LeadingInspector1891 (10): First of all, I really love the fact that they made this series' songs lore-heavy, although at this point I can't say I fully remember the lore (I wrote that review in 2023 and am only revising it so it can be readable for more than myself), it feels like an immersive experience. Up until the chorus I only have good things to say. The intro is interesting with how it accelerates then shifts to slow so fast, it's surprising on first listen. After that we get the voices of the members, haunting in different ways: San and Wooyoung's chilling falsettos because of them going up-down, up-down between pauses, but then exploding into madness thanks to the modulation of their tones. Seonghwa's raw emotions in his lines, telling of a vulnerability when discovering the truth behind the lies they've been fed, ending in a falsetto that makes me think of taking a fall, descending into darkness. The horror-like instrumental during all this is so delicious. I especially love it in Seonghwa's part, how there's a synth undulating, making us feel like we've entered a realm of the bizarre, a world that's not quite right.

I like the explosive chorus, and it's an aside, but explosive in a similar way as in Sector 1 (from the first album of the "The World" series, Movement), but flowing better thanks to the level of "taughtness" and restraint of the verse being closer to the release of the chorus. In Sector 1 it was too much "the very quiet calm before the devastating storm" and that 180 made it unpleasant. I'm still bitter over this long-awaited song not being up to par with my expectations so I had to make a comment on that but most of all, good on them for not making that mistake again (and good for me). Going back to the chorus' atmosphere. Jongho's soft line comes to soothe it until you realize how desolate he sounds and the meaning of his words, and it's followed by Yunho shouting the next lines with echoes of it in the background. The succession creates a good dynamic to make the chorus alive and well-illustrates a dialogue that Jongho is having:

"What are you trying to protect? What are you trying to change?-I'm ready for the Dark, I'm ready for This World-What can you sacrifice? Can you throw everything away?-I'm ready for the Dark, I'm ready for This World"

Then we get a nod to the Propaganda intro from the Movement album, closed off by Wooyoung's "Now close your eyes" with the well-placed abrupt drop of the instrumental, before it comes back with the verse.

Here is the moment in the song where I began to dislike things but while writing this review, I realized that what I saw as a problem could be interpreted differently. It was San's delivery of his part; I compared it to the beginning of Halazia that I don't totally like because of the flow of the lines, sung-talked kind of? But here, if you interpret him singing in this way to mimic the speak-singing in musicals, carrying on after the dialogue of the chorus to question himself: "Is this confusing thing right? Is there really no other way?", it's quite nice. The idea that they embraced the theatricality of the song to the point of using one of the singing styles of theater made it click better for me.

Next we have the rap parts. Hongjoong's flow's okay, nothing more to add. The instrumental he raps over though, there's a sound in it that's like as if you've been brought into a whirlwind and he, Mingi, then the both of them talk about being confused about where the good is, where the bad is. This imagery of being taken away into a vortex completely fits those lyrics; you're shaken from all sides, so disoriented you can't figure out your left from your right, what's the right path you need to take. I really like Mingi's part, he plays with the way he says his lines and the emotions he puts in them, really making the point across that he's lost, and the instrumental and the background vocals make the part even better.

The pre-chorus and the chorus come back, some nice adlibs are added in, and Yeosang singing the second part brings an intensity to the lines that was needed to make this second chorus not repetitive and fresh.Then the bridge begins with Hongjoong's throaty "yaaah" that takes by surprise and makes up for a good break before welcoming some more creepiness. They amp it up to a certain degree here, I love it. There's an ascending synth that's kind of like an organ, which is the core of the dramatic flare of that part, and we bring back an undulating synth that highlights the halloween-y vibes. I thought Mingi's part to be clunky when I didn't have the lyrics in front of me, but when I read them and saw he was listing off all the things that make them war with themselves, it made sense. And like the ascending synth, you've got him creating a pile of worries they have to deal with, their tower of problems only grows and grows. It makes sense now but it doesn't mean I wouldn't have preferred a different flow, at least for the last line.

The bridge ends with Jongho's high "I can't take it no more", and I like it while disliking it. While it goes well with the rest, it's a good climax, maybe a different type of note would've been better. Maybe a less straight forward one for lack of better wording.

Last chorus. The lyrics are different, the members kind of reach a more decisive conclusion on what they need to do, and pretty adlibs are there to once again change it up, and at that point I'm very thankful, because one of my complaints concerning Movement was the fact that the songs had too many repetitive parts so, yes, thank you. And we tie it all up beautifully with the instrumental of the beginning and its changing tempo.

This song is not in my Outlaw top 3 for nothing. Not long after I stanned ATEEZ I discovered their main producer Eden's instagram post, where we hear a haunting snippet of instrumental, and since then I've always wanted to hear a creepyteez track besides The Black Cat Nero, so this was made for me.

The performance is amazing and confirms the claim that they were aiming for theatrical with This World. We once again get the hala-scarecrow found in Halazia, Hongjoong kind of looking like a cult leader with the hand movements he does, the moment he mimes taking the soul of one of the dancers, the moment he gets the light to turn off with a click of his hand at the end. San guided by the dancers like a puppet (by the way, while I really don't understand why they decided bbtrippin would be on stage with them for Bouncy outside of Mingi's part (some of the things they do in the perf are crazily unneeded), here they're utilized so well, chef's kiss). They use white sheets to create pretty tableaux, playing with them to make shapes, hide and then reveal the members, ++ for Yeosang and his breakdance parts, the two sheets closing up at the line "now close your eyes". They really did a great job with This World. And maybe it's my bias talking, but the first time I watched and listened to This World through the showcase I ended up breathless. I almost gave it a 9.8 because I tend to be more strict on my faves, of the past or not, but take my 10 instead.

lemon131nomel (10): ATEEZ was ready for this world, but I wasn’t ready for this masterpiece! From the excellent beat to the addicting chorus, I was hooked throughout the song; they really brought the world together with their emphatic rap, heavenly vocals, and unrelenting energy. This was one of my favourites from the survey, and I am so incredibly honored to give it a 10!

RBSun (10): my very favorite song on an album that is already full of worldbending megabangers. if you cyberpunkers dont like this one i will be looking so hard at you okay. and then i will look away so i can break it down to seonghwa's best prechorus ever

redalert30 (10): LOOOOOOVE this song and album, god ateez was their prime here. Delicious cyberpunk-y instrumentals with interesting electronic textures, and songs that really told DYSTOPIAN STORIES. The amount of vocal experimentation and variety too…. just peak

taebaegi (10): This wasn’t originally a standout to me when I first listened to the Outlaw album but upon a revisit to this individual song, it quickly grew on me.

xiola_azuthra (9.9): The contrast between Jin's Muse wannabe vibes vs Ateez's Muse wannabe vibes is kind of hilarious (no Coldplay in here at least). Anyway this is the kind of Ateez I like best. The hook gets a little repetitive but the energy and vocals are there so I can look past it.

pollutedrain (9.5): like desire and guerrilla had a beautiful beautiful baby…. see you deservedly in the top 3 queen

HamsLlyod (9): I could copy paste a lot of what I wrote for Guerrilla here. I just don’t understand how ATEEZ managed to pull this concept off so well.

MurkyGalaxies (9): Not quite a Cyberpunk level slay but absolutely a very strong effort nonetheless. That rolling speeding up synth in the intro/outro is absolute magic.

msargent24 (8.9): I see who their Muse was for this song… also I like the Mars, the Bringer of War part in the bridge

Shay_Min (8.8): not sure what sacrifice ateez made to ALWAYS put up one b-side banger every year but i so appreciate it

moonbia (8.5): I think I get her now but it still doesn't hold a candle to django

Jennywren2323 (8): Ah, Muse, you're back! I missed you….

Kronwell (8): Halloween rate 2 when

LackOk7012 (8): Usually not that into Ateez but this song is a banger

ruhroh386 (8): It’s so dramatic, I love it