In honor of the release of Infinite’s sixth mini-album, Infinite Only, I’ll be taking an in-depth look at each track. Every day this week, I’ll review one song, working through the album in chronological order.

1. Eternity (intro)
2. The Eye
3. Air
4. One Day
5. True Love
6. Thank You
7. ZERO

For the past few years, Infinite have known to end their albums not with the expected ballad, but with a searing dance track. That tradition continues as Infinite Only concludes with what may just be its finest moment. Zero was composed by production team Oreo, who also happened to be behind my favorite k-pop track of last month. It’s a match made in heaven, as the song seems tailor made for Infinite’s explosive vocals and unbridled performance skill.

I love how Zero‘s moody introduction mirrors the vibe of title track The Eye, but then is quickly shattered as an electric guitar pulls in the heavy electro beat that frames the song’s verses. There are some brilliant little production tricks here, taking Infinite’s symphonic sound and subtly weaving it into an incredibly aggressive dance piece. Instead of drenching the song in strings, those elements lurk in the background, giving Zero a heavy, densely arranged bombast that feels unique among k-pop boy groups.

Looking past the production, it’s the vocals that really stand out here. All of the guys sound on top of their game, but Woohyun’s pre-chorus power notes are nothing short of breathtaking. The first two times will force you to sit up, but that final extended note that kicks off Zero‘s last chorus is Infinite Only‘s most goosebump-inducing moment. It’s the type of exclamation point that only the best groups can put on a song, and feels like a whirlwind of energy that sends us cresting into the song’s closing moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-CC6TPl2lA