It doesn’t seem that long ago that BiS were in their second generation and their final release Are you Ready? was highly anticipated – now we’re knee-deep into the third generation of WACK’s flagship group and it couldn’t be more exciting, than the release of DEAD or A LiME.
The third generation BiS comprises of members, Musensiteebu, Chantmonkee, Toggy and Neo Trees – four rather imaginative names, but ones that will be remembered if only for their absurdity. Their album release Brand-new idol Society (the third iteration) was released on August 14, 2019 and was received relatively well – I for one, purchased the album and really enjoyed it – but it wasn’t until November 5th, that I truly invested in this group.
The music video for DEAD or A LiME was released on November 5, 2019 and is one of the most original music videos I have seen from WACK.
The video starts with the four BiS members performing a series of short-choreographed movements, set to the industrial-style backbeat and echoed vocals, before dropping into a catchy heavy Grunge/Punk sound, during this, the erratic movements conclusion with the members holding hands and together stepping off the platform, which gave some real Suicide Club-vibes.
The members then lie subdued on a stone floor and an ECG flatline, indicating that the members are supposedly dead, before Toggy is then pulled up by the head and the infectious chorus begins. The members are transported by morgue cart, which is a visually stunning sequence. Watching the members singing while wrapped in plastic, is both claustrophobic and dangerous, but it’s impossible to take your eyes off of their struggle, until they release themselves and the distress is quite visible, once the hallway lights start flashing, they seem to regain their composure and eventually, Chantmonkee sits up.
The following sequence is a front-up with each member as they thrash around to the music, looking directly into the camera and a rather memorable clip of Musensiteebu collecting her saliva and spitting onto the floor as she swings her head (2.45 – you’re welcome). This scene is fun, followed by a stationary shot or each member with a light effect obscuring their eyes (almost).
In their most disturbing visual, each member appears decapitated with their heads inside a plastic/glass case, this visual stands out, not only is the graphic, but the contrast between the colours (red, blue and black) makes the blood the highlight of the scene and thus stand out. The remainder of the video is BiS together, completing their choreographed dance on a platform like the surgeon’s watch, ending with the words DEAD or A LiME.
Given the title, it should come as no surprise that the MV seems to revolve around the subject of death, but the presentation feels high-budget and carefully considered. It’s a risky release, following straight up from BiS’s previous music video, which was much more family-friendly and easy listening in comparison, but I believe it really pays off.
It would have been very easy to have BiS release a ballad, as seen with Are you Ready? and create a steady, safe platform on which to expand – but they didn’t, they instead released one of the catchiest, confident and self-assured tracks that I’ve heard this year and for that, they deserve the credit and I look forward to what they release next.
Rating: 90/100
