Song Review:: IVE: Rebel Heart

• Release date: 2025 February 03

• Album tracklist: REBEL HEART, FLU, You Wanna Cry, Thank U, ATTITUDE, TKO

• Album runtime: 19 minutes

 Okay. Okay, okay. So fun fact, I can't actually listen to this group yet on my own freetime because the maknae debuted at the grand age of fourteen and hasn't turned eighteen yet, although she does turn eighteen in a couple of weeks, so I can listen to them at that point. But that does mean I have to go back to my "I can't listen" steps for the review. Still, if I like this song, that means I only have a couple more weeks to wait for it to go into regular listening playlists.

Gotta love me a song with a strong, driving beat. Of course, at the beginning, it is softer, but that just makes the transition to full, dramatic rock song is fantastic. The rests in very specific locations for the emphasis of the vocals and to assist in the rhythm of the song allow. Primary instruments are the guitar and the drums. The sudden softening is a choice, but it also allows for a strong build up right at the end to finish the song with energy. It doesn't carry the energy all the way through, for whatever reason, which does weaken the song a little. But I'm less bothered by that than I normally would be. 

I actually really enjoy the tone of the song. They've got good vocal and breath control. Even the ones who are higher pitched sound like they occasionally have a little bit of a growl or a rasp to them. Like, I genuinely just have to say that I like this song, and the brief little belt does not dissuade me from this decision. It is softer than I would have liked, however, like the mixing team in post neutered what could have been a very bold anthem by making it quieter than what the instrumentals would suggest.

This isn't slice of life, but the storyline isn't particularly strong. Still, I really do like the inclusion of how there are many different ways to be a rebel, and you don't have to prescribe to one over the other because that's the only "right" way to do it. I thought the bride setting fire to the playground was a particularly bold choice, and I really like that.