The South Korean boy band's 13th EP,
The X
celebrates
Monsta X
's ten years on the K-pop scene. Released following a multi-year stretch when
Minhyuk
,
Shownu
Joohoney
Kihyun
, and
Hyungwon
completed their mandatory military service, the six-song set is a hard-hitting, satisfying comeback. Lead single "Do What I Want" is a top-shelf K-pop banger, aggressive in its delivery, pounding beat, and hypnotic chorus. "N the Front" amplifies the energy with a gang chorus and swelling production.
has a standout moment on the menacing rap showcase "Savior," while the old-school "Tuscan Leather" merges nostalgic '90s rap and R&B smoothness with an explosive chorus fit for a Y2K boy band. "Catch Me Now" swaggers with finger snaps, a dramatic build, and a thick bassline groove, while the shimmering "Fire & Ice" transforms from a tender pop anthem into a stadium-sized showstopper, heralding horn backing and all. While more songs like this would have been welcome, keeping it to a half-dozen leaves listeners craving for more, making
an immediate, energized must-hear. ~ Neil Z. Yeung