Review: LE SSERAFIM - Antifragile 

It was only back in May when LE SSERAFIM debuted with their Fearless EP, and since then, the group's status and HYBE's overall situation have changed greatly. BTS plan on entering their military hiatus soon, HYBE debuted a new girl group in NewJeans to massive commercial success, and LE SSERAFIM's debut rollout was derailed by one of the messiest K-Pop controversies in recent memory, leaving the group as a quintet. As a result, it is not hard to see Antifragile as a bit of a critical moment in LE SSERAFIM's career. But if (G)I-DLE proved anything this year with Tomboy, it is that "never underestimate a former sextet turned into a quintet after a bullying-in-school scandal." Jokes aside, I don't know how Antifragile will sell in Korea itself, but it is a solid return musically.

Antifragile seems to break all rules from what I seek in a song. Reggaeton is not a genre I have any personal love for, especially with its K-Pop knock-offs (with the exception of ChoA and Primary's incredible Don't Be Shy), and Antifragile is repetitive, somewhat monotonous in its delivery, amelodic, with lyrics that sound more corporate than anything else. Despite this, the song utilizes most of these elements for its own good and ignores the rest.

The repetitiveness of Antifragile helps the song. From moment one to the end of the song each element plays exactly how you'd expect, and the tempo does not shift even once. This makes Antifragile predictable, but it allows the song to allow the listener to settle in and enjoy the song. It also helps that the basic elements of the song, while not particularly galvanizing, are catchy enough to guarantee at least one part of the song will be stuck in your head by the song's closing. In a way, Antifragile acts like comfort food, providing a satisfying, if safe, treat.

The centerpiece of Antifragile is its chorus. It opens and closes without any grandeur signaling its heart as a centerpiece, but this allows it to flow well into the rest of the song. The repeating "Antifragile"-s works great as both a minor climax or a cooler hook within the song.

In a way, it is hard to quantify what makes Antifragile so good, but it really works together with its repetitive reggaeton beat and cleverly performed hooks.

Rating: 8.5/10

Listen and purchase to LE SSERAFIM's Antifragile, both song and album, right here!

Image Source: Kbopped