[Album Review] Identity: Challenge (2nd Mini Album) – WEi

Another album from February makes it way onto the blog. I think I got one more coming your way from the second month of the year (despite us being in the fourth month already). But that will be published tomorrow or next week. For now, I turn my focus to WEi, who released their second mini-album and first comeback on the 24th of February. The mini-album is titled Identity: Challenge, and features the title track All or Nothing. In addition to the title track, the album also features an additional four new songs. This comeback comes after the six-member male group under OUI Entertainment made their debut with Twilight and Identity: First Sight in October of last year.

1. All or Nothing (모 아님 도) – Click here to read the full review for All or Nothing. (9/10)

2. Breathing – Breathing follows All or Nothing by delving into EDM. It isn’t as intense as the title track (that was on a whole different level), but Breathing still has that heft to it which I thoroughly enjoyed. Obviously, Breathing’s intensity is not only reflected in the instrumentation. Time and time again, I have made a wish that the rappers should really match the energy of the instrumentation. Dahyeon and Yongha (WEi’s resident rappers) live up that expectation and delivery a smashing sequence that forms part of the bridge. The other members match the intensity with their powerful vocals, which were needed to be heard over the synths and percussion that dominated the background of some parts. The song’s main flaw was its straightforward and no-nonsense approach. Great on many levels, but it resulted in a bit of plainness for me. (9.5/10)

3. Dancing in the Dark – Once again, their next track taps into the EDM realm once again. And like Breathing, it is less intense than its preceding track. I really enjoyed how much the EDM instrumentation really emphasized percussion, giving it a really satisfying glow. Usually, the main driver of an EDM is its synths. But the percussion really made the song stand out for me. I also really liked the peaks of the EDM in Dancing in the Dark, which further adds to that satisfaction. While the vocals and rapping were powerful enough to be heard and definitely reflected that intensity, it all felt like a blur to me as nothing really felt memorable. I was more in tuned with the instrumental, rather than the members. I wished the hooks and melodies were more prevalent and grabbing. (8/10)

4. Diffuser – Diffuser moves away from WEi’s reliance on EDM, opting for something leaning more towards pop. That being said, synths still made up most (if not all) of the instrumentation. It was pleasant and nice, but I don’t have much else to say about it. I felt the pop was more reflected in the ways the members delivered their lines. All the members really shined throughout the song with their sweeter and toned-down vocals. You could also sense a smile behind their vocals, which is a whole different side to the members when you compare this song to the title track. (7/10)

5. Winter, Flower (겨울, 꽂) – No KPOP album is complete without the mandatory ballad and Winter, Flower serves as that track for WEi. It closes the album with a style that very different to the way they opened this mini-album. The background of the Winter, Flower is a traditional orchestra styled instrumental. To me, Winter, Flower is a massive success as it shows that the members are highly capable of different styles. The vocals sound so nice and very powerful. In some ways, it was quite striking. Even the rappers did amazing on the vocal front for this song. (8.5/10)