It’s been almost five years since KQ Entertainment debuted a new group, and who better to follow up megastars ATEEZ than xikers? The group consists of 10 members, and they’re ready to take us on an adventure. After all, that’s what xikers means — the “x” represents coordinates while the rest comes from the word “hikers.” The two combine to create xikers, “boys who travel through time and space in search of coordinates.” So, let’s head out now on a journey through time and space with leader Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter, and Yechan.

Their debut mini-album, HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing, features seven songs, with rappers Minjae, Sumin, and Yechan writing for each of the tracks that feature singing. ATEEZ’s captain Hongjoong is featured not only as lyricist but also composer and arranger for all seven tracks along with the usual KQ suspects: Maddox, EDEN, Ollunder, and more.

“The TRICKY’s Secret” is the intro of the album, telling a somewhat ominous story over a dubstep beat:

“Long, long ago, with the appearance of mankind, something that would cause a rift in the world emerged with them. It lived among the people, worshiped for its mysterious powers, and hated for its unceasing whims. It existed as a constant fear, a force that would destroy the world. Humans began to wonder whether It was good or evil. It instilled an overwhelming desire to dominate the world. It fostered reckless courage to make them self-destruct as heroes. It gave children abilities beyond what they could bear and prospered in the chaos. It exists within us without any reason, purpose, or rules. We call It TRICKY.”

I gotta say, it’s really nice to get an intro to a group’s story in an easily digestible yet fun format, like when EXO made their debut and we got their background in the opening of the “MAMA” music video. 

“The TRICKY’s Secret” is followed by “Doorbell Ringing,” a hip-hop-heavy track that starts off strong with a brief rap before fading into a soft beat with even softer vocals. The track alternates through heavy raps and soft vocals smoothly, with the chorus sticking with the stronger beat and raps the track started with. There’s also a frenetic quality to the chorus, edging on noise music but not quite crossing over.

Track three is the title track, “TRICKY HOUSE.” For those who saw ATEEZ on their THE FELLOWSHIP: Break The Wall tour late last year, you got to see xikers perform “TRICKY HOUSE” along with their pre-debut track “Geek,” and boy was that a treat! The instrumentation definitely has some Indian flare, but plays more into the strong hip-hop beat that the group established in “Doorbell Ringing.” 

The music video is the perfect introduction to xikers. Opening with a shot of an older businessman sitting in a graffitied train car, the man looks to the back where Jinsik is sitting, headphones on and watching him. After the man shuts his eyes, Jinsik walks forward and places the headphones over the man’s ears, who awakens with the start of “TRICKY HOUSE.” From there, it’s a wild ride of stunning choreography, interesting angles and shots, and a fun use of neon graphic elements — there are even sections where the businessman performs the choreo as well! Everything about the video is fun, including the storyline that the man has been taken over by xikers to show him how much fun life can be if you travel with them.

Following “TRICKY HOUSE” on the tracklist is “Dynamic (Cheongryang),” an instrumental track that drops the hip-hop theme we had in the first half of the album and introduces a rock element, complete with a guitar solo. It truly is dynamic and is the perfect way to switch up the album, especially since track five is “ROCKSTAR.” The track starts out very synth-heavy, which I am all here for, but the build-up switches things on us and transitions back into an EDM sound similar to the first half of the album. The track isn’t as rock-infused as “Dynamic (Cheongryang),” and honestly, it would’ve been nice if the rock sound was more present given the song’s title.

“XIKEY” comes next, continuing with the heavy-hitting tracks, though this track is definitely the heaviest on the mini-album. It’s not just heavy in terms of the beat and tempo, but also in the delivery of the raps and vocals. xikers isn’t pulling any punches here, making sure their debut in K-Pop is noticed.

If you thought to yourself while listening to HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing that there has to be a softer or slower track, then you know that’s not the case by now. I even thought that album ender “Oh My Gosh” was gonna be the slow track, but it’s just not. While the verses may not be as jam-packed with aggressive raps as the preceding tracks, the beat thumps in your chest, and you’ll feel your adrenaline rush while listening.

I love a group that sounds self-assured in their releases, especially when that release is their debut, and HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing is exactly that. xikers shows no weak points and no flaws with this mini-album debut. Maybe that’s something to be said with the quality of music that KQ Entertainment releases and the absolute powerhouses in their production team, but I think it shows the strength of these rookies to be able to take these tracks and deliver them as well as they do. I know I’ll be looking forward to more releases from xikers.

Edited by Deshalia Murray