I will be honest – when ATEEZ first asked what our treasure is, I was a bit skeptical. At the same time, however, seeing a rookie group selling out venues across the Europe (mostly thanks to their most famous song duo “Say My Name” and “Hala Hala” (to clarify, both are the ultimate bops), has already been a strong indication, that a next boy group coming from a rather small label may soon have it all. And, after making a confident entrance with two first releases, and letting a bit of the summer breeze in with the third one, “Treasure EP. FIN: All to Action” is a final step in the process of establishing the group's sound in the space of the diverse k-pop scene.
The first full album of ATEEZ is already characteristic due to a sort of “signature” sound the group is based on. Catchy pre-chorus lines (as “Will you be my friend?” in Pirate King and “가자” in "Wonderland"), fiery rap-parts by Mingi, and these slightly more melodic recitations by Hong Joong, finally a surprisingly well (and soon!) achieved harmony of voices between vocalists. All that makes ATEEZ not only recognizable but musically charismatic, an element not all groups managed to develop.
This charisma soon becomes the most effective weapon of the group. While listening to all tracks on “EP. FIN”, you may literally feel the rebellious, yet elegant power of youth ATEEZ as a group represent with their concept. This whole package, looks and visual concepts aside, is in the most powerful way framed by the intros to every album. At this point, let me put some things straight: ATEEZ may have hands down the best intros/outros in the whole k-pop industry right now. Atmospheric, epic, yet still musically related to the regular songs on the albums, they are, in fact, responsible for keeping up of the treasure-narrative the group unfolded in the series of releases.
Despite the abrupt change of image for “Wave,” with “All to Action” and its title track, “Wonderland,” ATEEZ come back to both the visual and audial concept known from “Say My Name Era” – still, this step backward, manifests itself in the most positive manner imaginable. ATEEZ seem to have excerpted the essence of their second EP and enrich it with their performance skills acquired during the world tour in 2019. The group dynamics are significantly more polished than on previous releases, showcasing the members of ATEEZ as skilled and matured performers.
The next undoubtful achievement of the producers working on both lyrics and instrumentals, is the smart differentiation between rhythm and melody. Individual songs do not aim to forcefully combine them, but rather are divided between these “melodic” and “rhythmic” ones. Because of it, each song has a highly individual character, channeling a different mood; “Wonderland” (a worthy successor of “HALA HALA”), “Dazzling Red” (a Twist between “Twilight” and “Treasure”), almost alternative sound of “Sunrise”, or “Thank You” (audible echoes of the last “summer” EP) are all diametral different songs. However, because of the vocal identity of each member, as well as structural similarities, they still seem to interact with one another in the form of this diverse story the fans have been following.
When marching sounds in “End of the Beginning” smoothly transition straight into rhythmic “Wonderland,” it becomes clear, “EP. FIN” will be a solid, if not a very good album. These are but precisely these different pieces of the whole album-puzzle – whether showing ATEEZ from the side of a dramatic, positive or even dark concept – which prove, KQ Entertainment formed a group that really can do and have it all.
If ATEEZ close the first chapter in this style, we shall all beware of what will come next…
9/10 cups of k-offee
Tracklist:
01. End of the Beginning
02. WONDERLAND *Title
03. Dazzling Light 0
4. 안개
05. Precious (Overture)
06. WIN
07. If Without You
08. 친구 (THANK U)
09. Sunrise
10. 걸어가고 있어
11. Beginning of the End
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