When you listen to Socialclub Hyangwu‘s two previous singles to this EP, there’s definitely a hard arc from low-key rock to an aggressive garage and alternative fusion. And it’s great. The Panic Tool is looser, louder, but presents laser precision from start to finish.
“RIOT” sounds like a reboot. The past two singles were warmups, and this is the true Socialclub Hyangwu. Not to discount the previous releases, but they were more “this is fine.” “RIOT” by itself reinvents the entire band. The crunchy guitars, deep bass, and in-your-face drums. The whole presentation fills your ears now.
The subject matter, according to the band: “This story is told from the perspective of a woman who has survived and continues to live in this world.”
And having a band bring this forward is something that’s been missing in Korean music. There’s a lot of great music, but also a lot of style over substance.
You only have to listen to “Stranger” and the chorus. The music and subject matter aren’t light and airy. It’s meant to get you uncomfortable. The simple arrangement only focuses listeners on each verse and lyric. And then the chorus comes through, and you get blown away. This is probably one of the best songs in the last five years.
The Panic Tool consists of five songs and is less than 14 minutes long. But Socialclub Hyangwu captures an enormous amount of energy in each song. They haven’t increased the tempo that much. Each song just contains so much weight. “Dusties” is mostly an instrumental, but even as a way to split the EP, it’s better than a lot of recent singles. There’s a message relayed through the instrumentals, and you hear it come through clearly.
“Home Sweet Home” goes right into garage rock plus punk rock. It sounds loose and messy, even though each member is performing with precision. And considering that Socialclub Hyangwu captures this chaotic but controlled energy so well in the recording, I can only imagine how much more intense it would be live.
The band goes back to their earlier releases with a slower closer. “Ophelia” also shows that Socialclub Hyangwu can manipulate more than garage rock. The song is a mixture of indie rock with post rock pieces and a mellow ballad-esque vocal line. It’s a complex closer.
When I saw The Panic Tool online, I was curious to hear a full dialogue. It’s a true evolution from the band’s earlier songs and makes a necessary impact among so many of the 2025 releases. It’s easily one of the best releases so far this year. Not only because of the subject matter and how the band approaches it.
To state it simply, Socialclub Hyangwu has something they want to say, and they say it in the most purposeful way possible.
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Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.
