BTS is back with their fifth studio album “ARIRANG” on March 20.

It has been nearly four years since their anthology album “Proof” on June 10, 2022, and six years since their fourth studio album “MAP OF THE SOUL : 7” on Feb. 21, 2020.

The lead single and title track for “ARIRANG” is “SWIM,” an upbeat alternative pop track featuring electric guitars and vintage drums. The message of the track, if you listen closely enough to the lyrics, is the will to keep moving forward and the love for life.

There are 14 tracks in this album, with “SWIM” being the seventh track in the album. 

I find it quite interesting how the title track of the album is in the middle, since the previous albums had the title track second after an “intro” track.

For example, “Intro : What Am I to You” in their 1st studio album “Dark & Wild,” released on Aug. 20, 2014. “Dark & Wild” is actually what many ARMY (BTS fans) compare “ARIRANG” to, mainly because it has a similar track structure.

The first five tracks in “ARIRANG” (“Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Aliens,” “FYA” and “2.0,”) are more rap or hip-hop feeling and are heavier in beat compared to the rest of the album.

The sixth track is “No. 29,” and it is a one minute and 38 second ring from the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. The bell is meant to be a transition from the heavier sound to a more elevated sound and an introspective part of the album.

To me, this would be similar to an “interlude” which they have done in previous albums. For example, one of their interlude tracks was, “Interlude: What Are You Doing Now” in “Dark & Wild.” 

Following “No. 29” and “SWIM” are the next seven tracks in the album, which all have their own styles.

However, to me, both “Merry Go Round” and “NORMAL” feel like they lean more towards pop rock. 

I love how in “NORMAL” they make a call back to them being “bulletproof.” The lyrics, “ Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof” calls back to this idea.

The tenth track in the album is “Like Animals.” To me, it is a rock ballad track talking about embracing primal instincts and wanting a desire to deep dive into an unrestricted world.

The next track is “they don’t know ‘bout us,” and I see this track as a modern Western rap talking about how other people may see that BTS has changed, but they feel the same, given the lyric “You say we changed? / We feel the same,” which J-hope raps.

The thirteenth track in the album is “One More Night.” I see it as a synth-pop track, being quite heavy on autotune.

This style is new to them because I do not believe they have made a track that is synth-pop or similar to it. I see this track as them talking about a night that is so special that it feels like a fantasy, and they never want it to end.

I do not have much to say about the second to last track, “Please,” other than it is a chill track all about wanting someone when they are feeling down.

Finally, the fourteenth and last track in ‘ARIRANG” is “Into the Sun.”

This track is soft rock, but it also starts a bit country in the first stanza of the song.

V sings, “Baby, you remind me / I want someone like you / Fires are never dying / I want someone like you,” but his voice is very autotuned. 

I see this track as the members giving a message to ARMY to not be afraid in the dark of waiting and be patient because BTS will be guiding us into the sun. 

ARMY had to wait years for this comeback, and BTS is back for more. Their sound has definitely evolved over the years. 

I –and many ARMY across the world– are very proud of what they do and are glad that they are back.