IVE is gearing up for a comeback next week. But ahead of that, the group (as usual) has unveiled a pre-release single that shares the same name as next week’s mini-album: Looks Can Kill. This comeback follows their ReViVe+ studio album, released in January, led by the singles BANG BANG and BLACKHOLE.

My initial impression of Looks Can Kill is that it isn’t like their other successful pre-release singles. I find the new single to be on the safe side of the spectrum and lacking the strong hooks of their predecessors. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy Looks Can Kill, but I think there are better IVE pre-releases out that. The track is an electronic dance-pop song, with consistently channelled dynamic energy throughout. It’s good, but it also shows where the song felt ordinary. I wish it had a bit more flair to add dimension and depth to the instrumental, perhaps making Looks Can Kill sassier and more provocative. The choruses were catchy, and the “Da Da Da” refrain is hard to get out of your mind. The bridge was also a promising sequence, with a more melodic, smoother focus. Plus, the transition from bridge to chorus was super cool. Elsewhere, Looks Can Kill falls short in both the verses and the post-chorus. The verse didn’t offer anything of substance to remember it by (most of what I can remember is the chorus), while the post-choruses felt plain and lacklustre in comparison to the song’s centrepiece

I liked the playful take on the song’s self-confidence message. It starts off with IVE looking very cool, as superheroes. But the music video then features outtakes and behind-the-scenes moments where things are less glamorous. The video also takes a turn when you realise they’re actually shooting commercials for mundane everyday items, like tomato sauce and bug killer spray. But who are they kidding? IVE will always look good at whatever they do, whether they are in front of or behind the camera. The ending was super funny, revealing that IVE had people stand in for their choreography shots. So, perhaps their coolness, as mentioned at the start of this section, was outsourced… What a plot twist.

Looks Can Kill, but so can the choreography, apparently. Based on their performance video, the routine really shows off their slim figures and strong performance skills. IVE definitely looks good performing the track, while their movements were sharp and well synchronised.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10