With member I.M away for mandatory military service, the remaining members of K-pop squad MONSTA X (Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, and Joohoney) continue their hard-edged machismo with The Phase. The EP is the second major release from the group in 2026, following English-language studio album Unfold. While lead single “MAGIC” opens with a familiar hip-hop presentation, it soon bursts into a pop-dance chorus and harmonic outro. “SURVIVOR” incorporates looping, distorted vocal chants and electrifying jags of guitar into a classic idol hip-hop formula for a track that celebrates the group’s journey so far and makes a promise for the future: “Watch us move, watch us fly/MONSTA X until we die.”