I feel like I must open every new DAY6-related review by mentioning just how well the group has done this year. It’s insane to see so many of their singles running up the charts — both old and new. Korea is clearly in love with their sound, more than any other time in the past eight years they’ve been active. Now, we’ll see if leader Sungjin can conjure the same chart success with his own music. Check Pattern is his first title track as a soloist.
Given his powerful voice and ferocious performance on many DAY6 songs, I would have expected Sungjin to debut with something big and brash. Instead, Check Pattern is a tasteful ballad, reminiscent of many songs from his group. Knowing Korea’s love for ballads this time of year, I can’t fault him for playing to the room. And, the track has enough unique touches to set it apart from similar releases.
My favorite segment of Check Pattern is its transition between verse and chorus. The song slows here, stripping away much of the instrumental as Sungjin’s voice takes on an almost haunting tone. It’s a gorgeous bit of melody that catches listeners off guard without destroying the song’s momentum. The rest of Check Pattern is pretty standard fare, appealing in its way but unlikely to spawn much excitement beyond those already smitten with Sungjin’s sound.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8