Dancing in the Ruins: A Track-by-Track Review of ATEEZ's "Ashes to Light"
Photo: KQ Entertainment
ATEEZ has never been one to play by the rules when it comes to genre, and that fearless creativity is on full display in their latest Japanese release, Ashes to Light. This album is a masterclass in mixing sounds, expertly blending deep house, electronic dance, reggaetón, experimental rock, and pop-punk into one rich, immersive experience. This project is a real emotional journey through themes of love, loss, and resilience. Let's dive into the production, lyrics, and flow of an album that solidifies ATEEZ's role as true innovators in sound.
Ashes To Light Tracklist
“Ash”
“12 Midnight”
“Tippy Toes”
“FACE”
“Crescendo”
“NOT OKAY”
“Days”
“Birthday”
“Forevermore”
“Ash”
This track is the perfect blend of a moody, dark lo-fi vibe and an electro-dance chorus that makes you want to move. Yunho’s hypnotic hook and a cool beat switch for Hongjoong’s rap keep things exciting and unpredictable. The production totally nails that classic house music feeling while still sounding fresh.
With house music, lyrics often work by creating an enticing contrast against the beat. Those emotional or introspective lines actually add a major plus by creating this great duality. The repetition turns phrases into hypnotic chants, letting a somber feeling become a form of release on the dance floor. You get this powerful mix of melancholic vocals over an uplifting groove that lets you just dance out the emotions the song makes you feel. A song like "Ash" is a perfect example. It uses a super catchy, weary-sounding hook against a warm beat, building a shared space for introspective vibes. The song is all about desperately holding onto the memories of a lost love, which are fading away like ash or sand. Basically, ATEEZ is dancing in the emotional ruins of a relationship, forever missing a past that's gone but still burns inside them.
Although the melodies, topic, etc., are stellar, the track ends a bit too abruptly. Extending the beat by 4-8 bars at the end of the song would enhance the track's functionality for DJs by creating a clean loop point and would also allow the finale to feel more resolved for the listener.
Track Score: 8.9/10
The music video is visually striking, packed with compelling shots of the members and rich with their signature lore. Moments like Seonghwa dissolving into ash are especially powerful, heightened by the evocative use of smoke, fire, and textures that embody the song's theme. The understated elegance of the video reflects a more mature and sophisticated side of ATEEZ; a fitting evolution as they explore deeper, more introspective adult topics like love, sense of self, existentialism, emotional processing, purpose, self-determination, and perseverance through both their sound and visuals.
Music Video Score: 9.5/10
“12 Midnight”
“12 Midnight” is one of ATEEZ's best-produced tracks to date. This features a stellar arrangement, production, and lyricism that keeps the listener completely enticed. What is particularly striking is the masterful use of digital distortion and bitcrushing created into a Jersey Club bassline that underpins Hongjoong's rap. Mingi's rap, the expert beat switches, and the smooth flow back into the chorus make the song addictively listenable, echoing the hypnotic elements of Trance music. This innovative soundscape creates a thrilling level of unpredictability, captivating the audience in much the same way genres like electrohouse and hyperpop do.
Beyond its technical brilliance, the song explores the exhausting struggle of pretending to be strong and the emotional imprisonment that comes from hiding one's weakness behind a facade of pride. It argues that true resilience is found not in carrying the burden alone, but in the vulnerable act of releasing pent-up frustration and pain. Ultimately, it delivers a powerful message of hope, using the metaphor of dawn following midnight to promise renewal and a new beginning for those who choose to persevere.
Track Score: 10/10
“Tippy Toes”
The intro has a nostalgic, retro JRPG feel that seamlessly gives way to a slowed-down reggaetón romántico beat, maintaining a deeply intimate atmosphere. The layered vocals are utterly sensual. This intimacy then builds into a bolder chorus with lines like “dropping it low” and “getting down like woah.” A slight beat switch introduces a different reggaetón energy that keeps the listener engaged without ever feeling disruptive. Throughout, the harmonies and ad-libs are simply phenomenal.
A similar note for the structure would be to let the final beat rock a bit longer and place the closing sung lyrics before the standalone melody, which would prevent the ending from feeling so abrupt.
Track Score: 9/10
“FACE”
Woah! How did we get here? “FACE” is such a cool blend of post-hardcore experimental rock with an electronic sound. This track would absolutely kill it at a concert. Mingi’s “FIX ON!” is so impactful, especially with Hongjoong’s rap right after. Jongho and Yeosang’s vocals specifically stand out a ton; the harmonies are great, and Jongho’s control is on full display. Yeosang’s knack for vocal control, balance, and power is also executed perfectly.
Even though the song is great, it feels oddly placed in the tracklist. It's a very intense track that comes right after some melancholy but groovy dance vibes. In addition, the arrangement is a little hard to follow, but it's still incredibly interesting to listen to.
Track Score: 7.5/10
“Crescendo”
“Crescendo” is reminiscent of a pop-punk ballad with feelings of yearning and emotional expression. The balance of melancholy instruments with the guitars creates a great balance. This song is about a powerful, everlasting love that feels larger than life, comparing its growth and beauty to a musical crescendo and blooming flowers. It's a promise to cherish this profound connection forever, finding eternity in every moment spent together.
The feeling this song evokes is very pleasant, but the song misses a key opportunity for a defining climax. Allowing Jongho's incredible high notes to stand clearly at the forefront, instead of blending them into the instrumentation, would have provided the complete and powerful emotional peak this song deserves.
Track Score: 7.5/10
“NOT OKAY”
The song's opening is instantly captivating, building a palpable sense of apprehension and suspense that pulls the listener in completely. While "NOT OKAY" boasts dynamic production and a visually stunning music video, the specific arrangement chosen for the hook feels somewhat mismatched for the track.
It would have been compelling to hear the beat from Hongjoong's rap and the haunting intro combined to form the chorus, especially since the production in the second verse is stellar and stands as another major highlight. Also, hearing the bass boosted in the second verse would absolutely take it to the next level. That said, the song's vision comes into much sharper focus within the context of the full album, where its purpose feels clearer and more cohesive amongst the other tracks.
Track Score: 6/10
“Days”
“Days” has a very loving, but mellow feel, and the production syncs up well with the emotions the lyrics are meant to evoke. The lyrics express a profound and cherished love, celebrating how a partner transforms ordinary moments into beautiful, irreplaceable memories. The song is a vow to remain together forever, treasuring every second and wishing to freeze time in the face of such perfect happiness.
Track Score: 9/10
“Birthday”
It's important to recognize and appreciate the fun, hip-hop concept ATEEZ aimed for with "Birthday." The track has a playful energy, though it feels like it's trying a bit too hard to embody a hip-hop vibe, resulting in themes and an execution that come across as slightly immature compared to their usual depth. That said, their willingness to experiment and simply have fun should absolutely be commended.
The production itself offers some fantastic individual moments, with the bridge standing out as a genuine highlight. However, the song's overall structure doesn't feel entirely cohesive.
Track Score: 4/10
“Forevermore”
This song feels like a sweeping and heartfelt promise to love someone forever, using the imagery of a sunset to make that vow feel both beautiful and bittersweet. The members are really saying that even though nothing lasts forever, their love will never change. It all builds into this huge emotional chorus where they swear to always be there to protect you, no matter how much time goes by. And honestly, it just hits like a warm and sincere reminder to ATINY that they are loved, no matter what.
Track Score: 9.5/10
Ashes to Light is a bold, sonically complex journey that brilliantly showcases ATEEZ's innovative spirit and emotional range. The album's flow would have been strengthened by placing the gentle yearning of "Crescendo" before the intense explosion of "FACE" to build a more natural climax. Ultimately, this release stands as another powerful testament to their indisputable artistry and ambition.
And one more thing… ATEEZ, please perform your Japanese releases in other countries while you’re on tour. They’re too good not to.
Overall Score: 8/10
Edited by Cara Musashi