Review: Madtown Bring The Party Big Time On Latest Single 'New World' [VIDEO]

Seoul boy group Madtown are back with the single "New World," taken from their new EP "Welcome To Madtown," which was released digitally on March 9 and physically on March 16.

"New World" is bass-heavy banger, blending K-pop with hard charging beats and rhymes heavily indebted to the worlds of EDM and Southern rap.

Hailing from Seoul, Madtown was formed in 2014 and signed to the label J. Tune Camp, whose roster also includes MBLAQ and Pro C. Madtown released their debut extended play "Mad Town - Super Debut," back in October.

"New World" is an uptempo track that blends rapping and singing, both in English and Korean, to great effect. The vocal cadences and 808 drum machine sounds put the track squarely into the zone of contemporary Southern rap, albeit the more poppy and electronic end of the genre's spectrum.

Similarities to the Dirty South rhyme style run deep on "New World."

Verses are driven by eighth note claps that feel straight out of New Orleans bounce (a regional variant of Southern rap that emphasis chanted party choruses over a snare-driven beat).

At times, the vibe of "New World" dovetails into a form of electronic music that some call "festival trap," which is to say massive rave music couched in the rhythms of Southern rap.

And the track's soaring chorus could almost be mistaken for Keri Hilson's "Pretty Girl Rock," but before anything gets too comfortable, the track flips into a post-chorus breakdown that ties itself up nicely with a falsetto proclamation of "hey" that sonically resembles "Justified"-era Justin Timberlake.

What is perhaps most impressive about "New World" is just how many changes the song has. It seems like every eight bars or so something new and crazy comes out of nowhere and smacks the listener over the head.

In this way, "New World" is structurally reminiscent of a lot of Beyonce's recent output, where every line is a possible hook and perfect for sharing on social media sites like Vine. It's a brave new digital pop world out there, and Madtown are making music that reflects that harsh reality.

"New World" blends swaggering K-pop melodicism with relentless festival trap, and the end result is something fun for ravers and K-pop enthusiasts alike. Which is to say, there is something for everyone at a "New World" party!

Although they only have two extended play albums under their belt, it looks like Madtown is starting to hit their stride. Look out for "New World" at a club near you.

Watch the music video for "New World" by Madtown RIGHT HERE.

 

John Chiaverina is a musician and journalist living in New York City. He has performed in over 18 countries, including two tours of South Korea, under the name Juiceboxxx.


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