I have tried a slightly different format than my usual album review posts. Let me know if you like it.
In June 2025, ONEUS made their comeback with their 11th mini-album, 5x, led by the title track X. One year and 5 months later, I am finally getting around to reviewing it. In case you are wondering what the title of the mini-album is about, ONEUS has explained that the ‘5’ in the album’s name represents the five-member lineup of ONEUS (SEOHO, LEEDO, KEONHEE, HWANWOONG, and XION), while the ‘x’ serves as the multiplication sign, representing the group’s infinite potential.
Interestingly, while the mini-album focuses on ONEUS as a 5-member group, SEOHO isn’t featured on the title track or any promotional material for this comeback due to his military enlistment. But SEOHO does appear on the mini-album through the side tracks (sans the final track, which was also released after he enlisted in the military).
Overall thoughts
I found this mini-album to be a great release from ONEUS. There is no bad song on the album, though I do have my personal favourites – continue reading to find out which songs those were. But other than that, I definitely recommend you check it out.
1. X (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of X. (8.5/10)
2. LOVE ME or LOSER – Next up is LOVE ME or LOSER, a dreamy synth pop track. It also feels well-suited for a club environment, especially when the beat comes in and during the EDM twist toward the end. The vocals and rapping throughout LOVE ME or LOSER were compelling, and the melodies were airy or punchy when they needed to be. Together, everything makes LOVE ME or LOSER feel breezy and refreshing. (10/10)
3. RELOAD – We remain in the dreamy synth pop realm with RELOAD. The main differences between this song and the previous one are the thumping bass, the dreamy melodies (especially in the choruses), and the raspier vocals. RELOAD was good, but it wasn’t my personal favourite from the album. (8/10)
4. BAD – BAD is another strong song from ONEUS. It has more dreaminess, but this time the vector is retro pop. I really enjoyed the vocals for this one, with BAD giving us some fantastic melodies and hooks to enjoy alongside the members’ vocals. I highly recommend this one – every time BAD comes on, I get so lost in it; I will always try to repeat it as many times as I can before I need to move on. (10/10)
5. TIME MACHINE (Korean Version) – For those who may have missed it, ONEUS released the Japanese version of TIME MACHINE a couple of months before 5x. This mini album features the Korean version of the song, but both versions are good. The retro pop comes through stronger in TIME MACHINE, but it has a more mid-tempo feel. The instrumental feels well suited for summer, and the melodies are very smooth. TIME MACHINE doesn’t have much impact, but it is still a pleasant listen. (8/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10
Other ONEUS releases
Previous release: Dear.M (1st Special Album), led by IKUK (at the time, a newly arranged version of their Road to Kingdom: Ace to Ace track, I KNOW YOU KNOW).
Future release: 原 (2nd Single Album), featuring the title track of the same name.
