South Korean powerhouse ATEEZ have finally returned with their brand new release, Spin Off: From the Witness. The record is led by the lead single “Halazia” and its accompanying music video. The release comes after weeks of the group dropping mysterious teasers surrounding their ongoing fictional lore.
Co-written by members Hongjoong and Mingi with producers Eden, Ollounder and Maddox, “Halazia” combines dubstep, drum and bass and electro-pop with dancehall and trap, jumping effortlessly between genres to change moods and highlight the vocals and rap verses. ATEEZ continue to push forth their message of freedom, hoping to break away from a system that attempts to erase who they are. The lyrics are almost a prayer to a higher power (Halazia) as they beg, “The truth hidden in fear/ Bloom beyond that/ Distinctly beyond there/ What have we been so silent for?/ Who are we in the darkness for?/ If one wish could be realized, would you grant me the light?/ For hot passion instead of cold despair/ I want to feel/ Be the light oh Halazia.”
The music video continues ATEEZ’s ongoing storyline of revolution– the eight members are underground anarchists, continuing the legacy of HALATEEZ: the leaders before them. This is signified by the presence of a scarecrow wearing HALATEEZ’s masked costume, the centre-point around which the rebellion gathers. According to fan theories and clues presented by the band themselves, HALATEEZ were heroes of a bygone era while a new incarnation of ATEEZ prepares to take over, an incarnation that might be known as HALAZIA. As the scarecrow burns and falls, the ‘new’ incarnation of ATEEZ stand before it, ready to make their move and spark a new legacy.
Other than the lead single “Halazia” and the outro “Blue Bird,” all the tracks on Spin Off: From The Witness are re-releases of ATEEZ’s older songs, remixed by various other artists. “Win,” initially featured on the group’s 2019 EP Treasure EP.Fin: All to Action, gets a remix from South Korean indie band Glen Check’s June One. “I’m The One” sees the group’s frequent collaborators Eden-ary take on the remix, while “Take Me Home (Idiotape Remix)” is a remix by Korean electronica group Idiotape– both latter tracks are from the group’s 2021 EP Zero: Fever Part 2.
Spin Off: From The Witness follow’s ATEEZ’s July release ninth EP, The World Ep.1: Movement. In addition to promoting the record, ATEEZ have also spent most of 2022 on the road for their ‘The Fellowship: Break The Wall Tour.’ The tour will commence its European leg in February 2023.
