xikers - an Ever Higher “House of Tricky”: Return of Junghoon and a Visual Labyrinth in “BREATHE”
Photo: KQ Entertainment
On April 4, 2025, xikers struck hard with the release of their fifth mini-album, HOUSE OF TRICKY : SPUR. To celebrate their return, the members Minjae, Sumin, and Yechan contributed to writing the words of several songs. More than a comeback, this is a key moment for the group: the long-awaited return of Junghoon, after two years of hiatus.
And what better way to mark this revival than “BREATHE,” a title track as explosive as it is symbolic? From the first seconds of the clip, the universe of xikers sucks us in an electric world, unstable, almost surreal, faithful to the "tricky" identity that they have cultivated since their beginnings.
An Immersive Labyrinth
What strikes in "BREATHE" is this aesthetic of a digital labyrinth, where the sets seem to close on the members. Between visual glitch, endless corridors, and distorted decorations, there is a recurring theme in xikers: loss of bearings. A feeling that they had already approached in "TRICKY HOUSE" or "WITCH." A world that becomes a trap, an illusion, see a cruel playground, where each clip seems to represent a room different from the same mysterious house; maybe “La House of Tricky” itself? A symbolic, enigmatic space where members must constantly fight to keep their freedom and identity.
Dance, A Key Element
Another visual signature of the group is the “Central Dance” scene, present in each MV. In “BREATHE,” it takes on an almost ritual dimension, where the members find themselves together in a pure, isolated space, to release all their energy through an intense and synchronized choreography. It’s a kind of moment of truth in chaos, a reminder of their unity, even in a world that hides under their feet.
Junghoon: A Symbolic Return
Junghoon's return does not sound like a coincidence in this setting. In their past clips, notably “TRICKY HOUSE,” he was still present - often in the center, sometimes embodying the one who crosses the tests or opens passages. In “BREATHE”, although the clip remains hidden, you can read its return as a reopening of House, a new floor in their universe. It’s as if the labyrinth came back to life with him. This parallel between his absence and the theme of disappearance/reappearance/visual loop that we find in the MV gives even more depth.
Photo: KQ Entertainment
A New Path Narrative?
Through their clips, xikers seem to weave a coded narration, where each comeback explores a new aspect of a large and changing universe. Recurring symbols - doors, masks, glitch, mirrors - draw a story where the members are looking for themselves, get lost, and find themselves. This comeback does not only bring a member back, but it relaunches a whole narrative dynamic, pushing the limits of their visual and musical creativity.
With “BREATHE,” xikers confirms its status as a visionary rookie, chaining strong concepts with stunning continuity. Junghoon's return adds a touch of emotion and depth to this chapter, and the universe of the "House of Tricky" has never seemed so alive - or so unpredictable.
The title of this fifth mini-album, HOUSE OF TRICKY : SPUR, was not chosen at random. The word "Spur" has several meanings in English, all subtly linked to the universe of xikers, and can be read in several ways. The return of Junghoon encourages a vibe of transformation in "BREATHE", a rocking point, the moment when everything restarts.
First, "to spur" means to encourage or push for action. A perfect metaphor for an explosive comeback, a new start, a rise in power. “Spur” can designate a spur, an object that is used to advance the horse, a symbol of movement and steering, but also of pain and perseverance. Finally, a “Spur” can also refer to an alternative path, a bifurcation, which evokes a new narrative or musical path in the world of the “House of Tricky”. This word alone crystalizes a new era: an expected return (that of Junghoon), a visual and sound evolution, and above all, an acceleration of their history.
With their labyrinths, their visual traps, and their different spaces, the universe of xikers can make one think of an escape game where the concept would be to decode visual clues, solve puzzles through each clip, and find "secret doors" (like glitch or transitions from one dimension to the other). A reference to the notion of "liberation" is also felt at each stage: the members cross trapped worlds, but their dance and their energy seem to be the keys to "escape" or reinvent themselves. Here, Junghoon's return can be seen as a missing piece of the puzzle, as a hidden index that allows you to unlock a new phase in history. It’s a bit like each album was a level of an escape game where the fans themselves seek to discover all the hidden mysteries in the group's universe.
xikers – HOUSE OF TRICKY : SPUR – TRACK LIST
"You Hide We Seek"
"BREATHE"
"HIGHWAY"
"Roller Coaster"
"Rock Your Body"
Edited by Joi Berry