Four months after the release of Clé 2 Yellow Wood and unpredictable title track “Side Effects,” Stray Kids is back with digital single “Double Knot,” a hip-hop track that ventures in a vastly different direction from its predecessor. 

It’s hard to predict what Stray Kids would have up their sleeve after such a surprising and somewhat polarizing track in “Side Effects,” so to say that “Double Knot” is unexpected isn’t a surprise. The group has recently focused their sound to focus heavily on EDM in their title tracks,  but “Double Knot” sounds more like something that would be released by the producer trio 3RACHA. The rap line is heavily featured immediately, with Han dominating a significant number of lines in the first verse. The hip-hop beat is quite catchy, accompanied by an intensely high-pitched horn section that lends itself to the ferocity of the track. It reminds me a lot of the early days of the group with a bit of their recent style thrown in. Fans of the vocal line may not be as enthusiastic about the direction of this track, since it so heavily features rap. 

As for the video, Stray Kids more or less has a predictable formula in their music videos: an industrial setting, lots of running for one reason or another, a large empty space for choreography performance. The industrial city setting definitely fits the song quite well, and the use of plain black and white outfits emphasizes the fierceness of the track. The group also is known for their eccentric and creative choreography, which is definitely seen in “Double Knot”—most notably the ending pose where the members appear to be attached to one another like a rope. Their synchronization is no joke, and shots from a drone above while they dance showcase that fact. 

There’s no questioning Stray Kids’s talent, and even with just a digital single the comeback is stellar. I’m a fan of the direction they went in with the track, and I wonder if this is simply just a taste of what is to come with their next album. In any case, don’t miss out on this great return!