In just seven tracks, Korean octet
ATEEZ introduce a paranoid, futuristic dystopia-filled with chilly synths, crunching electronic stabs, and soaring vocals on The World EP.1: Movement. After a
Muse-worthy intro, the neon-washed "Sector 1" effortlessly blends woozy trap stylings, throbbing electro pulses, and a rousing gang chorus before the aptly titled "Cyberpunk" draws the set into the Tron/Blade Runner landscape with its urgency and frenetic energy. Lead single "Guerrilla" hits hardest, the hip-hop edge pounding through the speakers as the bass drops and a storm of riffs and siren effects swirl around the aggressive rap bars and screaming growls. The EP doesn't relent from here, pumping out three more catchy and pulse-pounding tracks that end with "New World," which teases the next installment of the era.
ATEEZ set themselves apart from the mainstream K-pop pack with this creative vision and unconventional, hyper-confrontational stance, making Movement a thrilling listen from start to finish. ~ Neil Z. Yeung