HYBE’s Japanese group &TEAM has been building up to their second album this year, gradually forging a softer, more melodic sound that worked particularly well on summer singles Koegawari and Aoarashi. Earlier this month, they pre-released the wintery Illumination and now we have title track Yukiakari days before the release of the full album.
This might be an overly simplistic observation and I don’t mean to pit groups against each other, but given the fact that &TEAM, TXT and ENHYPEN often share similar producers it feels like HYBE tends to dole out its strongest songs to one of the three acts each year. In 2024, &TEAM were the beneficiaries. Apart from is performance in Japanese, Yukiakari could have been delivered roughly the same way by any of these groups. That’s not meant as a knock on lack of individuality. Instead, it’s a recognition that the song itself is strong enough to be almost “plug and play.”
More importantly, Yukiakari works as a natural climax to &TEAM’s year. Its atmospheric sound, chugging guitar and melodic peaks recall past singles but pull them together into something more anthemic. It’s a good match for the group’s light, airy tones. This combination feels dreamlike and slightly otherworldly, imbuing a very straightforward track with extra texture. The chorus swoops through two distinct melodic segments, taking its time to offer a sustained sense of release. The arrangement could stand to be a bit more unique, but overall this is a definite hit.
Hooks
9
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.5