Returning at the start of this week was KEY with his 3rd studio album and lead single, both titled HUNTER. It is his first solo release in almost a year, with the last being his 3rd mini-album Pleasure Shop (album review coming soon) and single of the same name.

HUNTER sees KEY make another return with the electropop genre. And like his other endeavours with this style, he simply does not miss. HUNTER immediately grabs my attention from the first second with its groovy synth bass. As the song progresses, cooler synth choices come into play to make HUNTER even more impactful. I really enjoyed how the chorus concentrates the bass, synth, and energy, developing into a very grungy and bolstered number that has me coming back for more. The chorus also has a super catchy melody that helps greatly in that department, as well. KEY himself commands your attention with his powerful vocals and whispery raps in the HUNTER. He definitely gave the song extra impact and oomph, which matches the intensity of the synths in the background and those grungy vibes I mentioned earlier. My only major criticism is simply that HUNTER felt too short. It is a fast-paced dance track, so being just over 3 minutes doesn’t seem enough. And if that is the only thing HUNTER missed, then HUNTER definitely left an impression on me.

The music video might not be suitable for everyone. There is some violence throughout the video that might not be your cup of tea, so proceed with caution. I will admit that I find HUNTER’s music video to have quite a striking concept. The lyrics speak of a toxic relationship where the pair struggle between being in love or obsessed with one another. However, in the music video, the toxicity is depicted with two versions of KEY (one with red hair, another with black hair). One is being hunted, while the other is the hunter – we just never know which version of KEY is which, since both are involved in hunting the other, depicting the toxicity the lyrics touch on. In the choreography scenes at the end of the video, it is confirmed we are seeing two sides of one person with the two hair colours appearing at once.

KEY delivers a bold performance for HUNTER. I really enjoyed the MJ Thriller-esque inspiration and vibe that is going on, and I liked how the sharpness matches up with the fast-paced and dynamic nature of HUNTER. KEY definitely shone on stage and pulled off a live performance quite impressively.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10