The trail to aespa’s debut album has been chaotic, to say the least. Whispers about their first full-length have been circulating since 2021 – the yr after they debuted with ‘Black Mamba’ – however had been constantly silenced in favour of a sequence of up-and-down mini-albums as an alternative. Final yr, after they had been apparently set to place out an LP for actual, inside drama at SM Leisure noticed aespa’s album seemingly turn into collateral injury.
Ultimately, although, the time has lastly arrived for the lady group to share a extra fleshed-out assertion than their earlier releases have afforded them (though, with 2022’s ‘Ladies’ clocking in at 9 tracks, there’s solely a distinction of 1 tune). ‘Armageddon’ has excessive expectations to beat, each due to the time it’s taken to get right here and the standard aespa have proven they will obtain. Fortunately, for probably the most half, it doesn’t let the group down.
Throughout the album, the four-piece observe a story of as soon as being insecure and unsure in themselves, solely to blossom into unwavering new ranges of confidence. ‘Mine’ has the ladies reflecting on rising up with worry and feeling just like the “pretend portrait” that was their reflection in a “damaged mirror” was “going to swallow me up”. By the point the tune’s layers of bass-y cool have wrapped up, although, they’re standing tall. “Received’t bow my head anymore / No I received’t,” they vow.
‘Prologue’, a lilting, la-la-la-ing pop waltz, finds them getting much more snug with following their very own path. “I don’t want to check / My life with another person,” aespa inform us, sharing a beneficial lesson we may all study from in our social media-reliant age. ‘Stay My Life’, too, is stuffed with sturdy resolutions to do issues on their very own phrases. In spite of everything, every member is “the primary character in my life”.
‘Armageddon’ begins with a gaggle of supremely assured tracks that greater than scratch the itch for the experimental pop aespa achieve this properly. ‘Supernova’ feels each excessive trend and dirty and gritty on the identical time, because of its revving sound results and poised swathes of synths. The title observe continues that low-slung, high-attitude method, seamlessly weaving out of softer moments, whereas ‘Set The Tone’ could possibly be the group’s intro music for a giant battle, filled with boasts like, “We set the tone / Music on the place we go / Loopy beat drum”.
Elsewhere, the album dips into sonic territory that’s extra extensively accessible however a bit of extra hit-and-miss. ‘Bahama’ is a breezy and shiny summer season pop tune that particulars taking a buddy on a visit to the titular island. “Take me, take me / Take me on an / Ocean blue / Bahama, ba ba / Bahama, hama,” the group coo cheerfully over handclaps and sunkissed, glowing melodies, forming an immediately infectious new addition to your summer season playlist. ‘Licorice’ sits within the center floor between accessible and experimental, nonetheless packing within the power of aespa’s artistry however making it extra universally palatable.
Alternatively, although, there are some much less profitable tracks. ‘Stay My Life’’s stomping pop-punk affect and the poignant glitter of ‘Melody’ are enjoyable and candy respectively, however each really feel a bit of pedestrian in comparison with the remainder of the album. ‘Lengthy Chat (#♥)’, too, is a cute second on the document, diving into the all-night conversations of associates. It’s a disgrace, then, that it struggles to make an impression that lasts so long as these streams of messages.
During the last 4 years, aespa’s launch historical past has been a bit of checkered, with the group typically sharing a document that knocks your socks off after which, on the subsequent, shedding that high quality once more. Fortunately, a lot of ‘Armageddon’ falls into the previous camp and reinforces what we already knew – that when aespa are allowed to run free within the sounds and sonics they’ve made their trademark, they’re nothing wanting beautiful.
Particulars
- Launch date: Could 27, 2024
- Report label: SM Leisure
