Day6 - ‘The Book of Us: The Demon’ EP Review

Day6 have been one of the most consistent bands of the last few years. Now on their fifth Korean release since 2018’s Shoot Me: Youth Part 1, the quintet have always found innovative ways to keep their releases musically fresh and exciting, exploring anything from ‘80s tinged synth-pop to soaring pop-punk.

Now, returning with The Book of Us: The Demon, the third instalment in this particular series, the band have found themselves going deeper. With more experienced maturity and a reflective approach to both their usual lyrical and sonic style, this is Day6 at a new peak.

Opening with “Day and Night,” a track which begins with a harmonising loop and subtle rhythm guitar, it’s not long before it bursts into a bright pop-leaning number. With plodding percussion and nimble vocals forefronted heavily as the members seamlessly switch between their parts, it’s nothing hugely climactic, but melodious enough to feel welcoming for the rest of the EP. The chorus, which shines in sticky simplicity over anything else, does have some remnant of a huge, anthemic keyboard apex, but that’s confined to the background so that the steady, easygoing flow is seldom disrupted. Overall it’s a good opener, one that feels light and breezy in terms of an introduction, and is something that can easily be digested at any time.

Lead-single “Zombie” follows, with condensed drum beats and a more restrained, almost conversational style of vocal delivery beginning the track. As it progresses, a light synth melody becomes more arrestingly poignant, whilst plucky guitars start to lead the verses. The chorus, a catchy declaration of how the person has become lifeless but “still walking,” does utilise a tone-heavy riff to add more gravitas, but generally the track continues a consistently subdued mood until its curveball of an outro, one which seems to be building towards a euphoric ending, but instead looks towards members Young-K and Jae to deliver a sleek, affecting finish over staccato piano notes. It’s the kind of genius a band of this level can pull off, helping to create a more well-rounded cut over one that may otherwise translate as formulaic alt-rock. A perfect lead-single, “Zombie” brims with honest brilliance and sharp instrumental flourishes.

“Tick tock” continues proceedings with an introspective look at the end of a relationship. With a congruous bass riff and an electric guitar groove, the poignant lyrics have some level of sonic dissonance with the tangibly polished instrumentals, but it does work. Again, without fanfare, Day6 continue to favour consistency as their intrinsic formula here, never choosing to mould a triumphant, perhaps false finish. Instead, they stay firmly rooted in brutal honesty. Confident and ballsy, this mature compositional style works wonders for a group who often beforehand stood out with glossy melodies and vibrant, soaring rock sensibilities.

But, their quintessentially relentless, fast-paced style isn’t completely absent. “Love Me or Leave Me,” which starts with a scratchy acoustic riff and muted scream sounds, does ultimately become a swift-moving pop-rock track. Armed with a catchy chorus and colourful synth drop, the song shifts between tones with ease, giving weight to both the refrain and verses. Melodically enrapturing, it’s an instrumentally thick offering which is undoubtably a highlight of the entire EP.

And, to press on with the hot-streak, the quintet use gritty buzzaw-like guitars, crunching bass and more visceral ad-libs to layer-up “STOP,” a burgeoning tale of romantic imbalance. It’s a lot more cutting, and a track which cements Day6 as a polished creative force who are completely unafraid of showing their unfiltered feelings.

Towards the end, penultimate offering “1 to 10” adds decadent synths to a mix which is filled with punchy guitar riffs and more condensed, hip-hop influenced drum beats. Penned about trying to win a person back by operating from a one right to a ten, it’s a more yearning number which exclaims that “nobody loves you, more than me baby.” Tangibly radiant, colourful and vivid, it’s a song which flys by in run-time, and leaves you yearning for more.

And, to finish comes “Afraid.” A gut-punch of emotional vehemence, its reflective piano melody and acoustic guitar riff adds a more visceral layer to the raw, unfiltered vocal delivery of, unsurprisingly, being afraid. Gritty in its shining modern-rock chorus, the track, which explains how the person isn’t good enough for their significant other, ends the EP with a tonally resonant, affecting piece. It’s a complete opposite from the light, welcoming opener, but this thought-provoking offering is a bold finish, one which wraps-up this short-form story of imbalance with real sobriety.

Overall, The Book of Us: The Demon tells a real story of emotional poignancy through seven tracks of consistent quality. Staying rooted in their alt-rock soundscapes, the band mightn’t try anything too instrumentally daring, but through deep-thinking lyricism and sleek, versatile vocals and tonal shifts, the EP has a distinguished, well fleshed out style. It’s hard to find fault in how they have packaged their take on the “demon” gatekeeper, with the challenge now for the quintet to continue their bold, mature stylings into the future.

Album Rating: 9.5/10