Chill Kill by Red Velvet delivers a captivating blend of sultry vocals with dynamic pop beats, which I believe perfectly shows off their vocal diversity, 3from the fun and fresh vibes of “Chill” to the darker, edgier undertones of “Kill.”
Each track on the album showcases the members’ versatility and individual talents, creating a mesmerizing, coordinated, and overall phenomenal listening experience. The production is polished, and Red Velvet’s unique charm undoubtedly shines through, making Chill Kill, in my opinion, one of the best additions to Red Velvet’s discography.
- “Chill Kill”
While this album’s title track shows off a “tried-and-true” R&B-infused pop formula, it brings on its own risky twist with the slightly eerie beginning before delving into a surprisingly upbeat chorus, which reminds me of “Zimzalabim.” The bass and adlibbing throughout the entire track give “Chill Kill” an addictive flavor, with a splash of retro sprinkled into the bridge. “Chill Kill” reminiscent of both “Psycho” and “Feel My Rhythm,” which honestly makes it all the more enjoyable to me.
2. “Knock Knock (Who’s There?)”
The next track on this album amps up the “spookiness,” opening with a slightly haunting melody. The track uses vocal layering to paint a picture of a dark, gothic, horror-esque game of hide-and-seek. While the track admittedly uses a few “musical cliches,” I believe “Knock Knock” utilizes them extremely well in terms of storytelling. The chorus is one of my favorites out of the entire album, delivering a highly addictive harmony before descending into a sequence where it almost sounds as if the members themselves were playing hide-and-seek inside the studio, singing back and forth.
3. “Underwater”
This track in particular cranks down on the bubblegum pop mixed R&B sound shown in the last two tracks, but does not exclude it. “Underwater” combines all my favorite elements of pop, lo-fi, and R&B to create a darker, sultrier song complimented by a suave bassline with low, breathy vocals. I especially loved how Joy and Wendy’s vocals shine on this track, with Joy’s light and airy vocals supported by Wendy’s powerful belt-y tone.
4. “Will I Ever See You Again?”
I absolutely loved the reverb used in this song. I especially enjoyed how Irene and Yeri’s deeper vocals were given more emphasis and spotlight, something that has unfortunately been rare. The feelings of longing and confusion are conveyed so well throughout this song, just through its flowy synth melody. While it is neither pop nor ballad, it tip-toes just barely over both, which gives it that unique Red Velvet feel.
5. “Nightmare”
This track combines classical with pop and hip-hop, which is one of Red Velvet’s signature formulas. This song took me for a ride. At first, it sounded slower, more gothic, before unexpectedly descending into a chorus almost reminiscent of a Christmas carol. It’s almost like the transition from Halloween to Christmas was turned into a song. Definitely a pleasant surprise.
6. “Iced Coffee”
Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of slower songs, as they make me feel impatient, but this song did not make me feel antsy at all. “Iced Coffee” shows off Red Velvet’s softer, more somber vocals, with different harmonizations from the girls. While this song is brighter compared to the album’s darker tracks so far, it still has that underlying “eerie” vibe hidden within the bass. It also slightly piggybacks off of “Nightmare,” with its classical music vibe.
7. “One Kiss”
“One Kiss” has become one of my all-time favorite songs from Red Velvet. It’s a deep contrast to the previous two tracks, kicking up the tempo again. “One Kiss” turns up the heat, delivering an exciting, seductive allure with vibrant synths and deep bass. It has an addictive, catchy hook and a fast-paced groove, which is everything I love in a girly, pop song. The lyrics are powerful and sassy, easily placed into Red Velvet’s “girlboss” category of songs, alongside “Pose” and “Beg For Me.”
8. “Bulldozer”
“Bulldozer” is slower than the previous tracks and has a groovier feel to it. It continues on with “One Kiss’” girlboss energy, but instead takes a darker, more mature tone with it. The lyrics are demanding and sassy, which again, is everything I love in a pop song.
9. “Wings”
This track prepares to draw the album to a close, opening with a beautiful harmonization between the members, and carrying an overall light-hearted, hopeful tone throughout the song. The lyrics tell a story of change and resolution, and how there is always light after a dark night, which I think is such a good “almost-end” song for a spooky-themed album.
10. “풍경화 (Scenery)”
The album closes with “Scenery,” a beautiful, slow musical ballad, painting a picture of rainbows after rain, hope after desperation, and a serene setting sun. Again, I am not the biggest fan of slow ballad songs, but I think this song is the perfect closer.
Overall, this album really showcases Red Velvet at their best. Every single track is sonically cohesive, mesmerizing, and melodic with just the right amount of spook.
Typically, an album like this could be considered “risky” or “experimental,” but Red Velvet pulled it off flawlessly, delivering absolutely zero skips. I can’t wait to hear more from Red Velvet, whether it be a ‘Red’ release, or a ‘Velvet’ one.
Chill Kill is available for streaming on all music platforms.
