ATEEZ run amok in THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW seeking freedom – Album Review

‘The World Ep.2: Outlaw’ is an EP by the K-pop boy group ATEEZ. The 6-track mini album was released on June 16, 2023.

By Nandini Iyengar -

June 18, 2023 - 6:57 PM IST

Since their debut days, ATEEZ has always represented the idea of freedom, a sense of renewed vigor at life, and a quest to break free of struggle and torment in each of their tracks. With each comeback, they don a new avatar and tackle these ideas from a new perspective. Be it the synth-pop 'Answer' or the hip-hop-laden 'HALA HALA' or even the breezy 'WAVE', the idea of finding a purpose and joy amidst all the struggles, both internal and external, is always one of the highlighted meanings in the tracks. The group made a comeback with a new theme last July when they released The World Ep.1: Movement. With this EP, they made a proclamation to wake up and see the struggles, and with The World Ep.2: Outlaw the narrative moves ahead as the group truly wakes up to see the reality and takes matters into its own hands. Playing with the idea of oppression and the desire to break free from it, ATEEZ also inserts the idea of fighting one's internal battles with this EP and is an exciting and energetic new episode following THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT, which marked the beginnings of a secret movement to cause a fissure in this controlled society.

ATEEZ run amok in THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW seeking freedom – Album Review

THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW contains six tracks. In “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS),” ATEEZ fly on the music with an unblockable sense of ‘Heung’ (uniquely Korean ‘exhilaration’) that only they can portray. It’s a track that will fully immerse the listener, making their heart race wild alongside the members amidst a scene musically painted out like something straight out of a genre film.

Hongjoong and Mingi actively participated in writing the lyrics. Eden, Maddox, Peperoni, Leez, OLIV, and Ollounder who have been long-term collaborators with ATEEZ also made a comeback to spread their foot-thumping music magic with the world. ATEEZ's EP The World Ep.2: Outlaw was released on June 16, 2023. 'Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)' features as the title track.

THIS WORLD
The whirring techno beats in ‘The World’ at the start of the song feel like an opening segment for a new portal to travel and transport you into another world. The techno beats are sprinkled throughout the song which adds to the feeling that the group has embarked on a new journey and sings this anthem as they prepare themselves -"We're still in the dark, do you feel alive?/Cloudy mind, I don't feel myself/Now it's time to fight, take back my life/The day I become myself, I will face myself in this world". There is a cinematic feel to the song as it progresses from the verses to the bridge and eventually concludes with the same whirring sound.

DUNE
No ATEEZ comeback is complete without ‘HALA HALA’ coming up at least once and 'Dune' completes that tradition in this comeback. Running in similar musical veins of 'HALA HALA', this song has a gothic feel to it as the group lets out a cry for help - "The gesture of despair tempts me/As if I could run away/Run away, run away, far away I can't take it anymore/Mayday, mayday, mayday". The musical composition represents an emotional upheaval; the percussions add to the fast-paced nature of the lyrics.

BOUNCY (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)
'Bouncy' is as sassy as it gets. ATEEZ unleash their hidden badass personas and exhibits a flashy and razzmatazz overlay of sassy and unabashed outlook. Their approach is evident from the lyrics - "We're still hungry because we're young/Move aside 'cause we need some air/Untie everything that's been tangled up/Can't live life standing still". The music video is laced with ideas of thrill and danger like a coating of salt and pepper to a cocktail glass. The scarlet macaw and the animated vocals given to it is a borderline hilarious addition to the overall bold feel of the song. The stretched-out synth beats are alliterated with some sprinkles of trap and rap. All these combined together present a groovy hook, which grows on you the more you listen to it.

DJANGO
The word 'Django' has different meanings if you search on the internet, but what remains similar throughout is that at its core, it echoes the idea of awakening and justice. Perhaps it won't be wrong to say that ATEEZ also employ that meaning in their track 'Django'. The rising trap beats that lead to a rustic chorus enhance the immersive experience while listening to the song. This song might even remind some of the pop culture figure Django from 'Django Unchained' - "Put everything on the line and shoot, right now/Final round with fate on the line/If you want to run away, then run away". The onomatopoeic lyrics add into the proclamation, which is laced with fire and craze in the song.

WAKE UP
'Wake Up' stands true to its name as it wakes up slowly and then bursts into a chorus that engulfs the listeners in its composition. The Acapella-like vocalization is quite addictive to listen to. Hongjoong and Mingi's verses are spitfires as usual. This track serves as a shaking wake-up call to see what is happening in one's surroundings - "Everything that was taken away is lost once again today/One by one, I lose and forget simple facts/Got no one to blame, but I know that you're in pain"

OUTLAW
As 'Wake Up' comes to a conclusion, 'Outlaw' is ready to pick up where its preceding track left off. The acapella-like vocalization makes a comeback with 'Outlaw' as well. The song progresses to a raw and rustic soft rock-laced music composition as the group makes their decision clear and proceeds to the next phase in their life. Dial back to July 2022 and listen to 'Sector 1' because this EP concludes with a stunning mention of that grand overture - "Don't open it inside me/Another me is about to come out/This is my sector one".

ATEEZ concludes their story for now with a new set of ideas out in the world with THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW. Historically speaking, there might be two more EPs on the way before ATEEZ puts a full stop to the 'The World' series.

In conclusion, ATEEZ's latest musical offering once again shows the extent and progress of the group with each passing year. It should be celebrated that the group attempts to address morals and values and life in general through their music and vision for the future. To some, this comeback might feel more like a call back to the past glory of the group. To some, it might feel like a new picturization of a previous idea. Neither would be fully wrong, but it should also be noted that despite the feeling of repetition, ATEEZ make their best attempts to put forth a stunning experience for their listeners.

THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW tackles the ideas of a controlling regime and how certain individuals attempt to break free from the dual-sided oppression of forces, both internal and external. Picking the literal meaning of an outlaw from the dictionary, ATEEZ works towards raising their voice against injustice and torment. The musical quality of the EP is valuable to the story and the tracks grow on you as you listen to them. Like a rebel who breaks the rules and overthrows a regime, perhaps with their next comeback, ATEEZ would present the idea of having overcome the challenges and emerging triumphant.