NCT’s Taeyong jumped right from military enlistment to the studio, or at least that’s how it feels based on the quick release of his new album today. Maybe he’d already been working on the project pre-enlistment. He’s already teased us with pre-releases Rock Solid and Storm, each showing different facets to his sound. Now, it’s time for the album’s title track WYLD.

Yet again, we have a different style from Taeyong. WYLD incorporates more singing than his usual fare, though the hook conforms to the charismatic sing-talk I’d expected. The overall mood is sexier and more atmospheric than quirkier work of the past, representing a small — but noticeable — growth in his presentation as an artist. It’s a welcome development, as is the robust instrumental underpinning the track. WYLD builds to an honest-to-goodness climax, which is rare to hear in the two-minute meme songs of the moment. Just when you think the track has exhausted its ideas, it clobbers you over the head during its final moments.

This sense of payoff goes a long way toward making WYLD feel like a satisfying comeback. I’d still prefer a more exciting hook than the monotone “la la la” we get, but at least this time the producers added bombast to the arrangement, making a rather flat sound sound big and widescreen. Taeyong’s star power deserves such an approach, and this combination makes for his strongest solo single yet.

Grade: B