JYP rock band Xdinary Heroes have finally taken the heavier turn we've all been waiting for with their new English track "iNSTEAD! (Feat. YB Yoon Do Hyun)" as part of their new digital single <Open ♭eta v6.4>.
The band partnered with fellow South-Korean veteran rock musician Yoon Do Hyun, from the Yoon Do Hyun Band (YB), to venture into the heavier side of the genre. While Xdinary Heroes have previously geared more towards pop-rock, dabbling in some heavier and fuller elements here and there, they had yet to delve fully into a harder, deeper genre. "iNSTEAD! (Feat. YB Yoon Do Hyun)" ventures into the nu metal, acting as their most eplosive song with downturned, heavy electric riffs and double-bass drums, switching between low drawled vocals to sharper and fuller screams in the chorus.
Visually, the single also turns away from the near-whimsical nature of the bands previous releases, opting for a darker aesthetic featuring motifs and styling from 80's era rock/metal, and disorienting - manic style - shots and animations that typically haven't been done by the band before. The screams in the chorus expertly done by icon Yoon Do Hyun add an extra dimension to the track, complimenting the vocals and instrumentals by the rest of the members.
Overall, the track is an awesome addition to their current discography, adding a new sound to their original repertoire a la Linkin Park or Evanescence, yet still keeping the distinct Xdinary Heroes DNA. It'll be interesting to see if they continue in this direction, or perhaps, delve into something even heavier.