Given that only four months passed between Golden Hour Parts 4 and 5, I have no clue what the rest of the year holds for ATEEZ!
I will admit that Golden Hour Part 4 didn’t do much for me. It’s songs are ones I revisit the least from the Golden Hour series. What I can tell you about Part 5 is that I know it will get played into the ground. It’s right up there with Part 1 for me! I did happen to be awake when the clock struck midnight, so I feel like I was one of the first ones to check out the music video for their lead single, “Bad.” What a fun and goofy kind of song. I might be a bit influenced by the music video, but for me this song felt like a first cousin to Work. It has a really strong Latin flair, but the fun of this song immediately t ransports me back to Work.
Speaking of the video, it might be even more silly than Work was, and I love that! Especially with how dark most of the videos have been since that was released. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dark stuff, but their silly nature is what drew me to them in the first place. And this video feels even more monumental because it’s featuring the members fighting over a lady! That usually doesn’t bode well for groups, whose fans, or a least a good chunk of them, seem to think that these guys should never been with someone that isn’t them. I think what helps in this situation is that it is a well known actress who also happens to be an ATINY herself. Chase Infiniti is the “bad” woman in this clip who seems to have done all the boys dirty at some point. Based on the limited knowledge I have about their lore, it also feels like they are being influenced by a bad power. I don’t really care enough to look further into it, but still, it makes the story more intriguing.
“Bad” is followed up expertly by “Mamcita,” which will likely adopt the spot “Arriba” has held at past concerts. The vibe is almost the same, so it’s a party! Again, this one has a more direct Latin influence, and while I don’t love this song, I can’t ignore how freaking catchy it is. But just when I thought they couldn’t top those first two tracks, “Toxin” came rolling in to easily claim my top spot. This song instantly hooked me with the pulsing digital sounding siren that sounds throughout, and their vocals are all heavenly. I especially like the pulsing sound that seems to travel around during Mingi’s verse. Will I ever hear this song live? I have my doubts, but I sure hope I do!
“Fallin'” is a really solid track that manages to stay stuck in my head with Yeosang’s hauntingly deep delivery just before the main part of the chorus. Could that have been any more perfect for him? Yuhno’s also has an amazing vocal delivery at the start of the second verse. “Body” is a song that snuck up on me for a number of reasons. I like that it was still a quicker tempo even though it was meant to be the ‘slower’ and more sentimental song off the album. Sure, it is a song full of yearning, but it’s really yearning for someone’s body – hello mature ATEEZ! I think I also enjoy this song because it sounds like stuff Omega X has given me in the past.
All in all, this album is a 5 out of 5 for me! I know this will get the rotation it deserves, and it’s got me excited for what a future live set will be like. I am also secretly hoping we get another music video from them. Fingers crossed!