Golden Child Hits Hard with “Replay”
After successfully wrapping up their first U.S. mini-tour last month, Golden Child is back with a bang in the form of “Replay.”
It’s been 10 months since the group’s last release, but their sixth mini-album AURA packs such a punch, it feels like it's been no time at all. AURA marks the first release of the group without leader Daeyeol, who is currently serving in the military. While his voice is sorely missed on all six tracks, the rest of the boys, in typical Golcha fashion, delivered.
“Replay” is one of the group’s most hard-hitting songs to date, with Joochan absolutely attacking from the first note. Defying compositional norms, “Replay” starts out with its chorus before dialing back into its first verse. Amidst house beats, fast raps, gritty guitars, and clapping sound effects, the track never loses intensity, feeling like a high-speed chase from start to finish. Members Jangjun and TAG co-wrote the song, and their shared second verse adds an extra layer of bite to the already bold track. The heavy instrumentation in the song paired with Golden Child’s penchant for vocally focused music gives the song an almost second generation K-Pop feel (think no further than their labelmate INFINITE). While “Replay” fits in seamlessly with the releases of Golden Child’s fourth generation peers, the nostalgic sound sets them apart at the same time—something that always tends to work in Golden Child’s favor with each release.
Fittingly, the video for “Replay” is performance-based. The minimal plot shows the members escaping prison-like confines as they use spy tactics to make their getaway. Many of the shots include a red overlay and laser effects, which add to the intensity of the song. Throughout the music video, there are also recurring shots of Jibeom and Jaehyun playing a game of chess, adding to the high stakes vibe of the video. The majority of the music video, however, focuses on the choreography, with the members donning black leather outfits. TAG specifically shines in this comeback: the concept fits him like a glove to the point where it’s hard to even blink when he’s on screen.
The album opens with “AURA,” a mysterious-sounding instrumental intro that sets the cloak-and-dagger tone for “Replay,” especially with the explosive start to the title track. Following “Replay” is “Knocking On My Door,” a pop song that takes a softer approach to the opening cuts of the album and shines in its balance of comforting synths, soft vocals, and energetic rap lines. “3! 6! 5!” sounds like something out of Golden Child’s earlier days, with playful melodies abound and a high-spirited dance beat. “Purpose,” also written by Jangjun and TAG (and co-produced by TAG as well), is a heartfelt song about persevering through life’s challenges. AURA concludes on a bright note with the electronic dance track “Miracle.” The lively beat and glitchy sound effects make for a refreshing end to the gritty mini-album, setting the boys up with a blank slate for whatever they have up their sleeves for the next release. One thing’s for sure: if AURA is anything to go by, their next album is bound to be fire.
Edited by Aleena Faisal