With 2020’s Answer, ATEEZ established a precedent for releasing excellent material under the guise of an “epilogue” (or in today’s case, a “spin-off”). This December has been severely lacking in notable K-pop comebacks, so I’m excited to have a big-name track like this pushing us into the new year. With that said, my passion for ATEEZ’s music has drastically waned over the past two years. Beyond a stellar b-side or two, I’ve found myself a little exhausted with their overall sound.
For much of Halazia, I’m convinced this is the song to turn things around. It’s stuffed with many of the musical hallmarks I adored in their 2018-19 material. It’s dark and bombastic without resorting to shouted chants and posturing. There are proper builds and unique flourishes throughout, leading to a juggernaut finale that leaves me wanting more. However — and sadly, this is a pretty big “however” – the song’s chorus is all kinds of frustrating. It feels like ATEEZ have given us a three-and-a-half minute tease. An “Atease,” if you will. I’m not sure the payoff is there when it needs to be.
Even ATEEZ’s strongest music puts pre-chorus front and center, often exhausting itself before pulling back to deliver a sparse hook. Halazia is a definitive example of this structure, bringing the theatrics for its anthemic pre-chorus. The vocals hit with full power. There are even church organs. Then, we’re yanked into a dull (and oddly muted) hook before the song ramps up again for a rapid-pace refrain. I love these big, ballsy moments. But, I wish they had been arranged in a way that took better advantage of their momentum. It’s not that I want the song to be more straightforward. Weird is good in ATEEZ’s musical world. It just feels like there’s some important centerpieces missing here.
This disconnect prevents Halazia from being an instant standout for me, but I still think it’s the group’s strongest title track in a quite awhile. I could see it growing far more easily than the chant-heavy Guerrilla and I appreciate its spotlight on vocals. Plus, the accompanying single album delivers an interesting remix of the always-incredible Take Me Home. So all in all, this is a spin-off worth making.
Hooks 8 Production 9 Longevity 9 Bias 8 RATING 8.5
