ATEEZ ALBUM REVIEW: THE WORLD EP. PARADIGM

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Paradigm concept photo

On the 30th of November, K-pop boy group ATEEZ released their second Japanese EP of this year, THE WORLD EP. PARADIGM. The album features six upbeat and complex, yet fascinating songs, two of them being Japanese versions from their previous album THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT along with the title track Paradigm which is also sung in Japanese.

THE WORLD EP. PARADIGM kicks off with “Intro: Siren.” If you’ve listened to any ATEEZ songs or album intros, you can see that although the track sounds more unique from their others it still captures ATEEZ style as artists and as composers. This album’s introduction mirrors the introduction of their previous album PROPAGANDA. The lyrics of both songs are almost identical to each other and symbolize the negative things pushed by society within the group’s fictional storyline.

The second song of the album is the title track, “Paradigm.” This song expresses the group’s determination to get through “dark days and chaotic nights” and how ATEEZ is constantly setting itself as a new model for a future generation as well as a new standard for this generation.

Cyberpunk – Japanese Version,” mostly known for its amazing accompanying stage performance, marks its place as the climax of the album. Going along with the group’s storyline, the song emphasizes how the government of their fictional world controls every aspect of their lives.

Guerrilla – Flag Version,” the fourth song on the Japanese album, is actually not a Japanese version but is instead a different mixture of instrumentals from the title track of THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT. This song represents the group’s determination to break down the wall of emotional numbness caused by the overcontrolling metaphorical government in their storyline.

New World – Japanese Version,” the fifth song on the album is the Japanese version of the seventh song on THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT. This song expresses encouragement from the group to discover a “new world” of freedom and expression.

ATEEZ then concludes their album with “Outro: Liberty.” Although there aren’t many vocals, the song still leaves the listener feeling satisfied. The song contains instrumentals that closely resemble the previous song “New World” which helps the album conclude smoothly.