VIXX Conception 2016 has finally come to an end.

Kratos unofficial mini review! VIXX, VIXX, VIXX. I don't even know what to say anymore. How can they continue to surprise me every single comeback? Due to work commitment issues, I didn't get to review Hades (which was amazing, by the way!) I probably will review that when I have the chance but for now, let's focus on The Closer!




Alright, let's shout this: I LOVE ADORE AND AM SO SMITTEN with this comeback. (Especially since the comeback was right on my birthday, yes I'm a Halloween baby). I can't even begin to explain how much I love this release. What I love the most about this release and comeback is that the release is such a contrast and is so different from their other releases. They even mentioned it on their V-App that the release is something very different that what they had put out previously and it's so true.

Even with the lyrics, they began with "Thing about love" which (!) I can not get over with, it's on my head, every single second, minute and hour. I can not get it out of my head! The song starts slow with real heavy beats, almost RnB sounding but slow. It starts off like a slow jam with a beautiful beat and bass (which I have a weakness for!) But as soon as it transition to the chorus from the verse, it became this very complex song with very complex beats in the background. It became so heavy but so heavenly; orchestra like even! The swerve bass, I can not get over it and I love how the sounds have lots of layers with lots of very heavy and big flow. The song is definitely heavy on the vocals, using the boys' strength and just showcasing every single skill the boys have and it's just lovely. The song has this crescendo feel to it and you can feel how strong it is. (I best recommend you to hear this song using headphones!)

I love how they layer the vocals, it's barely there but noticeable. It makes the song sounds more put together and complex. I love the vocal and rap on Ravi's main rap part, it's unpredictable but the vocal and rap work well together. But I also like about this song is that, it actually starts with very minimal sounds but then they start building up the beats but also bringing it back down at the end. And the end! You know that swerve with the lyrics' "It's over" Try listening to Dynamite-Fantasy-The Closer. You can feel the era ending, you know with The Closer that this year long project has finally come to an end (BUT WE WANT MORE). I love that!

A few lyrics that I just need to let people know are:

Getting closer
다 밀어내고 너를 독점해
너의 어디에도 감히 눈을 두지 않게
틈 하나 없도록 다가가
모두들 멍하니 바라보게 안아봐

Getting closer
I push all the others away and claim you for myself
so that they won’t dare to lay their eyes on you anywhere
I walk towards you without giving them a chance
Hold you so that the others can stare in a daze

Trans creds: fy-vixx

Try listening to this on your birthday. You would swoon, I did. I think if it wasn't my birthday, I would probably still swoon. And what I also love about this part is during Ken's part : "I walk towards you without giving them a chance, Hold you so that the others can stare in a daze" It was plain and soft at first and once he said the first word, the beats started building into this crescendo, as if trying to explain how serious he was and then the beat stopped, the song became jarring WHICH MADE ME GO "OMG. WHAT. MY HEART."


And then this other part came!

The thing about love 난 네 의심을 닫고
The thing about love 전에 없던 것을 줄게 난
몰아치던 밤이 그치면
나와 함께 사라질 뿐야
널 내게 맡겨 널 내게 맡겨 uh (내게로)
And It’s over  

The thing about love I can end your doubts
The thing about love I’ll give you the things you didn’t have before
When the raging night ceases
You’ll disappear with me
Trust yourself to me, trust yourself to me uh (to me)
And It’s over

Trans creds: fy-vixx

I mean, what else can I do other than, trust VIXX? When this part comes, I'm always like, not I'm not ready for this but it's just so so good! That ending though, breaks my heart on how beautiful it is! Alright, now let me touch on the Music Video (If you haven't watch it, please do, using 720p as well and put the volume as high as possible, I promise you, You'll enjoy it!)

This music video is so different from what we've seen from Dynamite and Fantasy, while Dynamite was bright, Fantasy was not and when The Closer came, I don't know where to put it, it's dark almost creepy even but it's not obvious until you listen to the song. The music video has the eerie feel to it but you don't really notice it, because it's not obvious! So the main character for this video is Ken, while everyone is in freeze frame, he goes to each member almost making that "Hold you so that the others can stare in a daze / Get trapped in time and Dance with me." line true, literally. Because each member is in a daze, freeze frame, not moving an inch. And don't you think that little attention to detail to the lyrics is amazing? They could have made this video with Ken fighting off the others to get the girl but no, they decided to freeze frame everyone because Ken is ZEUS! But also once you link Dynamite and Fantasy you will then really know, that Ken is just playing with the mortal (in this case the five members and the girl) If you noticed in Dynamite, The main character Hakyeon, gets jealous because he hasn't got the girl yet and he plans on doing something about it, but Leo beats him to it in Fantasy by getting that Love Potion from Ravi. In Dynamite and Fantasy we see, Hongbin and Hyuk trying to stop N-Leo from doing something "stupid" to get the girl but what they don't know is, there is a big mastermind behind all this; which is Ken.


Why do I say this because the end of the project; The Closer ends with Ken being the main character and in the video, we see almost everything from his point of view (case in point, his reflection on the car). So Ken is probably is the mastermind behind all the things that have went on. And, at the end of the song, he is the one who say It's over, not only because the produces/ line distributor thinks he would do that line best but also because all the things that happen is because of him and as if you see, during the performance at the end of the song, only Ken looks up to the audience while the others put their head down. To be quite honest, there are so many theories out there for this year long project and there is so many ways to interpret it. I just hope one day, Jellyfish will come up with an explanation so that everyone can stop cracking minds, heads trying to solve all the mystery. Haha.

But overall, I SWOON is the correct statement for this comeback and I hope VIXX slays this comeback. It seems hard, but we can do it STARLIGHTS!

till then!

- wai

DYNA-MITE!

My boys are back! Our boys are back and I'm completely blown away! So, what we know from the information that they have given us is that their concept for this year long project; VIXX 2016 CONCEPTION will be Greek Gods. So, for the first Greek legends they are tacklin in their 5th single is based upon Zelos ˈziːləs the Greek God of Jealousy who personifies dedication, emulation, eager rivalry, envy, jealousy, and zeal. In other words, this single focuses on jealousy. And I'm excited!

I'm gonna review Dynamite (다이너마이트) through the song and it's MV.




And first thing's first, I have to get this out there : I LOVE IT. I can't believe Jellyfish and VIXX has done it again; impressed me and made me fall in love all over again. Just, seriously, I don't know how they do it but they did it. Haha. I'll review the song first, it's amazing. This song sounds jazzy, funky, upbeat and it's mixed in really well, the bass, the guitar sounds, the vocals (!!) and just the transition between all verse and chorus. Can you believe how much I just love the beats in this song? I recommend you to listen to the instrumental, you will not believe how complicated the beats are but it mash so well together that you don't think it's out of place. I just seriously was in awe when I heard the instrumental, and when I listened to the song again, it was like I heard something new and it was even better!

Ravi starting the song is perfect! "All mine, her mind" that one line just explains the whole essence of the song and I instantly said 'I'M IN LOVE', then hearing all this vocal being mixed in is like amazing. Do you hear Ken starting that verse?

뭘 봐 이거 놔 진정하라 하지 마
무슨 소용이야 다
이미 뻔히 저기 끝이 보여 

This was amazing, the layering in this part is amazing, go listen real closely and it's there! That layers, oh my gosh, I don't know man, but I have to say Jellyfish's producers are amazing and they deserve a pat in the back and a huge hug. The chorus though, the build up before the chorus too, it's perfect, the progression is just amazing! I don't know how else to explain but the build up sounds so up beat and exciting. The chorus just makes me love those two vocals! I just can't not love their vocals. I like how sometimes they tone down the sound and emphasise on the vocals and it's just makes us be aware of his/their vocal more! I just don't know how to explain how much I love Leo's tone, he's just perfect in this song. Halfway to their song, when they change the beat to a slower one, you just fall, fall in love with N! You know he can sing but he's just proving himself here. It's like you can't imagine it going there but they did. And to the climax of the song, the layerings of vocals makes you appreciate each and everyone because you can hear all of them. Let's not forget Hyuk, he has made so much progress and his parts are the ones that I love the most, I just go singing his part all the time now. His tone is perfect to make that beat drop and go to chorus. Hongbin, well, Hongbin, oh gosh, he had that scary lyrics and when the spoiler when out I was afraid of how tacky it was gonna be but HE NAILED IT.

수리수리 이뤄져라 All mine
수리수리 돌아서라 Her mind

It's like you are really being put under a spell and his tone just makes that work. I don't think I can imagine any other person singing his parts, and that's what makes VIXX amazing, when they are given a part, they own it. It's theirs. And Ravi, my baby! My favourite rapper! You will never fail me, you never disappoint me! He sounds great and I love how the beats goes down during his part and the bass just kinds takes over and becomes this great transition to that not so obvious guitar. It's amazing and his rap, well, he knows his strength and he sounds GREAT. So yeah, you obviously understand I LOVE THE SONG. It's my definite go-to song this week, will probably hum it at work, when I go to class, while in the staff room, it will be my song!

Now, let's talk about the MV. I JUST AM SO SATISFIED. I love vivid colour so much and never thought that VIXX would do it and they did it so well! It just makes everyone looks so damn good. Ken is especially pretty and charming in this music video and I can't help smile every single time he goes on screen especially in his solo shots! He's just really taking my breathe away. The music video is everything I want it to be!

Let me just mention the other two songs in the single!

"Six Feet Under" (늪)

 This song, I just can't stop listening to it! Especially that last two parts :

'Cause you got me going crazy
니 말에 베어 난
또다시 going insane
버틸 수가 없어 난
버틸 수가 없어 난
너 때문에 미쳐가 미쳐가
한 치도 볼 수 없게
넌 나를 가둔 채로
내 두 귀를 막아 두 귀를 막아
끝내 무릎 꿇어도
돌아보지 않는 너

(‘Cause you got me going crazy
I’m cut by your words again I’m going insane
I can’t take it anymore (can’t take it anymore)
I’m going crazy because of you (going crazy)
You’ve imprisoned me so that I can’t see anything
You cover my ears (cover my ears)
Finally I get on my knees but you don’t even turn to look at me)

Trans. credit : fyeah-vixx

The harmonies in this part just makes me so-so proud.

손의이별

is the other song that they are promoting during their comeback stages and it's a ballad. It's sad, it's perfect, it's VIXX,  It's very MELODESIGN, who I really love. It may sound like a typical ballad but when you get to listen to it carefully and understand the lyrics, you'll be 'whoa, whoa' I didn't expect that at all but you kinda did.


So overall, I'm VERY-VERY-SUPER-DUPER satisfied with this single, no matter what people say. I'm very proud of VIXX and very happy for Jellyfish, because they've proven themselves again. They really are great people working in there, the producers, staff, choreographers, stylists! They are the people who makes VIXX shine the brightest and I hope that they are proud of themselves too.

Good job VIXX and we love you!

till then!

-wai