ONF is back! The sextet under WM Entertainment, made up of Hyojin, E-Tion, J-Us, Wyatt, MK, and U, is known most recently as the first K-Pop group that took the risky bet of having all Korean members go into military service at once. It’s only been a few months since the last member completed his service, and the group is already out with a new EP called LOVE EFFECT, the same title as their title track, proving that this might be the better way to go. With their characteristic upbeat sound, the strength of their overall EP shows that ONF is ready to blow into the hearts of fans everywhere.

The album itself is a five-track EP with the additional tracks “Be Here Now,” “Dam Dam Di Ram,” “Arrival,” and “Wind Effect.” While “Love Effect” showcases the type of sound that they’re most known for, the rest of the EP demonstrates their versatility.

In “Be Here Now,” per J-Us during the ONF Showcase following their comeback release, the song’s lyrics represent a desire to march forward, to write a new story together with fans and FUSEs (their fandom). Starting out with clear, simple vocals, the lyrics generally say that instead of saying I miss you, I made a song like this. The song is akin to a musical letter to FUSEs. With a rousing chorus that you can imagine being belted from the rafters, it stands to reason that after being away, the first song on their EP would be one for those that missed them most.

The title track, “Love Effect,” follows next. With an underlying retro guitar riff, the sound is infused with a bright energy that embodies ONF. As the video starts, you see all the members looking down at you as Hyojin falls into another dimension. E-Tion’s voice emerges as the track flows seamlessly into MK’s part, highlighting his clear high range. The danceable pop song imbues positivity as the video unfolds. Dressed casually in streetwear, they move effortlessly through choreography that takes second stage to each member’s vocal or rap lines. While Wyatt’s deeper voice throughout the rap section is a nice contrast, the song really picks up at the end with references to their former tracks by mentioning “Goosebumps” and echoing the “Bam bambam bam bam” from “Beautiful Beautiful.” Though it lacks the power and levity of some of their more popular title tracks, the song, per Hyojin, is imbued with their deepening feelings of love, which are conveyed through the lyrics. 

Getting into a tropical house groove, “Dam Dam Di Ram'' is a smooth dance track with hip-hop vibes that are balanced against smooth vocals. The underlying rhythmical beat allows for a dynamic performance track, which opened the earlier showcase. Two-thirds into the song, the sound shifts into a synth pop instrumental dance break that U highlighted as the focal point of the song. The showcase performance demonstrated that their dance skills have only grown stronger since their military hiatus.

The most creative song soundwise is “Arrival.” MK himself, who was involved in making the song, described it as a pop song with a different-colored vibe. The synth pop song hits a bit harder, and the color is a bit darker than the other tracks on the EP. Wyatt’s flow becomes a crucial part of the song, rather than a formulaic rap sequence that plays against the strong vocal lines in the song. 

The EP ends with the ballad “Wind Effect.” A song that would make a perfect OST, the ballad hits the heart with its strong vocals and lovely lyrics that softly acknowledge love. 

Overall, this release is solid, fun and easy to listen to across the board. Though the title track might not stand out to the extent of their previous ones, such as “Beautiful Beautiful,” “We Must Love,” and “Complete,” it’s still a fun, danceable track that gets better with every listen. But needless to take our word for it, take a listen here to “Love Effect,” and decide for yourself. It’s great to have the group back, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

Edited by Diana