CRAVITY also made their comeback last week with their 7th mini-album, EVERSHINE, with the single Love or Die leading the charge. It is the group’s first comeback since their September 2023 comeback with Ready or Not and MEGAPHONE (which was promoted in November 2023). It also follows the group’s debut Japanese release Dilly Dally (which I will review in an International Songs Review post some time in the future.

If the opening moments of the Love or Die told me anything, it was that Love or Die was going to be a great song. And CRAVITY delivered on that. I will definitely admit that it needs improvement to become a perfect song, but Love or Die has a nostalgic pop rock sound that I enjoy. What I liked even more is that the producers kept that sound profile from start to end, and this makes a great example as to when consistency is a positive aspect of the track. The melodies in the chorus made the delivery so smooth, and this contrasted well with the roughness that the rock influence will always bring to a track like this. The post-chorus rapping really fits in well with the wider song and felt just right. However, I felt like I would have enjoyed Love or Die even more if the rock was prolific and bolder during certain parts, just to give Love or Die some extra oomph and energy. This could have taken Love or Die to the next level. Instead, we got a more muted execution with the pop rock in Love or Die. Now, there is nothing wrong with the muted profile. as it did an amazing job of bringing emotions to the forefront of the group’s vocals and rapping. But I don’t think it would’ve hurt for Love or Die to up the ante a tiny bit more.

Love or Die expresses one’s desire desire to either live or die on the basis of whether their lover is with them or not with them (respectively) after a breakdown in the relationship. The song did a good job of relating the second aspect of the lyrics to a nightmare and darkness. With that in mind, it makes sense the music video takes on a darker and moodier vibe representing the current state they are in and the decision they have to make, which works well with the grungier rock influence the song features. I particularly like how the producers of the video kept the music video from looking dated via the outfits. The outfits, and even the sets, somehow made it look refreshing. Not sure how, but that was the impression that came off the video for me.

I like the start of the performance where one of the members is lying on top of the legs of the other members. It was an interesting formation to begin with. Other than that, it is a fair performance. Nothing memorable comes out of it, but the stage performance as a whole definitely worked well with the song.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10