THE BOYZ have, no doubt, been some of the constant boybands within the Ok-pop sphere since their debut in 2017. With every launch, the group proceed to outdo themselves in manufacturing, execution and experimentation. However regardless of the group’s unwavering pursuit of pop perfection for the reason that very starting, it was their participation within the Mnet actuality TV programme Kingdom: Legendary Warfare earlier this yr that lastly helped them to show the tides of their oft-overlooked profession.

“Beforehand, we centered lots on attempting to decipher a sure message on stage,” rapper Sunwoo informed Teen Vogue of their newer endeavours, which largely featured edgier sounds and darker materials. “This time round we’re extra into, ‘let’s be chill, let’s loosen up on stage, let’s actually benefit from the vibe of the music’.” This sentiment towards their newest launch is indisputably the core driving drive for their sixth mini-album ‘Thrill-ing’, a six-song ode to the youthful effervescence of summer season.

Title observe ‘Thrill Trip’ unites hip-hop influences and laid-back pop merrymaking to create a vibrant piece that encapsulates the essence of summer season. It’s harking back to the infectiously playful sound that the 11-piece act additionally employed for his or her older lead singles like 2018’s ‘Giddy Up’ and 2019’s ‘Bloom Bloom’. Whereas the track does keep a degree of catchiness that’s to be anticipated of Ok-pop summer season anthems, its repetitive refrain melody tiptoes on the sting of being overbearing at occasions.

However when you delve deeper into the opposite choices that ‘Thrill-ing’ boasts, ‘Thrill Trip’ nearly utterly blends into the background. One such stand-out observe, which might have been a way more apparent alternative for the title observe, is ‘Merry Unhealthy Ending’. A confessional pop track filled with craving, it feels wealthy and clean, its soulful lyrics (“That blinding moonlight / That solely shines upon us / A kiss that’s bestowed softly / Dimly when the morning comes”) paired with a dreamy gradual tempo instrumentation.

THE BOYZ are nothing if not experimental, injecting horror vibes on the creepy ‘Nightmares’, one thing that others may shrink back from on comparable summer season releases. The distinction the track presents can also be a major instance of the turbulent, rollercoaster-like journey this mini-album takes listeners on. . A callback to their extra intense work like ‘The Stealer’ and ‘Reveal’, it’s probably the most novel providing on the mini-album, courtesy of spine-chilling, ethereal falsettos and harmonisation that make for a hauntingly elegant piece.

The remainder of ‘Thrill-ing’ is equally as, nicely, thrilling. Most songs are distinctive, however string them collectively and the document teeters on the sting of disjointed recklessness. The siren-like instrumentals, hints of EDM and booming vocals that come collectively on ‘Out Of Management’ makes it a dynamic present of sheer energy, although it falls brief as a result of its commonplace boy group pop melodies. In the meantime, the buoyant ‘Dancing Until We Drop’ is an instantaneous mood-maker because of its theatrical tune, recreating the acquainted boyish power the group are greatest recognized for, alongside gleeful lyricism: “Identical to this, music on / When the darkness deepens / Kiss below the fireworks / My coronary heart is dancing”.

‘Thrill-ing’ involves a detailed in the identical method most memorable summers do – in bittersweet sunsets. ‘B.O.Y (Wager On You)’ appears like an aural illustration of this nostalgic feeling, making full use of evocative lyrics penned by members Sunwoo and Eric (“Beneath the shimmering moonlight / The shadow that greeted us brightly / The deepening season of you”) and regular electro-pop beats that drive the mini-album to a glistening conclusion. Though, this observe can also really feel nostalgic for a special motive – it bears a slight resemblance to the 2018 Ellie Goulding hit single ‘Shut To Me’.

‘Thrill-ing’ is a homecoming for THE BOYZ in a couple of method; it being each their first Korean launch in almost a yr in addition to their first since being topped the runners-up on Kingdom. Above all, and despite the few missteps alongside the best way, it’s a rollercoaster journey of epic proportions that not solely pays tribute to their earlier sounds of fresh-faced marvel, but additionally takes surprising twists in an formidable showcase of versatility and experimentation.