It’s time for another album review – this time Kpopalypse is taking a look at “Arirang” by international k-pop sensation BTS!
BTS are all the rage right now with the release of their tenth album “Arirang”, or so their fandom would have you believe. But is it actually any good? Let’s take a look.
BTS – Arirang
BTS really stepped up their game with the album art for their new release, featuring a wolf clutching some scales of judgement while the Snake Twins howl in the background. It’s awfully charitable for those BTS boys to throw Hwayoung and Hyoyoung some work, I hope they’re doing well. Oh and sorry about being repetitious and reviewing two BTS albums in a row, but I just love BTS so much what can I say 
1. Body To Body
I’m going to use live clips where I can instead of studio audio for the songs with no actual music video, partly to give you something to look at and also just because BTS are so great live, so let’s appreciate them. If you’re ever in Australia and you’re at a live show and the audio engineer uses this particular song to soundcheck the PA, then that’s probably me doing it – it’s a great track to test subwoofer levels. Definitely a killer album opener.
2. Hooligan
The bass-heavy intro/outro is here mainly to introduce BTS’s new bass player to the world, this was the first track with him on it, and he’s rather cute actually but the intro/outro isn’t really a needed part of the song and just wastes time. The song took a little while for me to warm up to it but after a few listens it’s one of my favourite tracks, as good as the opening song if not better.
3. Aliens
Somehow an even better track than the first two, “Aliens” stands out partially for its incredibly high-flying vocal (Ejae “oh we can’t sing ‘Golden’ it was made for a cartoon character” bitch listen to this – are you even trying) and partially because the lyrics are just nuts so I included a lyric video here for your enjoyment. A lot of the meaning is semi-lost in translation but it basically seems to be saying “if you don’t want to go to war you’re a pussy boy” which is big words from a group that left it until the last minute to do their military service so they would be guaranteed desk jobs. A banger of a song regardless, guess I’ll just have to “separate the art from the artist” or whatever bullshit, hey.
4. FYA
Actually a relatively mid track, but of course mid by BTS standards is pretty good by everyone else’s standards, amirite. I think it’s the chorus hook of this song that I find just a little annoying on repeat listens, and that bendy guitar riff that drives the thing also isn’t exactly their best and gets a bit grating given how much it’s repeated. I still skip this track when it comes on in my car though.
5. 2.0
Another song that I wasn’t hugely impressed by when I first listened to the album, but I certainly warmed up to it. This is as close that BTS get to something that’s devoid of their usual neoclassical metal influences and more of a blues-based metal song, like a more revved up and melodic version of Motorhead. Oh and they do the instrument-swap thing in the video how cute.
6. No 29
Sadly there’s no real video for this, you’d think that a supergroup like BTS could afford to splash out on more videos but I guess times are tough and we all have to tighten our belts in this economy. Anyway here we’re back to what BTS do best, it’s not the best song on the album but it holds up decently.
7. SWIM
The big title track of “Arirang” I think is actually the worst track on it, I don’t think that this more mid-paced metal is really BTS’s strength. Also the chorus hook here gets even more annoying than the one in “Wicked Witch” sorry I mean “FYA”. This song is definitely a skip for me when listening to the album, although it would probably significantly lift the quality of anyone else’s album, but that’s my BTS boys, right?
8. Merry Go Round
A great track, this version comes with a little classical piano intro that isn’t on the album, but I’d just thought I should show you anyway because there’s not enough appreciation of BTS’s talents out there. There’s also some nice piano midway through the solo break and it’s good to see that BTS are keeping up their tradition of extended guitar solos.
9. NORMAL
The heaviest track on the album because it dumps the neo-classical influences in favour of more angular riffs that are approaching Slayer/Megadeth territory. They pull it off fine because unlike some other metal bands (Dragonforce ahem) BTS are actually good enough to play their own songs live without ballsing them up. It’s also a relatively short song clocking in at just under five minutes but that’s still a lot more than what most k-pop groups give you these days amirite
10. Like Animals
The album’s final track, and yes despite what you heard “Arirang” has only ten tracks, I guess the album teasers lied. Definitely a track that plays to BTS’s strength especially with the thunderous chorus. An excellent song, and a great way to end the album.
REPACKAGE – Limited Edition A and B DVD or Blu-ray
Of course it’s not a k-pop album without a repackage, and “Arirang” comes with an extended bonus video version containing these extras:
A documentary where they audition their new member. Line-up changes can be tough for k-pop groups, and this documentary gives you a good look at the tough k-pop audition process behind the scenes. The video I’ve shared here is a “highlights” version, the full documentary on the album is 35 minutes long.
You get this old classic song of theirs, I can’t remember which one this is. “DNA”? “Blood Sweat & Tears”? Who knows. It’s decent. I don’t know if this video is the same one as on the DVD because I didn’t buy it, I know, I’m a bad fan, spank me baby.
Here’s a song with one of those “for the fans” videos, don’t you just hate those? But hey it’s BTS and we’re all fans so we’ll cope. Song is again really good. Note this video has their previous bass player in it but I’ve been trying not to feature them in this post much because how dare they leave BTS and let my boys down.
Another good older song. Great playing here. Such talent. I just love watching those BTS boys do their thing.
And this is the final one. At 3:58 this song has one of those beat drop-outs that are so popular in k-pop now. I guess I won’t hate BTS for following trends, gotta make those bucks I guess. It’s okay because it’s my bias.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love BTS uwu
That’s it for this post! Kpopalypse will return!
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