BLACKPINK “Kill This Love” EP Review

Alright, so let's dive into *KILL THIS LOVE* by BLACKPINK.

Kill This Love

First off,The bass intro? Iconic. But as much as it makes you feel like you’re about to charge into battle, I thought the song went on forever! I was surprised when i realized it was only 3min.I wanted to feel the emotion behind "killing love," but it felt more like a concept than a story. I also didn’t like that it abruptly ended without a chorus. The technique of ending a song after a bridge is probably to leave people wanting more and replay the song so i get it but it frustrated me. The song also goes in so many different directions that it’s become a little painful to listen to.

Don’t Know What To Do

This song definitely has a vibe, but it leaves me in two minds. On one hand, it starts soft and vulnerable, which I LOVED . You can feel the post-breakup confusion in the verses, but then the drop happens—and It starts off like it’s gonna hit, but instead, it just fizzles. The energy feels like it’s building up to something explosive, but it holds back.The song started off like i was about to feel the heartbreak, but they somehow turned it into a generic pop filler.

Kick It

This song got held back by the generic/repetitive chorus, I don't mind these kind of songs but they definitely rank at the bottom when it comes to my taste in music . Without the chorus these song is really good but once the chorus starts it just kind of loses it's flavor, you know? I enjoyed the song a little bit on my first listen but I couldn’t get through the whole song on the second listen. It song sounded like it would eat live if done right though. I loved the bridge and the rap part too.

HOPE NOT

Hope Not is definitely a standout track on this EP. It offered a softer, more reflective side to BLACKPINK that I didn’t get to see on other songs. It’s a simple acoustic ballad, but that simplicity really works in its favor. The stripped-back production allows their voices to take center stage, giving them space to deliver a more heartfelt performance.

The vocals are delicate but carry the weight of the message, and even though the song is gentle, you can sense the depth of their emotions. It’s the kind of track where less is more, and that subtlety is what makes it so effective.

This is the only song that made me open to maybe trying more of their music.

Ddu-du Ddu-du (Remix)

I can see this being a banger. I would probably go back to the song just for the rap part, that girl ATE. Other than that, I didn’t like the production of the song at all, it’s giving commercial pop vibes with a sprinkle of attitude.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Kill This Love left me feeling like I didn’t get a full sense of their vocal abilities. The energy is definitely there, but vocally, it felt like the EP leaned more into attitude genetic pop than showcasing what these girls can really do.

Take “Kill This Love,” for example—it’s high-octane and fun, but I didn’t hear many moments where their voices could really shine. It’s almost as if the focus was more on creating a catchy anthem than letting their vocals stand out.

The same goes for tracks like “Kick It” and “Don’t Know What To Do.” While these songs have cool concepts, the vocal arrangements feel kind of basic. There’s a lot of production around them, but not many places where they’re belting out or showing off range. Instead, it feels like they’re sticking to melodies that are easy to sing along to, almost like these songs are meant to be accessible for a younger audience. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for someone looking to see what BLACKPINK can really do vocally, this EP doesn’t give much to go on.

It almost feels like Kill This Love was crafted more for its catchy hooks and danceability, making it super appealing to younger fans. But for listeners like me, who are looking for vocal depth or a different side of their artistry, this EP didn’t really offer that.I think this is the kind of work I would have probably enjoyed when i was thirteen which makes me think as a 23 year old, I might just not be the target audience. Sometimes that’s where the disconnect lies. I think I’ll try to listen to their latest album because to be fair, this Ep is old so I’ll be interested to see their growth.