Song You Need To Know: Xdinary Heroes, ‘Hair Cut’

Since their outstanding debut with the scathing “Happy Death Day” almost exactly a year ago, South Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes have kept their brand of attitude and social rebellion alive and “Hair Cut” is the latest addition to the conversation.

Co-written and produced by the group’s members, “Hair Cut” serves as a powerful, layered metaphor for fighting depression, a scathing teardown of critics who hinder those who want to be themselves, or even the band’s own journey to push aside self-hate and find their identity: “Like how water is to oil/ With the world, I’m unfit/ I yearn for change, but still/ A never-changing outfit/ I don’t want this style, yeah/ This messy hair style, yeah/ The black curtain blinding my eyes/ Turn the world all black.” They use the refrain “Get a hair cut” in the chorus, followed by, “Cut it out, slicе them all/ Throw it out, let it all out/ Time to let it go/ Time to let it blow/ All that is rotten, cut it out,” urging listeners to discard anything in their life that hinders their own happiness or brings them pain.

The sound stays mostly in the alt-rock area with an upbeat, pop-punk vibe, but the chorus is a true delight, slowing down the tempo to bring in simmering, bluesy electric guitar riffs. The switch-up is haunting and does wonders to drive in Xdinary Heroes’ brand of dark, menacing rock.

The music video for “Hair Cut” is gritty, glamorous and just a touch psychotic, as the members alternate being crowded by zealous fans and traversing a horrifying carnival fun house to confront their own demons in the hall of mirrors. The band also take scissors to their hair, slicing off chunks as they declare that it is “time to let it go.” The video also features shots of the group performing with their instruments as carnival rides burn behind them.

“Hair Cut” leads Xdinary Heroes’ self-produced sophomore EP Overload which dropped on November 11th. According to the band, the record outlines themes that surround “conflict from within,” with each of the seven tracks confronting various battles with the self and the society around us. In addition to “Hair Cut” and its instrumental version, Overload comprises “Zzz..,” “Lunatic,” “Crack in the Mirror,” “Ghost” and “X-mas.”