Review: 9001 (Ninety O One) - Zinnia

Spelling errors are increasingly unforgiving in the modern music scene, one additional letter or number and you find something totally different. While this can be frustrating, it can lead to some great discoveries. The other day I was searching up my favorite Kazakh boy band, Ninety One. Due to accidentally making a spelling error, I found Ninety O One, a Korean rock band, previously known as Oyster. This was a pleasant discovery,  as their latest single, Zinnia, is solid.

Zinnia is similar to many other modern K-Rock songs. Filmed on a landing pad, slightly sentimental, leading to an electronic rock drop chorus. This style was pulled off fantastically by the Mandarin track Love by Trash last year, and Zinnia, though not a retread, instantly draws memories of the superior track.

Two things kept me interested in the track, however. The first is Jogun's voice, his tone seems reminiscent of the timbre of Lucy's twin vocalists. Sure, it is a little higher in pitch and less anthemic, but he more than gets across the line. Additionally, drummer Uei Gon proves the true glue of the track, with his riffs holding the melody in place whenever it gets messy.

The chorus is certainly disappointing, it fails to use the interesting keyboard flourishes, instead opting for a tried and tired EDM rock drop, cutting the track's momentum. Thankfully, on the final repetition, the drop is much more streamlined, assisted by the bridge being played over the chorus' melody, creating a cathartic feeling. Climaxing on a high note, Zinnia's final few seconds make up for the track's weaknesses with a sense of dramatic finality.

Rating: 7.75/10