Gateway - EP

There are many access points on the K-pop crew’s seventh mini-album—a dynamic vocal line of Moonbin, Sanha, Eunwoo, and MJ (his high notes are impressive) and microphone wreckers JinJin and Rocky. Their charisma shines on the inspiring “We Still,” plucky keyboards adding to the song’s uplifting grandeur. Ditto the giddy “SOMEBODY LIKE,” which sounds like something Ed Sheeran cooked up in an Itaewon pub. The mood darkens on the breakup acknowledgment “12 Hours,” but there’s little time to dwell. The rap line springs into action on “When You Call My Name,” riding a Coach N' Sendo beat that bridges the club and the fun house. Most notable is the sublime pop/hip-hop firecracker “Knock,” which sealed the group’s second music show win on the Korean singing competition program Show Champion. It’s the album’s leading indicator that the group’s fortunes are looking up.