Pop

The album opens with this quirky, disco-pop track that sets a playful tone. Mixing the smooth pop rhythm with a waterfall of harmonic vocal layerings on the pre-chorus, followed by the group’s impeccable falsettos on the chorus, it’s a lighthearted introduction that hints at the emotional journey to follow. Written by members Soobin, Yeonjun and Taehyun, the track reflects the euphoria of reuniting with someone special, yet it hints at the album’s overarching journey of exploring love’s complexities.

Although an enjoyable listen, “Heaven” does lack the same punch of personality that we know from other TXT songs and, at first, feels as if it could easily fit into another K-pop group’s album sonically. However, the track’s place is more than earned as the starting point of The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY once we make the full journey to the album’s closing track.

The album concludes on a high note with ‘Higher Than Heaven,’ an anthemic rock anthem that exudes a sense of hope. The track, a blend of uplifting guitar riffs and a resilient spirit, showcases the group’s ability to inspire. Co-written by TXT’s resident rock-music enthusiast and Taehyun, this track is a fitting conclusion to the journey that began with the opening track “Heaven.”

While this mini album opened with the guys realizing this love is worth searching for a place for the listener to find sanctuary together (“You make it feel like /Heaven /From one to ten, you’re like an eleven”) by “Higher Than Heaven,” TXT has taken control of the narrative, realizing love gives them the power to go beyond the heavens. No doubt this will be a joyous, rock-out moment for the group and MOA if it gets added to the tour setlist.

This electro-pop and R&B hybrid leans heavily into TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s falsetto vocals, layered over bass-driven beats. The production on “Danger” is reminiscent of the sound crafted by super-producers like the Neptunes and Timbaland for Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album, Justified. At the same time, the lyrics co-written by Yeonjun, Taehyun and Beomgyu bring a sense of edge to romance, exploring love as both thrilling and perilous.

The lead single of The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY, “Over the Moon,” stands as a lyrical and sonic centerpiece for the album, merging TXT’s signature introspective lyrics with a dynamic mix of lush, romantic R&B and the pining, rock edge.

The single balances nostalgic and modern influences, featuring layered harmonies that best capture TXT’s growth in vocal maturity on the EP. The accompanying music video adds an extra layer of magic, showing the members caught in symbol-heavy, tender and dramatic scenes to represent the vulnerability of falling in love. Fans and newcomers alike can connect to the catchy “for you” hook repeating throughout the chorus, as well as the track’s story of yearning and excitement over the feeling of being with someone you love takes you “Over the moon/ Over the stars.”

A rich mid-tempo R&B track, “Forty One Winks” is drenched in an undeniable groove that recalls R&B-tinged fan-favorite tracks like the 2019 album cut “20cm,” a song which the group has only performed a handful of times live. A play off the phrase for “forty winks,” meaning a nap, “Forty One Winks” instead takes inspiration from the album’s title with “The language of the stars” representing the 41 winks.

With a soulful instrumental and layered vocal arrangements reminiscent of a lullaby, the song explores the theme of longing and the restless nature that love can elicit. The slower tempo and textured soundscape invite listeners into a more intimate moment of reflection, underscoring TXT’s vocal range and emotive abilities, especially as they navigate the fine line between comfort and desire. But just as TOMORROW X TOGETHER hit their fifth anniversary, “Forty One Winks” will stand as one of the group’s best vocal performances yet, showing they have far more to show as they move into their next five years.

Fun fact: R&B-pop star Jordin Sparks and former American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks is listed as a co-writer on the track.

Undoubtedly the album’s most distinctive track, “Resist (Not Gonna Run Away),” once again hits at the nostalgic-yet-still-fresh Timbaland and Justin Timberlake sound of the latter’s earlier albums, with acoustic guitar elements, bongo percussion, and clear inspiration from reggaeton and dancehall riddims. With influences from the pop of the 2000s, Latin music, and dancehall as the backdrop, the song is a tribute to resilience and loyalty in love. It channels a mix of hope and defiance, with the members’ falsettos layered over a groove-heavy beat that’s both danceable yet still introspective in the way few songs can pull off. The song’s composition, combined with heartfelt lyrics, somewhat recalls Jimin of BTS’ 2024 single “Who,” which has yet to leave the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart after more than three months on the chart.

But most importantly, “Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)” further elevates TXT’s sound in a way that’s difficult for a group that’s been so open to experimenting and mashing genres throughout their career to continue to deliver surprises and unexpected treats to listeners for the last five years. With nearly every member contributing to the lyrics (Beomgyu, Soobin, Taehyun, and Hueningkai are credited), the song also feels like one of the most significant representations of how TOMORROW X TOGETHER are also pushing themselves to deliver something unique to the K-pop scene that still fits in their overall worldview.