When 3rd Line Butterfly released something new, it felt like a chapter addition to their discography. And after the band’s hiatus, this EP is different. It’s not a direct continuation of Divided By Zero; it sounds like a band that’s in an entirely different place.
Hwanhee Ultraviolet wanders into a psychedelic rock work. It was previewed with the pre-release single “Residue of a Whisper,” but the EP as a whole goes even further. The five songs showcase a band that continues to push its core forward with precise composition, engaging instrumentals, and vocals as the guiding light.
The overall style change could have come from the separate experiences of the members, but what sticks out is that 3rd Line Butterfly isn’t in a hurry. The tempos are slower, each verse is more deliberate, and the band forces you to dwell on each beat. It’s shown clearly on “Aquatic Plants.” You feel like you’re stuck on the surface of a lake with a very small current.
A main takeaway from the songs on Hwanhee Ultraviolet is that 3rd Line Butterfly returned on their own terms. They’re not making music again to cater to a nostalgic crowd. They’re making music that speaks to them now. “Pyoseon Rainbow” has some nostalgic tones, but the main tone of the song is a hybrid between spoken word and funk music. Yet it still sounds like 3rd Line Butterfly underneath everything.
People who miss the old 3rd Line Butterfly get that back on “A Sip a Day.” It’s the closest musically to past 3rd Line Butterfly while also presenting their current tonal ideas. It’s a nice middle EP track that adds a great slice of variety. Closing the EP, “Twenty Years Ago Today” sounds like it could have been a demo brought back and worked on to fit this current style. It feels and sounds like it was specifically designed to close the EP and closes it off perfectly.
2025 3rd Line Butterfly isn’t 2017 or 2012 3rd Line Butterfly. Every member is in a different place, yet they’ve returned to capture the band’s energy again. It’s a comfort listen because you don’t have the right to demand anything from them, but they’ve returned to add to their impressive discography.
Instagram | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.
