On October 7, ONEWE made a comeback with their 4th mini album, ‘MAZE: AD ASTRA.’ The alternative rock band officially debuted in 2015 under the group name MAS 094 before redebuting under RBW Entertainment in 2019. Since their debut, the group has experienced multiple successes with songs like “Rain To Be,” “End of Spring” and “AuRoRa”. The group has returned for the second time this year with a mini album exploring the concept of being lost in life, love, and time.
“Lucky 12”
A strong start to the album, “Lucky 12” opens with powerful and uplifting vocalizations, with the members singing about being able to endure the dismal days of life as long as they have their love interest by their side. With this track, we see our first allusions to the metaphor drawn between life and a maze, as the members sing of being lost and confused.
“MAZE”
The title track for the album, “MAZE,” sets a more calm yet upbeat tone. The music video features vintage camera footage and editing that gives viewers a sense of nostalgia. Again, the members draw upon the metaphor of the maze, this time comparing love to a maze and singing about being able to find their special someone in life because, ultimately, their mazes are connected.
“UFO”
The third track on this album sets the tone with a cool keyboard section and features complex layers of vocals, distinct beats, and harmonies in a combination that’s reminiscent of EDM. The echo effect and cyber theme of the song lend themselves to the futuristic sci-fi vibe of the lyrics, in which the members equate themselves to UFOs in front of the object of their love. They allude once again to the theme of being lost, explaining their “unstable flight,” while also expressing their desire to be close to their love interest.
“Hide & Seek”
“Hide & Seek” leans into a much heavier rock sound, with drums, guitars, and strong vocals. The track is more fast-paced and energetic with a solid build-up to the very conclusion of the song. The members appear to be reminiscing on a love that didn’t last but yet also didn’t fade away. Once more, they are wandering lost, chasing these memories of a past love.
“Trace”
The album takes a much more mellow turn with the fifth track, “Trace.” The longest song on this album at 4 minutes and 19 seconds, “Trace” leans heavily into its piano melody and guitar sound. The members discuss finding their love interest, even if it’s just the traces that they leave behind, unlikely to ever meet again in the present.
“Diary”
Continuing the mellow vibe, “Diary” features a gentle piano intro, a powerful guitar solo, beautiful harmonizations, and sentimental vocals. This song discusses the topic of holding on to past memories that will last forever. This continued allusion to the past also establishes a comparison between mazes and time, as the members seem to be lost in time as they constantly reminisce on their past love.
“Beyond the Storm”
The final track on this album switches the theme from mellow to uplifting, featuring whispy vocals and harmonizations. The members conclude the album by once again referring to themselves as lost; however, this time they are now running with the conviction to never stop trying to find their way. The members have essentially made it past the confusing storm that they’ve been describing throughout the album.
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