After seven long months, E’LAST is back with their third mini-album, [ROAR]. Featuring the dramatic stylings we’ve come to know the rookie group for while also incorporating elements of pop, R&B, and EDM, [ROAR] may just be E’LAST at their best—growing comfortable with a sound but still continuing to revamp it and keep listeners on their toes.

The mini-album opens with “INTRO,” their longest instrumental intro track to date. The intro itself is dark, reminiscent of soundtracks from Tim Burton films, and opens [ROAR] beautifully. Next is the title track, “Creature.” Continuing with their dramatic title tracks that we’ve come to associate and love from E’LAST, the verses have a general pop sound that gets switched up at the anti-drop before the bridge and chorus. It sounds slightly disjointed and throws you off the first time it happens, but it’s compulsive and may just be one of the most interesting anti-drops.

The music video for “Creature” is full of stunning choreography and visually pleasing plot-driving shots of the eight members. Opening with the members drinking wine, the comparison is made throughout that they’re werewolves. Shots of the boys with glowing, different-colored eyes, looking up at a full moon, and facing off with wolves only hammers this in. Alternating between rooms with bright colors or going from a beautiful white room to that same room covered in smoke-like stains, the “Creature” music video is nothing short of perfection. 

Following “Creature” is “Desire,” which has a kind of throwback to a more ‘90s pop sound that makes it super catchy. “Shelter” is next, and while we still get the pop sounds, there’s a heavier emphasis on a dramatic orchestral backing that gives this B-side that little somethin’-somethin’ that sets it apart and makes it stand out on the tracklist. “놓아줘 (Let me free)” was written by main rapper Wonjun and is a beautiful ballad with a twist. The track showcases their vocal prowess, but the rappers also come in with verses that work just as well with the backing instruments.

Depending on which version you buy changes which song is last on [ROAR]. A fan of the color gray? The final track for that version is “각인 (Nightmare),” another track written by Wonjun that continues to give a hint of darkness and edge. If you prefer the color red, however, the final track is “Poison,” written by Wonhyuk. It’s a funky combo of pop and R&B, similar to what we’ve heard from KAI’s solo music. Interestingly enough, if you stream [ROAR] on Spotify, “Poison” is track three.

Overall, [ROAR] is a strong mini-album. E’LAST is showing who they are, who they want to be, and proving to many that they can continue to embrace other genres and do them well. If you haven’t listened to this underrated rookie boy group yet, definitely do it now. They’re just getting started.

Edited by Erin Rupprecht