RIIZE returns to their ’emotional pop’ roots with the new single Insomnia. The single follows their Do Your Dance comeback earlier this year.

RIIZE blends an acoustic pop-ballad sound with some mid-tempo trap backing to bring us Insomnia. While it is a decent mix of sounds and genres, it is pretty standard and doesn’t really have much to remember it by. In fact, Insomnia‘s strongest moments came when the song stripped back to an acoustic pop-ballad sound. The guitar work was vibrant and so stilling in these moments, which was a good effect to bring about. The same could be said about the outro, where the guitar was more prominent than the trap element. In these parts, RIIZE’s vocals were also at their rawest and most delicate. Insomnia was a strong vocal showcase for the members. I enjoyed the purity of their vocals and the emotional tinge, without needless vocal processing and autotuning getting in the way. As for the rap-singing in the second verse, it was okay. I am not against it, but I would have liked if it leaned into more of an emotional tone.

The music video shows each member of RIIZE portraying a different character grappling with a restless night due to emotions, loss, and deep longing for a loved one. Each member reacts differently to this: anger, angst, depression, dejection, hallucination, withdrawal. In some cases, the reactions are portrayed in an extreme way to show the emotional toll profoundly. I liked the video’s artistic flair, which made it feel like an indie movie.

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