It has been half a year since we last heard from MONSTA X. They released their third English-language album, Unfold, earlier this year, and it was a nice listen. Their last comeback that I covered on the blog was their The X and N the Front era, which was released around the same time last year. Today, the group returns (sans I.M, who is currently enlisted in the military) with their 14th mini-album, The Phase, and the title track MAGIC.

What will probably have me coming back to MAGIC more and more is its chorus. I really like its soaring, rock nature and how it contrasts sharply with the plain, dull opening verse. The opening verses and pretty much the other vocal parts of MAGIC, sans the chorus, felt unnecessarily brief and just didn’t have enough substance. I am left unsure what to focus on with what we do get, and end up wanting so much more from these parts. The lack of build and development to get the most out of MAGIC‘s engaging chorus is also quite confusing. But in addition to MAGIC‘s centrepiece, JOOHONEY’s rap in the second verse had a good rhythm and was another standout part of the song. The harmonies at the end were also a neat way to wrap up the song. The rest of MAGIC is just lacking and is miles away from the better parts of the song.

MAGIC compares the intense moment of being drawn to each other to magic, portraying uncontrollable emotions and a fateful encounter (from Sportal Korea). The music video portrays this through the people around MONSTA X. While it looks like they become uncontrollable and enter a trance because of the group, I have a theory that someone else is the cause of the change in behaviour. At one point, you see the people around the group pass MONSTA X and continue towards someone else. If the group was the centre of attention, the people would have stopped/stayed behind the members or surrounded them. This theory would explain why MONSTA X is looking in that direction. This whole concept looked really cool and became even more epic towards the end, when the music video is set on the overpass.

The performance looked good. The mix of smoothness and matching up with the beats created a nice mix during the verses, while I really like the ‘coming at you’ motif against the soaring chorus. It just felt right and expected for the chorus. Those thrusts for the final chorus were unexpected, though I am sure fans are enjoying it.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10