Review: Xdinary Heroes’ IMPULSE

There is something wonderfully unpredictable about Xdinary Heroes.

Released on October 12th, IMPULSE is the band’s ninth mini album and its first since becoming a five-member group.

Across seven tracks, IMPULSE embraces the chaos of youth, the uglier sides of love, and the freedom that comes with abandoning expectations. Moving between synth-driven rock, screamo-inspired choruses, electronic experimentation, and more stripped-back moments of vulnerability, the album finds the band exploring the space between unrestrained intensity and emotional introspection.

Rather than committing to one particular sound, IMPULSE thrives on contrast. Its heavier moments are unapologetically chaotic, while its quieter passages give the band’s musicianship and vocal performances room to breathe. The result is a record that feels restless by design: seven tracks that explore different facets of the band’s identity without losing sight of the energy that defines them.

Embracing the Chaos

Opening track “Obsessed with Youth” establishes the album’s rebellious spirit immediately. With lyrics credited to Moon Ji-young, Lee Woo-min (“collapsedone”), and Xdinary Heroes, and an arrangement by Lee, the track builds toward a particularly satisfying bridge-to-final-chorus transition, delivering the kind of climactic payoff that makes the song hard to leave behind.

Its accompanying music video takes that rebelliousness and runs with it. Fights, grunge aesthetics, and unrestrained partying create a world in which the rules seem increasingly irrelevant. One particularly memorable image sees an office worker tear apart his suit to reveal an “I Love XH” shirt underneath, transforming the conventions of corporate adulthood into a playful declaration of allegiance to the band.

Running and partying become visual expressions of freedom, suggesting that youth is less about a particular age and more about refusing to surrender the parts of yourself that want to have fun. Music becomes the catalyst for that release: a reason to let go, embrace the absurdity of the moment, and exist without worrying about what comes next.

If “Obsessed with Youth” is the album’s invitation to abandon restraint, “Give Up The Ghost” takes that intensity somewhere darker. Composed and arranged by Oliver Sykes, Dan Lancaster, and Zakk Cervini, with Alex Karlsson joining them on the lyric credits, the track opens with an introduction that immediately establishes its atmosphere. Its English-language lyrics and screamo-tinged chorus push Xdinary Heroes toward a more aggressive, contemporary rock sound, while the synth-driven instrumental adds another layer to the song’s weight.

There are moments that evoke the polished heaviness associated with Bring Me The Horizon, particularly in the balance between electronic textures and more abrasive vocal delivery. Rather than relying on sheer heaviness alone, the production creates tension through the contrast between its instrumental layers and vocal intensity. The result is one of the album’s more confrontational moments, expanding its sonic palette while maintaining the urgency established in the opening track.

Then comes “Slashhh!”, which introduces a different kind of chaos. Composed by Lov3notdxxd and Xdinary Heroes, with Lov3notdxxd also handling the arrangement, the track plays with horror-inspired imagery while refusing to take itself seriously. References to kimchi, sushi, and salami sit alongside the song’s darker atmosphere, creating an unexpectedly absurd contrast that gives its horror aesthetic an ironic edge.

The shouted exclamations, knife-related lyrics, autotuned elements, and EDM-influenced chorus make the track feel deliberately excessive. Its appeal lies partly in that willingness to be ridiculous. Where “Give Up The Ghost” channels aggression into a more recognizable rock framework, “Slashhh!” seems far more interested in seeing how many unexpected elements it can throw together. It is messy, theatrical, and strange in a way that feels entirely intentional.

When Love Becomes a Battleground

The album’s exploration of chaos takes a more personal turn with “u and me in arguments.” Once again leaning into English-language lyrics, the track combines synth-heavy production with bursts of screamo-inspired delivery, particularly around the repeated emphasis on “of you.”

Its most interesting feature, however, is its wordplay. The contrast between “never find us in romance,” “can’t deny there u and me in arguments,” and “u and i in bruising” reframes the language of romantic connection around conflict rather than affection. The relationship at the center of the song appears defined by red flags, arguments, and mutual damage, yet there is an undeniable attraction that keeps the two people entangled.

It is a compelling contradiction; recognizing that a relationship is unhealthy does not necessarily make it easier to leave. The song captures the uncomfortable space between knowing someone is bad for you and continuing to gravitate toward them. Its heavier vocal moments reinforce that tension, turning emotional frustration into something that can be heard as well as understood.

“You Right There” offers a welcome shift in atmosphere. Its synth texture recalls elements of the band’s previous title track, “Voyager,” but the arrangement distinguishes itself through its use of piano and the interplay between Jooyeon and Jungsu’s vocals. The instrumentation feels carefully layered, allowing individual elements to emerge without overwhelming the song’s emotional center.

Junhan’s electric guitar instrumental provides a particularly satisfying highlight, adding a burst of musicianship to an arrangement that otherwise leaves space for vocals. That sense of restraint becomes even more effective during the bridge, when the production strips back to piano alone. By removing the surrounding layers, the song gives its eventual build-up greater emotional weight.

It’s an effective demonstration of how dynamics can be just as powerful as volume. Rather than constantly reaching for a bigger sound, “You Right There” understands that pulling everything back can make the moments that follow feel considerably more impactful.

Finding Space to Breathe

That balance between intensity and restraint continues in “Love in dystopia.” The track feels comparatively slower while retaining an upbeat quality, creating a contrast between its musical momentum and its dystopian framing. Its use of Korean and English, particularly the phrase “왜 I don’t know” (wae I don’t know), adds an expressive quality to the lyrics, allowing the two languages to coexist naturally within the song’s delivery.

The bridge once again strips back the arrangement, reinforcing a recurring feature of IMPULSE: the band’s willingness to interrupt its own momentum to create space for a more intimate moment. Across the album, these quieter passages are not simply breaks between heavier sections; they’re essential to the way the songs build, making the returns to fuller instrumentation feel earned rather than predictable.

The album closes with “Breathe in, Breathe out,” a track that feels almost like an exhale after the intensity that precedes it. Heavenly, organ-like vocal layers establish the atmosphere from the opening moments, accompanied by acoustic guitar and breathing sound effects that reinforce the intimacy.

The arrangement initially embraces simplicity, with the beginning of the chorus stripped back enough to make every element feel deliberate. After the first chorus, a complete pause briefly suspends the song’s momentum, creating the impression that the track itself might have ended. When it returns, the interruption gives the subsequent progression a renewed sense of purpose.

The final minute shifts dramatically, with electric guitar taking center stage in an extended instrumental passage free of vocals. It’s a satisfying conclusion: rather than attempting to outdo the album’s earlier chaos through another explosive chorus, the track allows the instrumentation to carry the final moments. The guitar-heavy ending gradually fades away, bringing IMPULSE to a close without demanding one final word.

A Band Defined by Its Sound

One of the most notable aspects of IMPULSE is the persistence of its rhythmic foundation. Even as the album moves between electronic experimentation, heavier rock textures, and acoustic arrangements, the drums remain a vital part of its momentum and identity.

That consistency is particularly striking given the changes the band has recently experienced in its lineup. On August 13th, JYP Entertainment announced that Gun-il, the band’s former leader and drummer, had left the group, leaving Xdinary Heroes to continue as a five-member act. Rather than framing the album around that transition, it’s more meaningful to consider how its rhythmic drive demonstrates the collective musicianship and collaborative work that sustain Xdinary Heroes’ sound. The drums aren’t just there to keep time; they give the songs weight, movement, and urgency.

Across the seven tracks, the band also demonstrates an appreciation for contrast. Synths coexist with electric guitars, pianos create space for vocal performances, and moments of near-silence give way to some of the album’s heaviest instrumental passages. The production is willing to experiment without abandoning the musical foundations that make Xdinary Heroes distinctive.

Ultimately, IMPULSE feels like an album interested in what happens when restraint gives way to instinct. It embraces the absurdity of “Slashhh!”, the confrontational energy of “Give Up The Ghost,” the uncomfortable romantic tension of “u and me in arguments,” and the quieter release of “Breathe in, Breathe out.” Its greatest strength lies not in making every track sound alike but in allowing each to explore a different expression of the same restless spirit. It is a reminder that Xdinary Heroes are at their most interesting when they trust their instincts, embrace experimentation, and allow their music to take unexpected turns.

IMPULSE by Xdinary Heroes out now.