It’s been a long time since I published a “top ten” post, but who better to reignite the feature than one of this era’s most dominant forces? Debuting in late 2018, ATEEZ have clawed their way to K-pop’s A-list on the back of edgy, exciting music.

As always, this list is comprised solely of title/promoted tracks (sorry, Take Me Home!). I included performance videos this time, but left off The Black Cat Nero since it’s a cover.

This was a tough one, as the group has many great title tracks beyond these ten highlights. Read on to see where your favorite landed on the list!

10. Guerrilla (2022)

Guerrilla is still too new to fully establish its place, but its aggressive mix of punk rock guitar and dystopian energy is dynamic enough to make the cut. (full review)

9. Hala Hala (Hearts Awakened, Live Alive) (2019)

ATEEZ have developed a reputation for fantastic pre-choruses, and Hala Hala cemented this status. The vocals here are spine-tingling.

8. Eternal Sunshine (2021)

ATEEZ don’t often go “bright” or “poppy” on their singles, but Eternal Sunshine proves they can thrive within this tonal shift. Its buoyant chorus is absolutely blissful. (full review)

7. Treasure (2018)

Opening with an off-kilter, atmospheric verse, Treasure soon grows into the kind of towering melody that sets ATEEZ apart from their peers. (full review)

6. Pirate King (2018)

Paired with Treasure, Pirate King laid out the ATEEZ sound to brilliant effect. It’s a warped, weird debut that sounded like nothing else on the charts.

5. Utopia (2019)

I’m able to include Utopia here because its Japanese version was released as a single. I’ll always prefer the original Korean track, but either version is a potent distillation of ATEEZ’s prickly pop sensibilities. That chorus hits like a sledgehammer. (full review)

4. Say My Name (2019)

Quite possibly 2019’s biggest grower, Say My Name quickly refined ATEEZ’s piratey sound and crafted one of their most iconic hits. It absolutely explodes during the climax. (full review)

3. Wonderland (2019)

Like a demented sea shanty, Wonderland bursts forth with unhinged energy and theatrical verve. It’s a blistering ride, melding ATEEZ’s power with an equally ferocious instrumental. (full review)

2. Answer (2020)

Answer opens with what may be ATEEZ’s best chorus and only grows from there. It’s an epic hallmark of their discography, concluding the first stage of their career with operatic intensity. (full review)

1. Wave (2019)

While not the prototypical ATEEZ song, Wave stands as a highlight of its era. To me, it’s a perfect summer track, from its robust percussion to the gorgeous synth textures. But, nothing compares to Wave’s final minute, which explodes with euphoric drive and melodic excellence. It gets me every time. (full review)

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