Korean pop group BTS released its fifth full album, “Arirang,” on Friday, bringing 14 new tracks to millions of fans across the globe. The group, which made its debut in 2013, has over 400 songs to its name, and many are eagerly anticipating more music.
The album marks the group’s return from a nearly 4-year hiatus. Each of the seven members, rappers RM, SUGA and J-hope, and singers Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook left for an 18-month military service required in South Korea. All members completed their service by 2025, and they have been working on “Arirang” ever since. “Arirang,” named after a traditional Korean folk song, draws on the band’s previous hip-hop influences, adding in some electronic beats and including heavy, upbeat songs with more reflective ones. It explores the band’s identity moving into its new era. Six of the seven members have a composing credit on at least one song on the album, signifying the songwriting prowess of the group.
Track one, “Body to Body,” is an exciting song with a feel designed for live performances. It employs some autotune, creating a fun synthetic sound. The track was produced by Diplo, among others, who has a producing credit on a few of the songs on the album. It opens with RM saying, “I need the whole stadium to jump,” and the energetic drums may make listeners want to do just that.
Track two, “Hooligan,” is more experimental. With an instrumental mix of percussion, bass and synthesized orchestrals, the music is certainly wild and matches the song’s name. It illustrates the band members’ comfort level playing around with new sounds following the release of their vastly different solo works.
“Aliens,” the third song on the album, opens with rap lines from SUGA. It references the band’s unique identity within K-pop, discussing how they function as they want to, separate from typical rules and stereotypes.
Track four, “FYA,” opens with heavy breathing and a beat reminiscent of club classics. In addition to Diplo having a hand in producing this song, JPEGMafia has a composing credit. It would be no surprise to hear this standout track on a dance floor soon.
The next song, “2.0,” is aptly named in honor of BTS’ new era. This rap track has a laid-back beat and lyrics like, “Yeah, we on that brand new, you know how we do.” This leads into the interlude, “No. 29,” which opens with the gong of the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok, South Korea’s 29th national treasure.
“SWIM” feels like a mix of each member’s individual identity. It was released with an accompanying music video starring Lili Reinhart. The video has already amassed over 28 million views. “SWIM” blends pop and R&B influences and is the lead single on the album.
Track eight, “Merry Go Round,” generated buzz before the album’s release as it was announced that Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker was lending his songwriting and production to one song on the album. The Tame Impala psychedelic-rock influence is evident in this track. It deals with life’s repetitive cycles with lyrical sentiment, “I can't get off this merry-go-round.”
“NORMAL” follows “Merry Go Round,” and is the only explicit track on the album. This is a mellow, pop-rock track that explores each member’s definition of “normal” outside of their fame. It discusses the struggles of gaining worldwide attention, asking the audience to “make me bulletproof.”
“Like Animals” is an interesting rock track. With a slow, grunge feel, this darker song is about the desire to break free of the animalistic treatment musical stars are sometimes subjected to. It is definitely a new exploration of genre and is done well.
Track 11, “they don’t know ‘bout us,” is about people asking BTS what the formula to the band’s success is. The members have not been shy about bolstering their achievements in previous tracks like “MIC Drop” on “Love Yourself: Answer,” and this song is no exception. This song has an addictive, hypnotizing beat.
“One More Night” is another fun, synth-heavy track. If this song gets played live, it will surely get audiences off their feet. “Please,” the penultimate track, follows the relaxed musical themes of the second half of the album. It has almost lo-fi instrumentals, making for a comfortable listen.
The last track, “Into the Sun,” is a proper finale to the album. The singing vocals are treated with a vocoder, bringing more experimental sounds. Aside from the vocoder, this feels like a return to a more original BTS sound. The last minute picks up into an anthemic ending, with the members repeating the lyrics, “I’ll follow you into the sun.”
“Arirang” brings a fresh sound to BTS’ discography, and fans are excited to help usher in the band’s new sonic era.
