NMIXX is gearing up for their next comeback in May with their 5th mini-album, Heavy Serenade. Ahead of the mini-album is the pre-release track Crescendo, which dropped earlier this week. Crescendo is NMIXX’s first overall release since their TIC TIC collaboration with Pabllo Vittar and their first Korean release since Blue Valentine (title of both the lead single and their successful first album, which earned them Best Album of 2025 in the 2025 KPOPREVIEWED Awards).

With several pre-releases ahead of NMIXX’s album drop, as well as some of the side tracks from their Blue Valentine studio album, NMIXX is setting themself up to be a group that consistently releases artistic, aesthetic pop releases. Crescendo continues this trend for NMIXX, which showcases their vocal abilities in spectacular fashion. I am loving the verses, where their vocals captivate in various ways. The pre-choruses are my absolute favourite parts of Crescendo – both SULYOON and BAE sound very pretty in their respective pre-choruses, and I love the stilling effect that comes off from their parts. The contrast between verses/pre-choruses and chorus helps make Crescendo bold and attractive. Instrumentally, I enjoyed the way it built itself up, and the additional synth details add a freshness to the song. At times, the background also adds a playful effect to the song, giving it a different dimension and vibe that makes the track even better. Overall, Crescendo continues NMIXX’s strong release game and leaves me more excited for their upcoming comeback.

I have no clue what is going on in the video. According to Chosun, the music video is set in a silent post-apocalyptic world, where NMIXX infuses vitality into the silence. That is the best theory I can find, when also considering the meaning behind Crescendo‘s lyrics and title. Regardless of what the video is about, there is a definite, mysterious atmosphere in the video that makes it quite an intriguing watch. There are some aesthetic moments throughout the music video, such as the abstract angel wings and mouth-covering worn by the members, which I have no clue what they are meant to represent, but they look really pretty.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10