Ever since debuting in 2018, the K-pop group, Stray Kids, has been growing tremendously. From their incredible visuals and concepts, to their diverse discography, it’s not surprising that they’ve come so far in just a couple of years. Making a name for themselves, the self-produced group has managed to become one of the most popular 4th generation Kpop groups to date. Releasing their ninth mini album ‘Maxident’ in early October this year, they’ve managed to charm the hearts of many fans, as well as grab the attention of many locals.

The main concept of their album revolves around the feeling of love and infatuation. Starting with the title track, Case 143, an electro-pop song, the group starts off by singing about their experience with falling in love for the first time- an indescribable and uncontrollable feeling where the other person is occupying their thoughts 24/7. Incorporating the numerical code 143, the group uses this outdated internet slang to express their love for the person they’ve fallen for.

Contrasting their theme of love is the second track of the album, “Chill.” The song is about a failed relationship, in which two people have fallen out of love. Although the lyrics of the song don’t match the general vibe of the album, the song itself has a very upbeat, R&B sound to it. From the catchy lyrics to the bubbly sound of the song, it is undeniably one of the best songs on the album.

The third track of the album, “Give Me Your TMI”, describes the nervous feeling in the early stages of love. The song has an upbeat-funk style to it. From the funky instrumentals to the flow of lyrics, the song is super catchy, and would be an entertaining song to perform onstage.

Following suit is “Super Board,” an extremely bass-boosted track with many fun adlibs and elements incorporated. The song itself is fun to sing, as the group adds in silly sound effects, such as “Nyooom” and “Zoom.”

The next track, “3RACHA,” is a drill song that captures a completely different vibe. Composed by the group’s producers, Bang Chan, Han Jisung, and Seo Changbin, the song is extremely catchy and fun to dance along to. With many western hip-hop influences, the song is very fast-paced and loud, building up the hype and excitement as you listen along. The lyrics are targeted to their haters, as they sing about their past achievements and how the group itself keeps growing, despite the amount of hate they get for having “noisy, construction-like music.” A lyric that stood out to me was the outro, where Chan says, “They always say the same excuses. While they’re complaining, we’re producing.”

Lastly is “Circus,” a song we have already heard earlier this year in their Japanese mini-album. In this album, the group releases a Korean version of the song. There’s not much of a difference between the two versions, which makes it a likable song among fans.

Stray Kids never fails to make a good comeback, as they’re never afraid to experiment with new sounds and express themselves through their music. Overall, the album is extremely good, and it captures the different sides of the group very well. Their diverse discography makes it easy for their music to be enjoyed by everyone, and it is guaranteed that they will become one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world.