NCT 127 Bring The Necessary Noise To K-Pop, Show Expanding Musical Identity On ‘Neo-Zone’ Album

As the K-pop scene grows increasingly more competitive on the global-pop platform, it’s become all the more important to build a strong artistic identity to make their mark. NCT 127 has been doing that with a lengthy amount of time spent in the States to promote their edgier, harder, often-times left-of-center brand of the K-pop. With their eye towards the U.S. nearly since their 2016 debut, the Seoul-based boy band’s latest project Neo Zone feels like the album to truly mark their arrival as a K-pop leader.

At the center of Neo Zone is new single “Kick It” that highlights all that make NCT 127 such a thrilling act while motioning to where things can move in the future. A metal guitar–laced riff and hip-hop chant open the track to give what, at first, sounds like the band’s most hardcore cut to date before it tempers out with a shimmering piano line and fluttery vocals. While the noise-pop elements of “Kick It” are undoubtedly the most impactful, both this and the flickers of R&B set the stage for the Neo Zone album at large.

“Kick It” is followed by a trio of slinky, vocal-focused R&B-pop cuts via the half-dreamy and half-beat-driven “Boom,” straight-forward and sophisticated “Pandora’s Box,” and closes off with a stunning, staccato-driven neo-soul dive in “Day Dream.” At first listen through of Neo Zone, the tracks could feel a little out of place following such a statement single like “Kick It.” But if considered an extension of the softer moments of “Kick It,” rather than separate entities entirely, they make sense in the larger musical picture NCT 127 is painting in their Neo Zone.

The straight-up hip-hop moments of the album come in the aggressively declarative “Sit Down!” (where the members refused to be tied down to any standards and Johnny has a scene-stealing moment telling the listener, “Don’t put your hand up and don’t make me tell you again”) while “Mad Dog” also includes some metal moments before its brassy breakdown. These tracks feel quintessential NCT 127 and, no doubt, a refreshing return back to the group’s core sound after a more pop departure in 2019’s Superhuman EP.

Once the listener reaches the last songs of the LP—don’t miss the lush house cut “Love Me Right,” tender trap-pop of “Not Alone,” as well as “Dreams Come True” with its updated vibe of ‘90s-R&B romance—the tracks all feel like realized culminations of the different areas explored in the Neo Zone to end the album with a satisfying conclusion.

While the harder cuts still feel the most NCT 127 (e.g. “Cherry Bomb,” “Simon Says”), a thorough listen through the record shows NCT 127 looking to bridge multiple musical sides. With smart tactics to help more of the music reach fans (including a rollout of new music-video snippets of the tracks and streaming parties hosted by the band members themselves), NCT 127 is doing diligent work and expand their artistic identity even if they aren’t completely synonymous with being masters of the multi-genre just yet. Still, if Neo Zone is any indication, it shouldn’t be long before the group accomplishes their main target to represent the wide range of different musical influences within, around and inspiring Seoul’s creative core.

Once the listener reaches the last songs of the LP—don’t miss the lush house cut “Love Me Right,” tender trap-pop of “Not Alone,” as well as “Dreams Come True” with its updated vibe of ‘90s-R&B romance—the tracks all feel like realized culminations of the different areas explored in the Neo Zone to end the album with a satisfying conclusion.

While the harder cuts still feel the most NCT 127 (e.g. “Cherry Bomb,” “Simon Says”), a thorough listen through the record shows NCT 127 looking to bridge multiple musical sides. With smart tactics to help more of the music reach fans (including a rollout of new music-video snippets of the tracks and streaming parties hosted by the band members themselves), NCT 127 is doing diligent work and expand their artistic identity even if they aren’t completely synonymous with being masters of the multi-genre just yet. Still, if Neo Zone is any indication, it shouldn’t be long before the group accomplishes their main target to represent the wide range of different musical influences within, around and inspiring Seoul’s creative core.