BTS showcases growth and artistry on ‘Arirang’ after hiatus
- Konekonek Team
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
No comeback has sounded better.
It’s been over a week since the greatest comeback of all time: BTS returning after an almost four‑year forced hiatus. Fresh off their discharge from mandatory military service, RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook immediately dove into crafting what we now know as “Arirang,” their most ambitious album to date.
To no one’s surprise, BTS once again delivers their best and somehow does even better, pushing the limits of their clever lyricism, musical creativity, and vocal technique while remaining rooted in who they are, where they come from, and what they’ve lived. The result is a sonically coherent 14-track undertaking that fuses rap, hip‑hop, trap, pop, EDM, rock, traditional Korean music, R&B, country, and more into a sound unmistakably theirs.
On Arirang, the rappers sing and the vocalists rap, blurring lines and showcasing the best of both their Korean and Western influences. It’s a fresh, masterful demonstration of each member’s vocal technique, their familiar voices placed in striking new contexts. The album serves as an homage to their roots, a love letter to fans, and a recognition of their achievements all at once. They’re unafraid to be mature, unafraid to be sexy, unafraid to drop expletives — apt choices for seasoned artists with over a decade of success behind them.
All seven members appear on all 14 tracks — a deliberate decision, given that previous albums have included solos or subunit songs. They’ve acknowledged how challenging it is to feature all seven members seamlessly (and to have done so for 13 years!), yet they continue doing what they do best: meshing their contrasting colors into tracks that elevate each individual voice. For this project heralding their Chapter 2, BTS enlists a mix of in‑house and external collaborators from around the globe, from longtime BTS producers Pdogg and GHSTLOOP to international names including Diplo, Ryan Tedder, and Mike WiLL Made-It.
In earlier interviews, the group said they lived together dorm‑style in the US, creating the album in a songwriting‑camp environment with the other producers. They’ve also said this is the most BTS‑like album they’ve ever made, and it couldn’t be any truer. They’ve even warned listeners that the songs are so good their favorites will keep changing, which we can confirm is absolutely the case.
Track by track
“Body to Body” opens the album as an intense, beat‑forward dance track rooted in rap and hip‑hop, an introduction to the essence of BTS: artists who honor their origins while evolving across genres. The Arirang sample is outstanding work, and yes, we’re still hoping for a choreography that hits just as hard.
“Hooligan” is a fun rap‑ and vocal‑heavy song packed with clever lyrics that will stick with ARMY — and anyone else — for ages. The “hahahahahahahahaha” part sounds playful but is deceptively challenging to sing along to.
“Aliens” is a heavy‑hitting (and at times, diss) track showcasing striking vocal choices, especially from Jung Kook and Jimin. With mentions of Korean independence leader Kim Gu, specific Korean traits, and the “hut dool” chants toward the end, it feels like a modern, electrified take on a traditional sound.
“FYA” is inspired during the songwriting camp by producers constantly saying “that’s fire.” The track surely lives up to its name: coming in hot, hard, and begging for a fire choreography.
“2.0,” about BTS’s second chapter, is a track dominated by a strong hook and choreography that will surely be unfollowable by roughly 90% of the world’s population.
“No. 29” is a recording of the gong sound and the over 1-minute reverberation (yes) coming from the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok or the Emille Bell, Korea’s 29th national treasure. To us, it evokes the image of a ship signaling its arrival — fitting for the album’s theme. It also acts as an interstitial, setting the tone for the album’s mellower second half.
“Swim,” the lead single, is laidback yet impressive, weaving together an intriguing mix of genres while spotlighting the members’ strengths. The track feels like sailing on waters, both peaceful and chaotic at times but the waves offer a calming reassurance.
“Merry Go Round” is perhaps the album’s most melancholic track. Despite its carousel‑bright title, the mood is heavy and introspective, with the members exploring striking vocal techniques. A masterpiece.
“Normal” showcases BTS’s power — and use of expletives (!) — as they get unapologetic about what normal means for them.
“Like Animals” is trippy, moody, and heavy, its rock‑laced guitars underscoring a performance that mesmerizes with the members’ exquisite vocals.
“they don’t know ’bout us” opens with what sounds like a 1930s music sample (though we can’t be too sure). It quickly pulls listeners in with heavy, sick beats, while Jimin surprises with his rich lower‑register.
“One More Night” is a breath of fresh air after several heavy tracks. RM stuns with his ethereal vocals, reminiscent of his solo song “Hectic.” With its EDM pulse, it feels like a perfect driving song: Gen Z- and radio‑friendly, right at home in a bar setting.
“Please” is another excellent driving track featuring a seamless blend of Korean and English with easy melodies and R&B. To our ears there are hints of “SDL” by Agust D (Suga), showing how their solo experiences inform the group’s sound.
“Into the Sun” experiments with autotune and harmonies while still spotlighting each member’s strengths. There’s an almost country‑tinged acoustic guitar, live‑band‑in‑a‑bar vibe, a fitting, warm close to the album.
Fresh from their live comeback show on Netflix, BTS is now making the rounds on TV shows, podcasts, interviews, and more to promote Arirang. The group is also gearing up for their BTS World Tour Arirang, beginning April 9 in Goyang, South Korea. We can’t wait to see more live performances of these new songs and, of course, their timeless hits.
It’s always a great time to be an ARMY.
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜/5
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