Seoul: K-pop boy group Ateez announced its exploration of a new musical style with the upcoming release of "Golden Hour: Part. 2," aiming to challenge the stereotype of producing only powerful and intense music. During a press event held a day before the album's release, the eight-member group showcased a more relaxed and groovy sound with hip-hop undertones and strings, departing from its trademark "fiery" style. According to Yonhap News Agency, Ateez's leader Hongjoong stated during the event held at a hotel in southern Seoul, "This album will break the stereotype that we only focus on intense music." He further elaborated on the challenges the group faced throughout their six-year career in breaking the perception of only producing intense music. Hongjoong expressed satisfaction in crafting this new style while maintaining the group's identity. The EP is the second installment of the "Golden Hour" album series, aiming to capture radiant and shining moments in life. While the first part released in May fo cused on the pursuit of goals, the narrative of the second part emphasizes self-love, according to the band. The lead track, "Ice On My Teeth," features a hip-hop beat with string instruments creating a distinctive rhythm. Seonghwa, another group member, described the track's metaphor as representing personal value, hidden but revealed when one smiles. The six-track album also includes songs such as "Deep Dive," "Scene 1: Value," "Man on Fire," "Selfish Waltz," and "Enough." Reflecting on the album's theme of personal worth, Hongjoong shared, "This year, we achieved many of the stages we had once dreamed of. It made us think: have we truly acknowledged and shown our own worth? Expressing our value is a way to honor those who love us." Hongjoong expressed confidence in the album's unique direction, stating, "With this album, we aimed to show both what we're good at and what we can do differently." He acknowledged the love and support for "Golden Hour: Part. 1" as a source of confidence for pursuing something new in this release. Ateez's ongoing evolution has become its defining characteristic. "We often wonder how Ateez can stand out," Hongjoong said. "We find value in constantly challenging ourselves." Ateez achieved notable success last December with its second full-length album, "The World Ep. Fin: Will," reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the British Official Albums Chart Top 100. "Golden Hour: Part. 1" also performed well, reaching the second spot on the Billboard 200 and fourth on the British chart. The group shared that it does not feel burdened by past achievements on music charts. Seonghwa commented, "While it would be nice to achieve good results, none of the members are overly concerned about the rankings." Yeosang expressed satisfaction with the upcoming album's diversity but hinted at the group's ongoing ambitions. With its seventh anniversary approaching next year and the band's contract renewal on the horizon, Ateez is already contemplating its future. "We're discussing things fro m many angles with the members. All I can say is that Ateez still has a lot more to show," Hongjoong said. "We want to keep bringing new things to you for a long time."