Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer is the fourth extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band Ateez. It was released on January 6, 2020, with "Answer" serving as the lead single. The physical album comes in two versions: A and Z.[2] Musically, it is a hip hop and EDM album.
On December 24, 2019, Ateez teased their comeback in 2020, through a poster teaser containing the words: "Look around you. Did you find your TREASURE? Through the phrase, Can you see the changes?"[3] On December 26, KQ Entertainment announced the release of Ateez's fourth extended playTreasure Epilogue: Action to Answer along with the release date.[4] It serves as a follow-up to their successful "Treasure" album series which began with their debut in 2018.[5][6] A comeback schedule was released the same day containing dates for the sequential release of teasers for the album.[7] The full album tracklist was released on December 27.[8] The album consists of five tracks including the lead single, "Answer".[9] The same day, a group photo teaser for the album was released.[10] From December 28 to December 31, solo teaser photos for the band members were released, in sets of two.[11][12] On January 2, the group released a performance poster teaser.[13] On January 3, a performance preview video of the lead single, "Answer" was released.[14] The album was released on January 6 in CD and digital formats.[15] An accompanying music video for the lead single, "Answer" was released in conjunction with the release of the album.[16] The video references to the group's past releases "Say My Name", "Wave", "Illusion", "Hala Hala" and "Pirate King" and depicts the band looking back on their journey, along with a brand new spoiler for an upcoming song, which was revealed three years later as "Sector 1" from their 2022 EP The World EP.1: Movement.[17][16][18] The group maintained their "dynamic performance style" while showcasing "powerful choreography".[18][5]
The album's lead single, "Answer" is a hip hop, trap and EDM song in style of dark Latin pop. The song features "high-notes", "soaring hooks", vocal harmonies, "melodic verses" and heavy raps.[5][18] It derives from piano and panpipedinstrumentation which invokes a blend of Celtic folk and Eurobeat musical styles.[24] The end of the "Answer" music video features the intro of their 2022 song "Sector 1".[17] "Star 1117" is an R&Bballad song with slow piano notes, falsetto inflections and smooth melodies.[5][24] Featuring an "easy-to-sing-along-to" chorus, the song is dedicated to the group's fans.[24][5] "Horizon" is a "bombastic" hip hop and EDM song.[25] It was composed and written by HongJoong and was inspired by "Pirate King".[5][26] "Precious" is a hip hop song that serves extension to the song "Precious (Overture)" from their first studio album Treasure EP.Fin: All to Action (2019).[25][26] "Outro: Long Journey", spanning for 90-seconds, features string instrumentation which has been compared to Coldplay's "Sunrise" from the album Everyday Life (2019).[24]
Reception
Chris Gillett from South China Morning Post gave the album a positive review, writing: "Ateez sound at home with their synth-led hard hitters, but it’s when they break out of this formula, where they really strike gold."[24] Hong Dam-young from The Korea Herald wrote, "The group has succeeded in carving out its own sonic niche, staying away from the more typical boy-next-door image and leaning toward a more aggressive and swaggering hip-hop style."[5] Reviewing for IZM, Park Soo-jin wrote: "When looking at the title 'Answer' as the center, it is interesting to note that the creation of the members who gave different accents, even with the same lyrics (because they gave different directions), is interesting and distinctive."[27]
The album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart giving Ateez, their second consecutive number one album in South Korea.[28] Additionally, it topped the Gaon Monthly Chart for the month of January, selling 128,273 copies.[29] It also debuted at number five on the BillboardWorld Albums Chart.[30]
^Ye-na, Kim (December 24, 2019). "ATEEZ, 2020년 컴백 선언…강렬한 글로벌 인상" [ATEEZ announces comeback in 2020 ... Strong global impression]. TV Report (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Lee, Ha-na (December 27, 2019). "컴백 에이티즈, 새 앨범으로 보여줄 세계관‥다채로운 콘텐츠 예고" [Comeback Ateez, Worldview to show with new album ‥ Colorful Content Notice]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Park, So-yeon (December 24, 2019). "에이티즈, 새 앨범 프로모션 맵·트랙리스트 공개…독보적 콘셉트 예고" [ATEEZ unveils new album promotion map tracklist… Unique concept notice]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Hyojin (December 28, 2019). "'컴백' 에이티즈, 세련된 블랙 수트…단체 티저 공개" ['Comeback' ATEEZ, stylish black suit… Group teaser release]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Son, Jin-a (December 29, 2019). "ATEEZ 홍중·성화, 티저 이미지 공개…오묘한 분위기" [ATEEZ Hongjung · Sunghwa, teaser image released… A subtle atmosphere]. MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Hyojin (December 29, 2019). "'컴백' 에이티즈, 클래식+절제 카리스마 티저 공개" ['Comeback' ATEEZ reveals classic + abstinence charisma teaser]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Kang, Seo-jeong (January 3, 2020). "에이티즈, 치명적 매력 퍼포먼스 프리뷰 공개..'TREASURE' 시리즈 끝과 시작" [ATEEZ's lethal charm performance preview released .. 'TREASURE' series end and start]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
^Bae, Ji-eun (January 3, 2020). "[공식] 에이티즈, 오늘(6일) 'TREASURE)' 완결판 에필로그 앨범 발매" [[Official] ATEEZ's Releases Epilogue Album 'TREASURE', Today (6th)]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
