The next album to be reviewed on the blog is xikers’ debut mini-album, House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing. This was released back in March of this year, and features the title tracks TRICKY HOUSE and ROCKSTAR. Alongside those tracks are 3 side tracks and two instrumental tracks that serves as an intro and interlude to the mini-album. The seven track mini-album successfully kicks off xikers’ career with a strong setlist of songs, and immediately introduces the group as one that embraces intensity and powerful sounds. Each track on this mini conforms to that description. So if you like your intensity and powerful sounds in your music, then do check out the tracks below.

1. The TRICKY’s Secret – Creating suspense from the very first second is the intro track, which runs for just under 2 minutes. The TRICKY’s Secret begins with some haunting music box twinkling and some eerie yet captivating narration that introduces the xikers’ debuting concept. From there, the synths build into the song and we are given an intense rush of synths that feels euphoric. No score will be given to this track, but it is a bold and cool start to both the mini-album and xikers’ career.

2. Doorbell Ringing – It took a while for the next track to really get somewhere. But when Doorbell Ringing gets to it, it knocks my socks off. The start of the track continues that haunting vibe that we heard in the intro track. As it is something we have heard before on the mini-album, the start does come off a bit boring. It isn’t until the second half of the chorus where Doorbell Ringing builds up its intensity and energy does the track really wakes me up and delivers a banger. The first half of the chorus is very hip-hop centric and playful, but the background is a little too empty for my liking. From there, the rapping and vocals becomes more appealing and the intense instrumentation becomes more interesting. But the final chorus was definitely the highlight, with everything from the build-up to the eventuating energy coming together well and strongly closes out Doorbell Ringing. (8/10)  

3. TRICKY HOUSE (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of TRICKY HOUSE. (7.5/10)

4. Dynamic (淸亮(청량)) – Dynamic serves as an interlude track, introducing the rock that is about to come in the mini-album. This instrumental track was super energetic and fast-paced. The guitar work is quite crunchy at the start, and develops into a purely electrifying element. The drumming is also awesome.  

5. ROCKSTAR (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of ROCKSTAR. (9/10)

6. XIKEY – xikers spit fire in XIKEY, with the rappers really standing out in the verses. That haunting vibe returns in the pre-chorus segments (and later on, in the instrumentation of the second verse), but it isn’t exact replication of what we heard earlier on in the mini-album, so it doesn’t become off as boring. The choruses are super rough and the contributing members are very hoarse in the central piece of XIKEY, which makes for a deep yet intriguing centrepiece. After the second chorus, the song changes and I am not entirely sure what to think about that. The bridge of the song unexpectedly switches up for a lighter tone, with the vocalists given a chance to come to the front. It does balance out the track in a way, but it just too many steps away from what precedes and succeeds the bridge. The lighter tone does make way for an explosive end that turns the track into a powerful and robust anthem. (7/10)  

7. Oh My Gosh – After the likes of XIKEY, I am glad the mini-album ends on a more cohesive note. That being said, there are some changes to the momentum as Oh My Gosh progresses, but it isn’t as wild as the preceding track. The chorus has this bombastic feel that does not disappoint. The use of EDM in this hip-hop track opens up the track to some dynamic energy and enables an upbeat dance track at the same time. The track also gives the rappers opportunity to spit their fire once again and the vocalists are given multiple moments to shine (really enjoyed the bridge in this one). Yet there was no cost to the energy and intensity of Oh My Gosh, which stays pretty high and consistent throughout. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10