[Album Review] Metamorphic (1st Studio Album) – STAYC

3 days ago 7

I am fully aware that STAYC made their comeback more recently, and a song review for BEBE is coming your way in the not-so-far-distant future. But until then, here is my review of their 1st studio album, Metamorphic. Released in July 2024, Metamorphic features 14 songs (slightly longer than the average studio-length album), including the title track, Cheeky Icy Thang. Metamorphic is a decent album with a mix of strong and fair songs. Keep reading to find out my thoughts on the individual songs that make up Metamorphic.

1. Twenty – STAYC kicks off the album with a formidable alternative R&B number. I liked the drumming in this one and the crisp vocals that give Twenty that power. Whenever I say I want oomph in a song, the direction the vocals went in this song is exactly what I am looking for. There are 2 downsides to Twenty – that it is very noticeably short, and I wished the instrumental was a bit more robust to prevent it from feeling as stagnant as it did. (8/10)

2. Cheeky Icy Thang (Title Track) – Click here for the review for Cheeky Icy Thang. (7/10)

3. 1 Thing – 1 Thing is a very familiar sound for STAYC. It has the signature fun and brightness from its electronic pop instrumentation and STAYC’s delivery. Its chorus attracts my attention, thanks to its sassy delivery and how straight-shooting the members sounded. The bridge brings delicateness to the song before a dynamic and fun electronic instrumental break comes into play. (8/10)

4. Give It 2 Me – Give It 2 Me is a decent pop R&B track. But I feel like the autotune is heavy, and their vocals are rather piercing (in a not-so-good way). The highlight is definitely SIEUN’s rapping, it gives us some reprieve to the autotune and piercing vocals. But besides that, Give It 2 Me doesn’t speak to me as much as the other tracks on the album. (7/10)

5. Find – Next on the album is Find, a unit song by SIEUN, SEEUN and J. Find features neat and delicate vocals from the trio. The rapping brought some nice contrast, which I liked. The acoustic vibe of the instrumental is also lovely and different, especially as it is mixed with trap beats throughout the song. Some stronger melodies and catchiness would have helped lift Find to a new level. (7.5/10)

6. Let Me Know – STAYC revisits the pop genre in a pure manner in Let Me Know. It is quite a pleasant song. I liked the tempo of the instrumentation and the members’ singing in this one. I feel like that short ending sequence of the choruses, where the instrumental turns slightly atmospheric, and J ends with her “Let Me Know … Let Me Know” lin, has the potential for something more. I wished the song explored that potential. (8/10)

7. Nada – Nada brings a bit of hip-hop to the album. This differs from what I have heard so far, so it interested me. The pre-chorus is just something that gets me each time I listen to the song, while the instrumental was unexpectedly playful with the percussion. It makes Nada feel a little nursery rhyme-esque, contrasting with the song’s message about feeling nothing after meeting the person of their dreams. (8/10)

8. Fakin’ – Starting off the second half of the album is SUMIN and YOON, through their unit track Fakin’. The song is another pop track, with stunning vocals from the pair to make it an engaging number. I liked the simplicity of this combination and how easy it was to get into. Stronger hooks to make it more memorable would have sealed the deal for me. (9/10)

9. Roses – ISA is the only member to go solo on the album. Roses is a R&B number with a very intriguing instrumentation. The background has all sorts of effects, but it never feels overdone. ISA sounds quite good throughout the song, but stronger hooks and melodies could have improved the song further. (7/10)

10. Beauty Bomb – Beauty Bomb is one of the stronger songs on the album. The bubbly R&B (perfectly described by The KMeal) is quite fun, which is one reason why I find it so catchy. That ‘Doo Doo Doo’ in the chorus is hooky, as well as the ‘Blow my mind…’ lines that follow later on in the choruses. What I also like about Beauty Bomb is that it showcases STAYC well. Pleasant vocals and nicely contrasting rapping helped make Beauty Bomb engaging for me. (9/10)

11. Gummy Bear – The start of the verses for Gummy Bear, made up of trap beats and the swirly electronic synth, was interesting, to say the least. The rapping that pairs with this backing was fine, but the background is wacky. As the song progresses, I enjoy the rest of Gummy Bear. It develops into a feel-good pop song that feels pure and straightforward. I like how the vocals come off in this segment. The pre-choruses are another strong example of STAYC’s vocals. So, it begs the question of why we needed that start to even begin with, especially since the rest of the song is quite good. (8.5/10)

12. Stay WITH Me – STAYC visits the pop-rock genre through Stay WITH Me. The song is for their fans, and the lyrics are written by STAYC themselves! While it sounds good, and I liked how the rapping pairs up with the instrumentation, I wished I could say the same about their vocals. The vocalists could have been louder to match up with the energy of the pop-rock instrumentation. Stronger melodies, as well, would have helped them embrace the pop-rock better. (8/10)

13. Flexing on My Ex – The pop rock is definitely punchier and the members sound superb (and can be heard over the instrumentation)in Flexing on My Ex. We do lose some momentum as we get closer to the chorus, but this does help the centrepiece feel more impactful and prolific. (8/10)

14. Trouble Maker – The final song of this long album (not complaining here!) is Trouble Maker. It was such a fun and energetic song to end with. It literally makes me want to get up and dance (or cringingly dance along in my chair if you want a real-time update as I write this review). I love the song’s encore energy and the brass elements in the background. The expressiveness and bright vocals also make it a winning song. Pity is a short one. (10/10)