Review

Song Review: ATEEZ – Adrenaline

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After a few years of (musically) diminished returns, ATEEZ climbed back on my radar in 2025 by attempting new sounds that injected a sense of freshness to their formula. Both of last year’s Korean title tracks and their Japanese single made it onto my year-end countdowns, re-igniting my curiosity for where they might take their music next. New track Adrenaline boasts a promising title, but does it fuel actual adrenaline or is this a case of false advertising?

The answer is — frustratingly — a mix of both. As the song opens, its brisk verse seems to promise a call to the dancefloor. The pre-chorus offers a palpable sense of build as the scope grows bigger and bigger. But then, Adrenaline fumbles as its arrangement collapses into a dull, thumping chorus that lacks an exciting or creative hook. For a song seeming to promise a shot of exhilaration, the end result is surprisingly leaden and not very fun. Adrenaline could easily succeed with an instrumental chorus, but the production here is beyond dull, as if the composers took a plug-and-play loop and copy/pasted without adding any personality of their own.

To make matters worse, the vocals on Adrenaline simply sound unpleasant. We all know ATEEZ can sing and shout in compelling ways, but their voices are slathered in so many effects here that the tones come across as needlessly dark and combative. I get that being yelled at pumps up a certain type of listener, but there’s a fine line between wild abandon and irritation. Without the kind of grand melodies that used to fuel their music, this feels like pomp and bluster for pomp and bluster’s sake. It’s all so… empty. We’re being commanded to party but the music itself thwarts that urge at every turn.

Hooks 6
 Production 7
 Longevity 7
 Bias 7
 RATING 6.75

Grade: D+

53 thoughts on “Song Review: ATEEZ – Adrenaline”

  1. Well, this is okay, it tried. Maybe it’s just me but sometimes the way they sing in this overly deep, affected tone sometimes grinds my gears as well (especially when lathered in Eden’s beloved vocal effects). The beat drop is also flimsy and doesn’t do much, and without a compelling hook (or any hook for the matter), its weakness shows even more. Sigh, I thought we were on a high given their strong 2025 singles run. xikers’ Superpower was a much better effort at this dancefloor style than this.

    7.25 (6, 8, 8, 7) for me.

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    • Considering it’s holiday season in Korea so at least a good chunk of the industry will be in hibernation, Cortis threatens to release a song next week, and based on the comeback schedule this month, nothing seems too promising, I fear this month’s doomed too, might as well throw in our beloved Iiterniti girls and seal this year’s fate. (On a serious note, can we have someone like Fairy Mai make a surprise comeback and save us??)

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        • Ehh, at least Eternity somewhat improved from I’m Real, they just churn out generic, pleasant slops now, but here, it looks like CORTIS’ sincere with releasing bullshit after bullshit. Lay would make a better comparison (especially since he’s had a…n interesting track record in this blog)

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  6. yeah this is a weird one, I kept waiting for one of the beat drops to make me wanna shake my ass and fill me with ACTUAL adrenaline like all the best EDM drop kpop songs can do with ease, but it never happened here. The BPM is so bizarrely slow and sludgy for a song that’s trying to hype you up this hard. I don’t mind the vocals much if they came along with production that legitimately turns a track into a headbanging mosh pit anthem, then they can scream all they want, but…this didn’t even try.

    It kinda reminds me of Seventeen’s attempt last year at a club banger that also failed to make me feel anything like being in a club. Pretty weird how EDM and kpop used to be almost inseparable at one point, and now we’ve come to a point where producers can’t figure out how to make a song that fulfills the “dance” part of that acronym lol

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    • This one is much better than Thunder. Back then, I didn’t understand the hype for that single, but I do have a friend who’s a hardcore Carat and she keeps bragging every Seventeen’s song is a timeless masterpiece (smh).

      TBH, I’m more of an Atiny and will still defend Adrenaline no matter how all of you bash about it.

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      • I mean, shouldn’t you be willing to admit some of their songs aren’t the greatest though? It diminishes their work when everything is treated as the greatest thing ever released. As a huge fan of Monsta X there are title songs of theirs that leave a lot to be desired, and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that. 

        As for this song, it’s fine. The verses keep it near the middle of the pack in terms of their title tracks for me. I give this a 7.5, but I don’t think I’ll be adding this to my playlist any time soon. It doesn’t mean people are bashing when they don’t like it either, and that’s really not a fun or productive way to view criticism, some of which is constructive, about a group’s music.

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      • man its ok

        your friend just have different taste

        as long as ppl don’t say things with intention of hating ( and act like their their opinion is universal)

        it’s fine.

        I loveeeee adrenaline personally

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  7. Nah this is actually such a banger, I actually love it. A bridge, an actual bridge in 2026 and a full 3:39 mins long with interesting switchups. Way more melodic than I thought this track would be. It definitely gets me hyped! I think this will go crazy live in a festival. It has that raw ateez energy. I mean, is it my favourite title track from them? No, that would always be Answer and Halazia. And I still prefer Ash, but as far as Golden Hour title tracks go, this is the best one for me by a mile.

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    • See I can also see it doing really well at a festival because of the energy they bring, and maybe that’s why the mv feels a little lackluster for me in comparison!

      I also always find it so interesting how different peoples tastes are, cause I like ‘Work’ and ‘Lemon Drop’ so much more than this one. I’m hoping some live performances will help this grow on me.

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      • They already have some live performances of it on YouTube. You will also find them singing the new song NASA, which is pretty amazing.

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        • Well I was right and the live performances have definitely bumped it up for me!

          NASA was pretty good, but I think Ghost or On the Road might be my favorite; they’re pretty neck and neck right now so it’s hard to choose.

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  8. I thought they had learned 🙄 why do k-pop groups insist on de-generating? It’s like they hate releasing consistently good music. It’s such a culture of yo-yoing.

    Anyways, Nick, are you expecting anything with the new LSM bg and the possibility of YYJ producing?

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  9. There are some good parts. And there aren’t many bad parts, just bad choices.

    This sounds to me at times like alt-Miroh without the mojo. Without the soundscaping of the quiet parts and the full out drop. This song is just that middle part of the Miroh prechorus the oh oh ooh-wha-oh but fast and slow no loud and soft. Just the angsty lyrics and none of the woe lyrics. For example, the “I can feel it go” real low bass parts that start the prechorus should be a menacing whisper, they should be so soft and creepy that you have to lean in, the eyes and body closing in like a snake coiled ready to strike. To everyone’s point about the vocals, they just do what they usually do, sing how they usually do. They really should have done a switch parts go get drunk late night, then have an aha moment how to sing outside of their usual.

    And more than that – the equalizing is too cranked up so the volume is all 9 to 10. The chorus should hit like a wall of sound, the kind you feel in your chest, except we are already at that wall of sound.

    The lyrics are mostly vapid pastiche. Meh.

    I’d give it mid-7’s. It could have been higher. It will probably sound awesome in the year-end music festivals in a remix.

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      • Well, many are. The regulars here have often mentioned how have kpop in Korean is far superior because we aren’t distracted by the lyrics. The lyrics we hear in English plain as day and they are often trite.

        But there are some mighty fine lyrics in Korean songs. One of my favorites is “Around Thirty” which just about every kpop vocalist sings right around the age of thirty. “Another day is fading, Like the puff of smoke from a cigarette”

        I have an “English lyrics in kpop” ranking scale which gets pulled out from time to time. Here it is again, in order of best to worst. I would rank these “Oh so bland”.

        Intelligible English good lyrics that rhyme
        Intelligible English good lyrics
        Unintelligible English of any quality lyrics
        A single lyric line that is so craptastic it is great
        Mispronounced but decent lyrics
        Cringey but campy lyrics
        Oh so bland lyrics
        Really, What does that mean lyrics
        A single word said over over like that will make it mean something
        Well-pronounced lousy lyrics

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  11. I liked Xiker’s Superpower but weirdly, I can’t say the same about this. I don’t know, it’s probably a me thing

    I’ll give it a 7(6,8,7,7)

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  12. What an interesting choice for the chorus 🤔 the verses , pre chorus and bridge ate . It feels like the chorus does not live up to the same energy, vibe and quality. The last does the job but it just lacks the kick to end with a bang . Also the last chorus ,while watching the mv, reminds me of Super by SEVENTEEN . My mind was already inserting Super’s hook into Adrenaline’s chorus 😭

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  13. I agree with the person who said that this is more bad choices than the song just being a disaster. I kinda bopped to this. I will also give that this is a) dated 2) too demanding and c) not giving enough.

    This reads like a dance/performance song but minus one bit of (I think Yunho) breakdancing, even their choreography is on the tamer side for this (although this isn’t the worst thing, I mean they were going hard years ago, always for easing up when need be).

    It’s meant to be an EDM banger, but they’ve released those before with much more character and variety. They have everyone sing at this deep register in the chorus that wipes out any distinguishing features of their voices. There isn’t much in the final drop that distinguishes it from the previous 2, and the drop as is is underwhelming for the buildup around it*. Is this a result of changing producers who can’t really match what they had or a product of the group reaching a level of fame where production can phone it in because they know fans will unquestionably eat it up aways? Given the AI in this MV, I’m feeling both :/

    6.75 (6, 7, 8, 6). Again, this is what turning to dystopic greys does to people.

    *you know what it is? this drop made me think of the first drop in SHINee’s Lucifer, and you know how that was then built into a fuller beat later on? yeah, that’s why the drops feel underwhelming to me.

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  15. The first verse and the pre chorus were good enough and got up my expectations only to receive that nowhere near adrenaline generating chorus. I am okay with those grating vocals though, if it fits anywhere, it is in this kind of songs.

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  16. I’m with Myma that this sounds like old Stray Kids (which is weird because apparently I thought that Ceremony sounded like old Ateez). The chorus is especially perplexing because rather than giving us a rush of adrenaline it’s being measured out in dribs and drabs. And where’s the crazy energy at the end? (I think the last song that had that was Bouncy.) This just feels like a wasted opportunity.

    Also, Cravity’s Adrenaline is still the best Adrenaline to me.

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  17. I’ve yet to meet an Ateez comeback I really dislike, except Fireworks. Wasn’t very fond of that. This works just fine for me. It gets my adrenaline going and makes me want to dance or pull off a heist.

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  18. I don’t think it’s in the 6s, but it reminds me a lot of Seventeens’ “Super” , which honestly I didn’t love. I appreciated it for what it was, and I guess I can say the same thing for this one. Do I dislike it? No…Will I listen to it? Also No. It’s just not my thing. It is certainly Ateez’ version of whatever this genre is, in the sense that they sound like Ateez and I always respect that about them. I’ll say 7.5

    PS: Xikers “Superpower” was definitely a superior song, no doubt in my mind about it.

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  19. I actually enjoyed the song because it’s at a great length and very energetic. My only complaint is that it deserved a better chorus.

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  21. Watched the performance on Music Bank. It was alright, I’m just happy that there’s a bridge and final chorus. I’m seeing Ateez next month so assuming they play this song I’ll probably be dancing, but I’d rather wait for that to happen than listen to it again.

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    • also abt the song, I dont really care much abt boy groups compared to girl groups (there are some standouts from some bgs though), and it doesn’t help that this song is pretty bad anyways

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  24. not my fav album but I love adrenaline overall

    I don’t directly equate empty chorus with “bad song”

    I think songs can have empty chorus too, that’s just a type of song

    and I think they song over all is good… It have 7.5/10 for me only cuz they have better songs IMO !!

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  25. Given the fact that the trilogy Bouncy/Crazy Form/Work has been the major momentum in ATEEZ discography so far, to me it’s quite clear they’re pushing the Lemon Drop/In Your Fantasy experiments back since they have not worked any well and have definitely made their hype and progression drop.

    To me Adrenaline is not that bad: it’s a pretty nice EDM anthem with a sort of epic buildup and a not-so-annoying synth with a cheesy hook. I don’t like the filtered vocals because ATEEZ are one of the very few boy groups with good to great singers and they would deserve something better than this, but to me it’s at least a 8.

    Honorable mention for On The Road, which is once again the usual futurepop ATEEZ b-side which is always (much) better than the title track.

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  26. I’ve been with this a bit now, in heavy rotation, and it only gets better. If I were to complain about anything it might be the bridge – it feels a little dull – but not the prechorus and chorus. Those slap. EDM joy. I’ve feasted on multiple live stages now. It’s such a hype song and I can imagine how exciting it would be to see it at a concert if I’m ever lucky enough to attend one. I find it difficult to imagine NOT being pumped up by this. Also, hearing Yeosang’s unique voice at center is a treat. They made good use of it.

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