Stray Kids’ new mixtape may not be led by any official title track, but its four unit tracks will be promoted with music videos. First up is Changbin and I.N’s Burnin’ Tires, a rock-rap hybrid that borrows elements from the group’s early days while upping the intensity.

Being a pre-debut fan, I have a soft spot for Stray Kids’ rock-driven tracks. District 9 is still one of the strongest debuts in recent years, and that’s largely due to its exhilarating chorus. Choruses have become increasingly tricky as Stray Kids’ career has morphed into what it is now, and that change remains evident in Burnin’ Tires. The song’s greatest asset is its unflagging energy. Like a chase scene in an action movie, the track barrels forward with quick percussion, electric guitar and even a few sound effects for good measure. The instrumental has a gritty 90’s feel as the beat shuffles with an off-kilter rhythm that feels like trip-hop on speed.

However, this bombast is in service to a so-so series of hooks. The rapped verses are fun, but the chorus could do with a second refrain to really spread its wings. Heavy-handed effects smother the vocals under layers, reducing the sharpness needed to cut through all the noise. This aesthetic approach might have worked better in smaller pieces. As it stands, the performance threatens to get lost in the chaos of the production.

Grade: B-