Korean indie-rock band, The Rose, has released their second album, ‘Dual’, which highlights their full potential as musical artists. ‘Dual’ showcases a variety of different sounds, in accordance with the album’s name, ranging from rock to EDM. The album, released on September 21, is split into two dual sides: Dawn and Dusk. While Dawn contains a brighter, more hopeful sound, Dusk is more mellow. Said Leader and lead vocalist Woosung to the Recording Academy, “Dawn side has more daytime vibes, happier, easier. Dusk is a little darker in a way.”
Dawn
The Dawn side of ‘Dual’ contains five tracks, including an instrumental intro track appropriately named, “Dawn”. This track is succeeded by “You’re Beautiful”, which was a pre-release track released on August 24, 2023. “You’re Beautiful” waxes poetic about the narrator’s subject of appreciation, while encouraging them to ignore external criticism.
In stark contrast to “You’re Beautiful”, “Nauseous” is a pop-punk track mocking an ex who wronged the narrator. The Rose states that this person makes them feel “nauseous” just from looking at them and essentially tells them to shut up. Continuing the pop-punk sound, the next track “Back To Me” is reminiscent of early 2000s music. Featuring raspy rock vocals that border on yelling, this song laments being unable to get back together with an ex. “Back To Me” was the first pre-release of ‘Dual’ alongside Dusk-side track, “Alive”, issued on July 20th after being performed by The Rose live at a music festival.
Finally, the last track of the Dawn side of ‘Dual’ is “Lifeline”, which promises companionship and support through hard times.
Dusk
Similarly to Dawn side, Dusk side begins with an instrumental interlude named “Dusk”, transitioning to the sleepier side of ‘Dual’. Following “Dusk” is a gentle ballad, “Angel (feat. Trevor Daniel)”, the only track of the album featuring a collaboration between artists. A unique accent of “Angel” is the haunting strings appearing at the end of the track alongside the piano, which transitions wonderfully to the next track, “Eclipse”.
“Eclipse” opens with gentle piano chords and is perhaps the song that highlights the message of ‘Dual’ the best. The Rose is a group well-known for their “healing” artistry, addressing mental health and personal growth. The lyrics of this melody are introspective, detailing the feeling of being haunted by the dark sides of oneself (facing the “dusk”) and, eventually, learning to accept it as a positive complexity (finding the “dawn”). The track follows a journey of self-acceptance and finding the light in the darkness.
The next song, “Alive”, pre-released with “Back To Me”, returns to a more intense rock sound in the form of electronic rock. Delightfully, the bridge of this song is a thrilling dubstep sequence, which leads into an explosive final chorus. Concluding the Dusk side of the album is “Cosmos”, another track heavy with an electropop beat, highlighting the sentiment of reaching for the stars. The theme of the track celebrates togetherness in our one universe.
Wonder
The title track of ‘Dual’, “Wonder”, is a track belonging to neither side nor both sides, depending on how one chooses to interpret it. In typical The Rose fashion, the title track is the last track of the album. “Wonder” is a song reminiscent of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in its message. In “Wonder”, The Rose imagines a world in which people are united and wonders if such an idyllic unity is possible. In lieu of a music video for “Wonder”, The Rose is set to release a Venn Diagram Project video featuring the members and their fans, Black Roses.
Watch the teaser for the project video here:
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