After WJSN’s victorious Queendom result, the group has made a long-awaited comeback. It’s been over a year since they delivered the high-octane dance pop of Unnatural, but they haven’t missed a step. Last Sequence builds upon that sound in blazing fashion, proving you don’t have to shout and chant to elicit big K-pop energy.

WJSN are one of the few girl groups who have resisted the urge to bend toward industry trends. They’ve moved away from the cosmic sound and imagery that buoyed their strongest music, but their songs retain a vocal-driven approach that compliments their strengths. Last Sequence ties this to a propulsive dance beat. After a slow-build first verse, the track settles into a chugging groove that powers it to the end. Every element – from chorus to rap break – is tied directly to this instrumental, bolstering Last Sequence’s momentum. We even get a proper, vocal-led bridge.

I’ll forever be a stickler for melody, and Last Sequence‘s chorus succumbs to a personal pet peeve. For me, it’s the kind of centerpiece that feels more like a series of (admittedly great) vocal riffs than a concentrated, knock-your-socks-off hook. I’ve noticed this approach becoming more and more common in K-pop over the past few years, making songs feel more scattershot than they should. But, multiple listens have already drawn out Last Sequence’s strengths and I have a feeling it’s going to fare well in the long run. Here’s hoping WJSN can further leverage their success on Queendom to continue their run of excellent singles.