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| Photo courtesy of KQ Entertainment |
Fresh from their sweet and summery title track Lemon Drop, the boys of ATEEZ have returned back to their darker, more seductive side with the repackage of their 12th EP, GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition.’ This expanded version features a total of 15 tracks, including a brand-new English title track, In Your Fantasy. Additionally, it has eight solo songs from each member, all of whom took part in writing lyrics for their songs.
The beauty of any ATEEZ release is just when you think you might know what direction they’ll go in artistically, they do a 180 and try something different. The group continues that on this repackage, the first five tracks were originally released back in June of their GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3, which went on to earn them their first placement on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 69 with Lemon Drop and their fifth Billboard No. 1 Top Album Sales with GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3. They reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts, marking their seventh Top 10 album.
Captain HONGJOONG once again has sprinkled in some lyrical genius woven with a strong confidence reflective of just how far the boys have come. He, as usual, played a creative role, going on to compose six of the solo tracks, while rapper MINGI wrote his own solo track. With this release, ATEEZ expands their discography with multiple new challenges on this repackage EP, with the addition of the all-English track In Your Fantasy that speaks temptation into a confrontation of the self.
That journey of self-confrontation begins with the title track, which is a far cry from Lemon Drop. What arrives is a seductive, dark sound that feels distinctly ATEEZ. In fact, they may have out-ATEEZ’d themselves this time, especially with the bold, simmering, playful lyrics like “Yeah, I could be gentle (Gentle)/But that ain't what you like (What you like)/Lips you're biting, it's inviting.” All while set against a beat that would give Justin Timberlakes Sexyback a run for its money. As the group have navigated their time in the spotlight, they’ve matured and have become more unafraid to embrace and lean into their sexuality.
Going on to blur the lines of gender and choosing to present themselves for who they are. That isn’t limited to just the music but also in every visual, from concept photos to music videos. In a landscape where K-pop sometimes feels a little too safe with lyrics and sound, ATEEZ are happy to continue pushing the boundary, particularly through their songwriting. Their title tracks are a speciality of theirs, consistently delivering in vocal and production.
GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition’ gives the rest of the album room to shine, with each member's solo tracks. It’s also a little reminder of exactly why this group has gone on to gain such a massive global following. As mentioned, their approach to genre-blending is a great way to keep the listener on their toes, as they never quite know what’s coming next. Rather than confine themself to one specific sound, they go with whatever musical direction they choose, experimenting with confidence. The result is an album that is polished, effortlessly cool, and oozes that charisma that keeps people tuned in, waiting to see what they do next.
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| Photo courtesy of KQ Entertainment |
Kicking off the solo tracks is leader HONGJOONG with NO1, a song that ATINY will connect with thanks to its intro, which is a nod to an inside joke from their last world tour. With the opening line “(O-M-G, I'm taller than him),” a reference to a moment during a send-off where a fan playfully commented on his height. HONGJOONG, as always quick-witted, spun around and cheekily replied, “How was the show?” which is now sampled at the start of the track. A light-hearted memory cemented as a fun memory but also symbolic to the title's name.
The title is a phrase coined by the leader, “No.1 like me,” which is not only his Instagram handle but is also tattooed on him, representing his strong confidence. It’s a meaningful way to start the album, tying in his pride in himself, the fan connections, and the members. In his own words, he’s “the starman” and is fitting for the message of the album as he continues to lead the group fearlessly and full of creativity.
From there, SKIN takes over an emotive and sultry track that could only belong to SEONGWHA; it’s his identity. It’s everything that is him; it's elegant, a range of teasing vocals against a pulsating beat that you'll undoubtedly want to see onstage. Then YUNHO steps in with the slightly risqué R&B number Slide Into Me, a smooth song that perfectly matches his rich vocals and charismatic charm. It's tracks like these that highlight how far each member has come—and make it all the more satisfying to see them step confidently into their individual spotlights.
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| Photo courtesy of KQ Entertainment |
YEOSANG delivers with Legacy, a powerful and assured song that echoes the energy of classic ATEEZ tracks—the ones that are bold and commanding, dripping in confidence. It stands tall, much like Yeonsang's aura, always leaving a lasting impression. From there we shift into a more mature tone with SAN's Creep, where his sensual vocals intertwined with a striking guitar solo reveal a darker yet intimate side to him. Next comes MINGI with ROAR, almost a diss-track anthem that accurately reflects how he is off and onstage. The lyrics seem to take aim at the noise of the haters who stir up drama. It's honest and loud, and like the title, he's roaring and is undoubtedly the energy he consistently delivers.
Fans will be happy to see WOOYOUNG's Sagittarius on the album. First released on YouTube back in February, the track quickly became a fan favourite. With it finally accessible on Spotify, it feels like Christmas came early. Originally part of the “ATEEZ Present” project (launched in 2024 and created by HONGJOONG to spotlight the individual talents of each member.)
Sagittarius finds it perfectly slotted in this album, reflecting the project's mission beautifully and also cohesively. The last time we were treated to solo tracks was on the incredible THE WORLD EP. FIN: WILL picks up that torch and continues its impact. Rounding off the album is JONGHO, the group's powerhouse vocalist and easily recognised as the best in the industry with 우리의 마음이 닿는 곳이라면 (To be your light.) A track that once again shows just how he not only sings but pours such emotion it feels like the most beautiful K-drama OST. For those who perhaps would like to hear the title track in their native language, then In Your Fantasy is also available as the Korean version, neatly tying up the album.
With this album being part three in the GOLDEN HOUR series, it marks another chapter in their story. One that has explored themes of self-doubt, uncertainty with the future, lost love, and wild genre experimentation all chucked in a blender in the midst of a chaotic party. The series has been a 101 crash course in all things ATEEZ—at times chaotic, yet vulnerable, and of course, lots of sex appeal for good measure. And this is what makes new music from the group enjoyable: that duality, as mentioned above, translates so well onstage. It's an in-person experience that everyone should see live.
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| Photo courtesy of KQ Entertainment |
It all ties together well with their upcoming 2025 WORLD TOUR [IN YOUR FANTASY] IN INCHEON, which started on a high note, selling out both shows in Incheon, Seoul, on July 5th. The setlist saw the boys debut their solo tracks—which I can only imagine are going to get more fiery on their next leg. Which has started in Atlanta, and they’ll headline stadium shows in five major cities: Citi Field in New York, Wrigley Field in Chicago, BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Globe Life Field in Arlington, and Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Tickets can be purchased here.
ATEEZ 2025 WORLD TOUR [IN YOUR FANTASY] Dates:
July 5~6 - Incheon, South Korea – Inspire Arena
July 10 - Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
July 13 - New York, NY – Citi Field
July 16 - Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
July 19 - Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
July 21 - Orlando, FL – Kia Center *second show*
July 22 - Orlando, FL – Kia Center
July 26 - Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field
July 30 - Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
August 2 - San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
August 8 - Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium
August 9 - Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium *second show*
August 12 - Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
August 16 - Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
August 23 - Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio GNP Seguros
September 13~15 - Saitama, Japan - Saitama Super Arena
September 20~21 - Nagoya, Japan - Port Messe Nagoya
October 22~23 - Kobe, Japan - Glion Arena Kobe
GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition’ is available to stream and buy in all online and offline retailers.