You read that title correctly. The worlds biggest pop band, BTS, have returned with a brand-new album, “Arirang.” The question is, was it worth the wait?
We start off strong with “Body to Body.” This track hits you like a slap in the face, except, this is a slap you’re likely to enjoy. The beat instantly thumps through your body, creatively coinciding with a powerful rap that hits you when you least expect it. In the next title, “Hooligan”, the listener will fall for a false sense of security. By this we mean that the track begins with a gentle, almost relaxing, piece of string music, before the song begins to “glitch” and you are thrown back by an intense beat.
Whilst BTS experiment with their incredible rap-heavy tunes, there is also a sprinkle of softness within the album. “Swim” is one of those tracks, and it happens to be the bands leading single for this new era. Alongside the release of the record, a beautiful music video was dropped starring Riverdale actress, Lili Reinhart. The listener will experience a sort of outer body experience whilst absorbing the song. The word “floating” comes to mind. Another track that has the same feel to it is “Like Animals.” Both songs are an easy listen to and strong contenders on the album.
Fourteen songs complete “Arirang”, with “Into the Sun” rounding things up. It takes us on a rollercoaster of sounds, all different from each other, yet surprisingly flows wonderfully and in harmony. The first quarter is reminiscent to the band’s 2014 album “Dark and Wild.” A hint of rebellion, excellent rapping, yet charming all rolled into one. Whilst they still show a dash of their roots, the album continues to showcase new sounds that mark a new era for the band.
After a four year hiatus, fans have been waiting patiently for BTS to return with new music better than ever. It is here that we return to our original question; was it worth the wait? To summarise in one, straight forward, answer…yes. The album as a whole is addictive, and fans will be ecstatic by the bands return. Although, their is a small amount of criticism amongst the praise. There are a couple of tracks that played it safe, forcing them to sound too much of the same. “they don’t know ’bout us” and “One More Night” follow each other on the track list. Both are great songs on their own, however together they sound rather similar if you are listening to them back to back.
That small criticism is not a reflection of the album as a whole. “Arirang” solidifies the reason why BTS are the most talk about pop group in music, and this shows no sign of changing.
The album can now be streamed via all major streaming platforms.
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