K-pop powerhouse ATEEZ made their comeback with their new EP, Golden Hour : Part 5, their fifth chapter in their ongoing Golden Hour series, on June 26. The group released the five-track album alongside their lead single, “BAD,” and its accompanying music video, which features Hollywood’s rising star, actress, and ATINY (the name for ATEEZ’s fandom), Chase Infiniti.
The album, which features some of their songs in Spanish, is filled with addictive beats, earworm lyrics, and memorable hooks that blend hyper-pop, hip-hop, house, dance, and alternative pop with Latin beats. Alongside “BAD,” the album also includes “MAMACITA,” “TOXIN,” “Fallin,” and “Body” – all very sexy songs.
Ahead of the album’s release, ATEEZ – comprised of members Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho – promoted it with a cinematic trailer and teaser campaign, revealing how Part 5 connects to the Golden Hour series – a lore/storyline created by the group.
Members Hongjoong and Mingi participated in writing the lyrics for all five tracks, continuing their involvement in the music and creative direction. For this album, the group went bold in their visual storytelling, especially in the official music video for “BAD.” The group thrives on their infectious lyrics – “Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad” is stuck in my head –intense choreography, and stunning visuals in the video.
Though ATEEZ’s lore has been around since their debut in 2018, the main key thing to focus on for this particular storyline, especially surrounding Infiniti’s involvement in the “BAD” music video, is the existence of Sopro, an evil entity that causes chaos. It can jump between hosts; in this case, it jumps into Infiniti’s character, whom the boys have taken an interest in.
A dancer herself and founder of a K-pop dance crew, Infiniti shows off her skills alongside the members in the music video. But the music video doesn’t stop there with her ATEEZ collaboration. The 26-year-old actress will also appear alongside members Wooyoung and San on the Korean variety show MMTG on July 2, marking her first appearance on a Korean variety series. In the preview for the episode, San tells the host, Jaejae, that Infiniti is “really good at dance.”
The group recently headlined at BST Hyde Park in London on June 28, performing “BAD” for the first time. They’re also set for other festival appearances, including headline performances at Italy’s Rock in Roma, Istanbul Festival in Turkey, and SOUNDS IN COLORS in Poland. To promote Golden Hour : Part 5 globally, ATEEZ is scheduled to appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show for a special performance on July 1.
ATEEZ’s Golden Hour : Part 5 is available on all streaming platforms.