If there’s one overriding trend in K-pop marketing this year, it’s double title tracks and pre-releases. It seems like every major idol group has several promoted tracks from their newest album. IVE released HEYA several weeks ago to great success, but we all knew Accendio was lurking just around the corner to satisfy fans who enjoy a more melodic-focused sound from the group.
Accendio has been described as a more developed Love Dive and I do hear some similarities. Both share a prickly attitude, meant to be admired from a distance. Accendio literally tells us not to touch the artists (something that, unfortunately, needs to be said to some overzealous fans). The song also climaxes in a ready-made catchphrase chorus, serving an easy soundbite that compliments the group’s image.
But while these similarities are apt, I’m not sure I hear the “more developed” part. IVE’s best work has been all-killer, no filler. Every single moment, from verse to chorus to bridge, stands as its own highlight. Accendio, just like HEYA, plays like a few standout moments stitched together by less interesting segments. I like the chorus (and especially the post-chorus), but the verses clang and clatter without much purpose. The song starts at a snail’s pace, relying on a breezy pre-chorus to pick up the energy, while verse two falls into overly familiar phrasing that feels too generic for what Accendio is trying to do. This hit-or-miss approaches results in a fine song that could have been spectacular given a few edits.
Hooks
9
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8.25