Over the years, I have grown fond of PENTAGON. I quite liked their music, and they had some strong singles – Daisy is still my favourite. However, as the members did not renew their contract with Cube Entertainment, there have been zero group activities since their last official comeback, Feelin’ Like, 4 years ago. But to celebrate their 10th anniversary, PENTAGON has finally returned as a 7-member group (both Yan An and Yuto have confirmed they left the group) with a special single titled Coward.

It’s been a couple of weeks since Coward was released, but don’t assume I didn’t like the song. I had a fair bit going on when Coward was released. If anything, I regret not reviewing PENTAGON’s new song sooner. Coward is a vibrant mid-tempo pop song done right. The piano at the start feels dreamy, and I liked how the synths and beat picked up the song. That squirly synth that comes through the instrumental from time to time and plays a prominent part of the instrumental break actually has a memorable ring. What I particularly like the most about Coward is that it shows off PENTAGON’s solid vocals. The hooks and melodies really let this aspect of the group and the song shine, and I find myself getting lost in them quite easily. On the flip side, I find Coward a little safe compared to some current releases, but ‘safe’ done right goes a long way, as this release shows.

It is definitely nice to see the group together again. The song has this wholesome vibe, with the members singing about their desire to get back with a former lover but also their hesitation to do so. Shooting the video at a train station was a clever idea. At the start, we see the members hesitate and linger on the platform, as if they are afraid to face their past partner or move on (hence the “coward” descriptor and the song title). But once they are outside and without that choice on their mind, they are happier and appear more vibrant (which works well with the song’s energy and tone). Though I don’t think they necessarily chose between facing their past and moving on.

Being off-stage for 4 years deprived the group of performance opportunities, and they are really making up for it in the choreography. They made sure the beat drops and similar moments hit hard throughout the routine. The chorus and dance break were strong parts of the routine that show off their dancing, synchronisation, and energy. I like it all!

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10