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THE clouds blackened, threatening a heavy pour – then a moka pot went up in flames and a rumble shook the ground (figuratively) as five “superheroes” landed in the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil.
The bells rang as Exols waved their Eribong (official lightstick) as Exo opened with its concert in black robes as if to convene a secret cabal with its iconic debut song Mama. Showing off Exo’s signature synchronisation, the set opened with a dance intro, then D.O., the group’s main vocalist, kicked off with his velvety, sultry vocals.
A little back and forth between Exo’s leader Suho and D.O. led to the transition into the much-loved chorus. Then, main dancers Kai and Sehun – and D.O. – took centre stage with a dance break, as D.O. finished with his iconic belt, foreshadowing the concert dynamic we would enjoy for the rest of the night.
Segueing into Monster, main rapper Chanyeol treated us to the song’s opening line “She got me goin’ crazy” – which remains the quintessential part of the track – as we bellowed at the familiar tune. Not allowing Exols to take a breather, Suho appeared on an elevated stage, opening for Overdose with Wolf’s intro – the one song Exo infamously “hate” – reminding us just why he was on the Korean version of Broadway.
The tenor showed off his crystal-clear vocals that brought us to Overdose – and someone should have called the doctor because we were definitely not breathing right. As we got to the chorus, we witnessed just why Exo is branded a vocal powerhouse within the industry as the members’ voices came together in vocal harmony.
Then the rap duo Chanyeol and Sehun were handed the reins as they took the song to another level, before the rest joined in for the chorus again.
Shift into seductive shadows
Then the lights dimmed and Exo reappeared with stand mics for Moonlight Shadows, signalling a more intimate part of the night. Like thunder through the crack of a cosy midnight, Gravity saw Chanyeol steal the spotlight with his rapping skills as the group convened again, each showing off their musical skills – from vocals to dance and rapping.
The set then turned red as Kai appeared in a tailored suit, “romancing” a makeshift cloth mannequin. He led Jekyll, Exo’s 2019 hit, with smooth vocals and sultry moves. Showing off a much more mature side that has grown past its debut, Exo shed its boyish image for a polished, sexy one with a sensual, passionate set.
The performance of Crazy was a statement of the members’ growth as artistes as each brought their own colours to the stage while exhibiting the mature restraint they have grown into. What came later was a medley of Exo’s mature hits Playboy and
Artificial Love – slowly moving to the centre, the boy–…men began singing Playboy as they “seduced” with smooth harmonies. With a cane as a prop, each member took one side of the centre stage, in a circle, and serenaded us.
Artificial Love ended with a dance break by the group’s maknae Sehun, hypnotising us into the next set and a personal favourite – The Eve.
Smoldering revolution
D.O. began with his alluring, resonant voice, then in came Sehun, who took the crowd by surprise with his satiny vocals in mid-register – proving he has always been an all-rounder artiste, despite facing criticism for his vocals over the years.
We arrived at the bridge of The Eve, as D.O. and Suho laid their vocals out one after the other like they were yearning for an unrequited lover, but before hitting the chorus – there was a brief and deafening pause. It was as if we were called to hold
that yearning a little longer so when the chorus hit (and it did!) – it would capture that break from tension as freedom takes over in ecstasy.
Fun fact: The Eve is not about a romantic yearning but rather a political and existential yearning wrapped in undertones of romance and provocative moves.
We were then pulled in with Love Shot – another gem from Exo’s discography – as we were treated to the signature dance move. You know which one.
Changing to casual fits, Exo really said vocals all day as the members performed Tempo. The members boasted their impeccable stability and singing techniques – especially D.O.. The lyric tenor showed off his smooth vocal glide as he moved down the scale, proving he has one of the most agile techniques in the industry.
From a flawless falsetto to a steady lower register and a powerful belt, the “medley” shifted into a tropical vibe with Ko Ko Bop. Best believe we went “down, down, baby” with Exo as we “shimmy, shimmy” Ko Ko Bop-ed with them.
Another of its hits, Call Me Baby, was a real throwback to the young, nine hungry artistes we fell in love with years ago.
An Exo house party
The vibes took a complete shift with Power as the set changed to show cute, vibrant pixelated visuals that mimicked a noraebang (karaoke) as the lyrics were played on the screen.
The high-strung spirit was carried through Don’t Fight the Feeling, as the entire hockey stadium turned into a house party – hosted by Exo. Singing another favourite, the feel-good morale was further accentuated with Run just like an end-of-year party.
The high was not at its finale yet as Exo sang the funky Love Me Right, embodying everyone’s stoic high school crush whom we once fell head over heels for because we saw him sing and dance for a school event.
Then, a familiar instrumental got us off our seats as Growl was played. We were brought back to the time when these men were just boys in their snapbacks and bandanas trying to look tough, while dancing in a “basement”.
The real luxury was getting to experience D.O.’s iconic pre-chorus live, which acts as a musical ramp for the chorus to land.
His vocal projection and chest resonance brought a sense of pure catharsis that filled the stadium.
Following an exhilarating house party, the mood mellowed with Baby, Don’t Cry led by D.O. and Suho, whose vocals blended like honey and butter.
The whole gang then came up for Walk on Memories and Don’t Go, which grounded the same dreamy, quiet energy.
Cinematic finale and encore
As the night neared the end, we were finally invited into El Dorado. The golden gates opened and the members stood in white suits as if to welcome us into the Lost City of Gold.
The track was just the right one to get us back into the upbeat tempo (pun-intended) but with a slightly more cinematic aura as we moved into the disruptive Back it Up.
Leading with theatrical Forever, Exo took its Crown as a versatile artiste as the group “closed” the set with its latest single, which is the perfect representation of its musical evolution.
Of course, the end was near but not nigh as Exo came back with Back Pocket, from its 2026 album Reverxe. Bringing back that effortless ease, this time, Exo was really gearing up to say goodbye with a bittersweet R&B song.
Finally, the group ended its night in Kuala Lumpur with the atmospheric Flatline, leaving Exols with a lingering “see you again” as we swayed to the members’ heavenly harmonies for one last time before the next time.
Artistry over production
However, ExoHorizon is not the Eras Tour we all had hoped for. The superhero storyline got lost in translation as it did not bridge seamlessly from VCR to the live stage due to its mid-tier production value.
What stuck out instead was how incredibly skilled the members are at their craft. Although there was a subtle disconnect in their group dynamics – given that each of them has matured artistically as a soloist – they still delivered their absolute best.
Even if it had moments where things just did not make sense, the concert was far from a lost cause. But what made perfect sense was the artiste-fan bond.
As the two connected, be it during their “ments” or fan interactions, it was obvious that Exo and Exo-ls share a special bond that will transcend generations.
All in all, ExoHorizon was a delightful watch, albeit a slightly confusing one.
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