ATEEZ Unleashes their Inner “Guerrilla” in New Era THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT

By now I’m sure many of our readers know that here at The Kraze, we’re hype about ATEEZ. After watching them from their debut, we’ve seen them continue to grow and reach new heights. Now that the FEVER series has finally concluded, it was exciting to anticipate what era would be next. And once again, ATEEZ doesn’t disappoint.

The Title

Feeling rebellious? “Guerrilla” will certainly instill that feeling in you from the moment the track opens. The hard-hitting hip-hop beat kicks off with leader Hongjoong absolutely destroying his verse, which even includes a heavy metal-style scream at the end, as well as his signature laughter. The use of sirens in the melody and heavy synths in the chorus really gives the song a dystopian rebellion feel, and it goes probably harder than any song the group has released as a title before. Jongho’s vocals in the chorus are absolutely breathtaking, and I can’t go without mentioning it because it’s so stunning. By the very end of the track, you’ll want to be headbanging, that’s how intense and strong it is. The track is a perfect mix of hip-hop and rock, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it absolutely is mine. It’s a masterpiece for seamlessly blending my two favorite genres together. Admittedly, it did take about two or three listens for me to become totally enamored with it, though.

When it comes to the music video, it’s just as zealous as the song itself would suggest, in choreography, setting, and outfits. Classic punk rock styles take center stage, with lots of black outfits, chains, and studded belts. San even has an eyebrow piercing, albeit fake. The choreography is filthy, but in the most positive way. We saw in the performance preview absolute insanity, with a portion of the choreography even having Mingi upside-down during his verse. The movements are huge and vigorous, and watching it in the video with the building intensity at the end of the track, it’s impossible to not be infected with the fighting spirit. I’m obsessed with this style and sound.

The Album

THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT kicks off with “PROPAGANDA,” an instrumental intro used to set the tone of the album. The eerie feel definitely shines throughout this album, with the lyrics and heavy use of sirens really driving home a futuristic cyberpunk dystopian setting.

First full track “Sector 1” may be familiar upon first listen, and that’s because the opening melody could be heard at the very end of the “Answer” music video, a teaser the group has come to be known for in previous releases. The song opens up like a slow-tempo sensual R&B ballad, which really made it stand out at first for me. But it definitely switches up at the chorus and becomes a more hip-hop beat with a lot of synths, and then that melody takes over. It’s an interesting composition, and part of me wishes I could hear more of the softer sound it opens up with. That said, it’s still a very good song.

The theme of the album keeps going in “Cyberpunk,” the EDM-heavy track of the album. Despite most of the album thus far focusing more on a hardened rock type of sound, save for the opening in “Sector 1,” this lighter sound still manages to tie into the forceful theme of the album while providing a fresh type of sound. The driving beat almost reminds me of the chorus of “Take Me Home,” a fan favorite track. It also has a unique feel given the accidentals in the vocals in the chorus. 

“The Ring” follows the title track “Guerrilla” and has somewhat of the same feel as the title, but it’s hard to properly articulate certain musical elements of it. The song appears to be in halftime, at least in terms of the driving beat. It’s definitely full of energy and intensity, but it feels different from the more frantic pacing of the previous hard-hitting tracks. The harmonizations in this track are amazingly unbelievable, and to an untrained ear, it may almost be grating, considering the amount of accidentals. But to me, it really shines a spotlight on the vocals of this group in a way we rarely get.

“WDIG (Where Do I Go)” brings the electronic dissonance to the forefront with another groovy beat and synth-heavy chorus. The dissonant harmonizations also take center stage in this song. It doesn’t stand out quite as astoundingly as some of the other tracks, but it definitely still has some pretty infectious melodies. In conclusion, we have “New World,” which opens up sounding almost like an epic battle theme. It definitely ends the album on a fighting note rather than simmering things down, building energy until the very last second of the album. It feels like a call to begin a revolution, and by god, I am ready to FIGHT.

Obviously, I am biased because ATEEZ is my favorite active group, but I have to say that I enjoyed the entire album immediately in a way I haven’t with past releases. The theme of the album feels cohesive, and the narrative continues to build throughout the entire album, even as the genres of songs switch things up. If you’re a fan of the soft boy sound, you definitely will not be about this album. It’s intensity through and through, with driving beats and gritty raps and vocals. It’s a win for all of us Rock-to-K-Pop pipeliners.

“Guerrilla” Title Score: 10/10

Music Video Score: 10/10

THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT Album Score: 9.5/10

Total Score: 9.83/10

Edited By Vivian N.