I don’t always write about Stray Kids’ follow-up singles because they tend to release so many music videos for songs that otherwise go un-promoted. However, this is very slow period for K-pop due to the Paris Olympics pre-empting music shows, so I might as well make an exception for Mountains.
Mountains opens the group’s newest album and reignites sounds they haven’t touched in awhile. The song delivers an anthemic stomp, inviting listeners to clap along with thundering percussion and distorted production. This energy hearkens back to the rock-influenced energy of their debut but struggles to find an equally commanding hook. On first listen, the “mountains, mountains” chorus feels a little silly and slight, but I find it more enjoyable as the song goes on. A more melodic approach would better contrast the rap-heavy verses, but the delivery is confident enough to work and a strong post-chorus adds a welcome sense of heft.
More than anything, Mountains‘ immense instrumental carries the song. It’s a bit We Will Rock You mixed with Imagine Dragons, but not as annoying as that description suggests. Stray Kids excel when going big, and Mountains feels tailor made for stadium performances.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I like the instrumental a lot
8.75/10 for me
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The songcraft takes short cuts, which works on the surface, amkes it a low 8’s song. Look further, its a a pastiche. Wooah wooahs. Stomp stomps. All Hands Go Up! aaaaaaayYO! Rock guitar on loud and high reverb.
But what bothers me the most is wasting the mountain theme. Mountains can mean so much. Biblical, natural, feral, awesome, political, tragic. Here, mountains mountains mountains, like that will make it Mean Something. Yes, I looked up the lyrics including the verses, and the lyrics makes a topic that could be momentous sound like a video game.
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Mountains feels too repetitive for me after Megaverse, I find the same flavor in both of them. Off the album’s bsides, I prefer Jjam which is like a throwback to their older quirky EDM-based songs from 2021 and early 2022 which I enjoy a lot.
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I also appreciate JJAM and I like it the most in the album, its production in more compelling and intriguing than both Mountains and the title track. I think JJAM will be forgotten here forever because of its characteristics do not match the taste of the blog owner at all. It would be rated below 5 or 6 if they chose it as the title track 😄.
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omg I thought the same thing about imagine dragon! and your comparison to we will rock you is spot on!
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