TITLE: Fatal Love
ARTIST: MONSTA X
LABEL: STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT
RELEASED: November 2, 2020
Gonna be honest, I wasn’t ready when MONSTA X announced they were coming back with their 3rd full album. I was still in my Fantasia feels and now… ATTACKED!
Love Killa- Title Track
Got Room For One More… YES I.M! We have been blessed with this title track. There is so much going on with this deep bounce of a track. Everything from Joohoney and I.M’s delicious raps to the magnetic high notes from Kihyun. There are songs you can just listen to and almost feel like you can visualize them, that is this song. Without watching the MV this song is sexy and strong. But the MV tho…. SEXY in a grown way. This track got me forgetting all about Follow and Fantastia.
갈증 (Gasoline)
Daddy Yankee who? JK JK! But this song is definitely in that reggaetón house and I really love this for MX. Again, the augmentation of some voices kill it for me, but it’s Kihyun and Shownu’s vocals that pull me back in. A solid track.
Thriller
I am in LOVE with this one. The industrial instrumentals of the verse mixed with the more orchestra chorus is a mood switch but works. This is a definite companion to Love Killa and I find myself singing along with the bridge over and over. Have a mentioned I love Kihyun’s high notes? Cause I freaking do.
Guess Who
There is a reason why people claim Joohoney and I.M are the top tier of idol rappers. This song highlights them in the beginning with a rap beat but the vocal line come in and soften up the song. My favorite parts have to be the rap tag team and the beat because they get me hype.
Nobody Else
Hyungwon’s first writing credit has me in my feels because the song is so good. It’s a haunting EDM influenced track that has a slower vibe that reminds me of Destroyer. The autotune I could do without. But other than that, this is a straight banger.
Beastmode
When they said that Eric Nam was helping out on a song, this is not what I expected. This is a hard hitting track that really gets you amp. It really shows what MONSTA X does best. The track is aggressive but Shownu’s falsetto makes it sweet in places. This def makes me want to work out or something.
대동단결 (Stand Together)
Initially, this sounds like two separate songs. The trap-pop chorus and rap verses that come so hard. This may be one of my favorite rapline verses. But when vocal line comes in it turns into a trap-R&B song. I’m not hating it, but it does feel a little jarring at times. What I don’t like is the abrupt ending. I felt like I was waiting for more that didn’t come.
Night View
An ethereal house track switches up the vibe of the album and transitions us into slower tracks. I really like this because it feels kinda like it would fit on their English album. A chill song fitting for some lounge times.
Last Carnival
I surprisingly love this song. A more R&B one for MX who I don’t really think of when I think of groovy ass shaking songs, but here we are. I think Hyungwon’s voice really stands out in songs like this, his tone is the right pitch for it. I would def give it some replays.
Sorry I’m Not Sorry
Honestly, I was expecting something more sexier when I saw Jooyoung wrote this. It’s a bit of a snooze. It isn’t bad but it isn’t one I would remember.
BONUS
I am a sucker for a grown man concept. And it seems like Hyungwon, Kihyun and surprisingly I.M are my weakness this comeback. From the outfits to the choreo, I’m in love. Watch it on a 4K tv, I dare you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I didn’t know what to expect from this release because I will admit that Fantasia and Follow were not it. But I think with this, we have gotten a more mature MONSTA X and elevated version of the boys we’ve fallen in love with over the years. You can tell that all the members have started to prefect their crafts in a way that seems natural for them. With the ups and downs, the hiatuses and drama, MONSTA X as a whole as come out better. Musically, this is gonna be one of my favorite full albums from them. Love Killa is probably one of my favorite title tracks from them since Shoot Out (sorry Alligator). Then you have Hyungwon’s first credited track just out there killing it. Honestly, it is making me fall in love with it like I fell in love with Destroyer. At the end of the day, I’m proud of my boys and their art, because that’s what this is, A-R-T!
PRODUCTION : 3.5 / 5
VOCALS / RAPPING : 4 / 5
VISUALS / CONCEPT : 5 / 5
OVERALL: 4 / 5
Least Favorite Track(s): Sorry I’m Not Sorry
Favorite Track(s): Love Killa, Thriller, Nobody Else
Unbothered Unnies 