expand on their groovy, bass-heavy R&B build with a smooth and mysterious melody, peaking in a dramatic refrain, charged by a smooth and filtered falsetto sung by both Changmin and Yunho. The subsequent and secondary refrain lacks the charm of its predecessor, holding the song back from reaching the same peak as Epitaph, but is a clever release to move the EP into its more smoother and contemporary moments.

Rating: 8.75/10

Small Talk

When I reviewed Small Talk back in 2020, I was mildly dismissive of the track's electronic influences, even if the melody and climax appealed positively. Nearly a year-and-a-half since then, Small Talk's charms have slowly unraveled themselves. The first phase of the chorus is one of the best hooks within the entirety of the EP. While the electronic post-chorus comes with its quirks, it is hard to imagine the song reaching its utterly euphoric climax without it. At their heart, TVXQ have always been a vocal group, and ballads are their bread-and-butter. As one of the closest moments to a ballad on Epitaph, it is hard not to be flown into the melodic heaven of the children's choir.

Rating: 8.75/10

MAHOROBA

After three consecutive highlights, MAHOROBA is the mid-album hiccup that we all feared. Its flipping bass and kaleidoscopic chorus are venturesome, even if conventional. From this unimaginative but intriguing centerpoint, the song collapses into groovy sing-talk, leading to an unfortunate post-chorus, leaving this track as the album's largest mistake.

Rating: 7.25/10

Storm Chaser

After the previous record's misstep, the anthemic guitar-tinged mid-tempo ballad-rock of Storm Chaser brings the album back into shape. The tempest melody of the chorus instantly resonates with its memorable hook. The song's tepid atmosphere charms instantly, swirling with its heartwarming refrain. While the verses are fine, the stunning chorus is always within reach.

Rating: 8.75/10

Light My Moon Like THIS

To conclude the album, songwriters and composers Yascotti and Katsuhiko Yamamoto merge two b-sides from the TVXQ members' recent Japanese solo EPs; Changmin's You Light My Moon and Yunho's Shake it Like THIS. Both tracks were undoubtedly produced solely for this track's existence, and the song truly shines. The intertwining vocal melodies lead to an utterly transcendent chorus, rising with the melodies of each track flirting closely, but never fully uniting till the song's final moments. From the building instrumental to the fantastic climax to the clever lyrics, Light My Moon Like THIS is easily the best track within the EP.

Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 8.58/10

Since the end of their enlistment, TVXQ have released several strong albums. Epitaph is not the strongest of the bunch, and could certainly use some additional breathing room and streamlining to ease the listening experience. Nonetheless, this is a successful EP, with some fantastic tracks bookending the experience.

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