TO1 Unveils Dark Concept in “No More X”
Just days after Halloween, TO1 is back with a sleek, dark concept in "No More X." With their second mini-album RE:ALIZE, they’re settling into their rebranding, and it’s showing in this release with a new sound and concept.
Tracklist:
1. Realize - Intro
2. No More X
3. GOLDEN*
4. Prayer*
5. In My Light
6. Mirage*
7. No More X - English Version
*Author’s favorites
"NO MORE X”
The sound of the season is noise, and TO1 is right there among their peers with blaring synths and a loud repeated "dam dam dam dam dam" opening their newest title, "No More X." This latter note worms its way into being the whole chorus as well as the refrain, and it is so simple—so dangerous—that it will 100% get stuck in your head. Between these bits, however, the song doesn't match that harsh tone or volume; in fact, the rest of it is quite pleasant. TO1 has strong vocalists and rappers, and it’s a relief to find that even in this wave of noise music popularity, none are drowned out entirely here.
Now, the song is good, but the music video is stunning. Each scene has all the members in all-white or all-black, and none of their outfits are the same. The white looks are complemented by hints of red in smears of shadow under their eyes and the wine in their glasses; it's elegant, eerie, and fits perfectly in the lavish dining table setting they occupy. The other side of that coin is the black outfits that make them look like a street gang. There are a few brands of tough guy represented here, with Donggeon looking like an anime bancho and Kyungho something like a mob boss, as they perform on a rooftop and in a rainy alleyway.
The members look great, the choreography goes hard, and the editing ties it all together to show us what we want to see as the spooky season comes to a close. We've got decaying film reel filters, blazing ember overlays, boys turning into clouds of bats, and a B-plot so subtle you might miss it if you blink. Between performance clips, there's a story told in tiny moments, where Chan's heart is struck by lightning, prompting an inhuman change. Jaeyun has a complementary spotlight, where his eyes turn gold in response, and it might be a demon thing, it might be a vampire thing—most of all: it looks cool, and that's what matters.
RE:ALIZE
I'm not going to lie about it, the rest of the album isn't anything like the title track; it’s more like a steady decline from big and loud to sweet and soothing. "Realize - Intro" brings in "No More X" appropriately as it picks the energy up, letting it blend into the title track a bit more smoothly than expected. "GOLDEN" almost sounds like if “Magnolia” had a sequel track, as not only does it sound like classic TO1 (TOO at the time of release), but the ticking intro bears resemblance to that of “Magnolia” as well. "Prayer" might be my favorite on this album: the vocals are brilliant, and the EDM backing is light and fun—it’s good stuff. "In My Light" hits the brakes for a lighter pop sound, and "Mirage" slows it all the way down to romantic R&B vocal territory with minimal backing.
TO1 is a great group. Their concepts are so much fun, and there’s something really endearing about a group who would close out their debut album with a cover of “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Needless to say, I’ve been a fan since then (though I did not watch World Klass) and they continue to surprise me with their skill. It hasn’t yet been a full week since RE:ALIZE released, and I’m already looking forward to their next one.