ZEROBASEONE Reach New Heights with ‘Ascend-’
- Kaitlin Kim
- 19 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Written by Kaitlin Kim
| With ‘Ascend-,’ ZEROBASEONE trades rookie ambition for a more refined artistry
ZEROBASEONE, now consisting of KIM JI WOONG, SUNG HAN BIN, SEOK MATTHEW, KIM TAE RAE, PARK GUNWOOK, continues to ascend as a five-member group following contract negotiations earlier this year, which led to former members ZHANG HAO, RICKY, KIM GYU VIN, and HAN YU JIN to depart and debut in a new group, AND2ABLE. Their first comeback as a newly reconfigured group with their mini album, Ascend-, feels both ambitious and refined, focusing heavily on experimentation through darker and mature tones, sleek R&B influences, house-inspired production, and cinematic instrumentals across its seven tracks. Despite exploring newer sounds, the group still manages to maintain the emotional sincerity and brightness that have always resonated within ZEROBASEONE’s music.
Ascend- opens with the instrumental track, “Intro.,” and as someone who has always been a sucker for intros and outros on albums, this one did not disappoint in the slightest. The track creates a sleek, immersive feel by blending EDM and hip-hop elements, immediately establishing the experimental and refined atmosphere of ZEROBASEONE’s new era. The adrenaline-filled intensity and pulses make the track feel even more alive, reminding me much of the F1 theme and conjuring imagery of a car speeding down a highway in an action movie. More importantly, the instrumental constantly builds tension and momentum without slowing down, perfectly capturing the album’s overarching theme of climbing higher and pushing beyond limits. It also feels like the perfect concert opener as it’s the kind of track that would instantly electrify an arena as the members emerge on stage.
The early-2000s hip-hop/R&B title track, “TOP 5,” is definitely a top-five K-pop release of the month for me. Its strongest quality is easily its catchiness from the very first listen, and the hook – “Your lips, your style, your kiss, your smile / And number one, how you make me feel like” – feels impossible not to replay, especially with every member approaching the hook differently. The line “How you make me feel like” feels intentionally unfinished, capturing the indescribable feeling of attraction the song is built around. While the track initially lists the speaker’s “top five” favorite qualities about their loved one through physical details like “Your lips, your style, your kiss, and your smile,” it ultimately reveals that the emotional impact this person has on them matters more than anything that can actually be ranked, making the idea of a “top five” feel almost meaningless in comparison.
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Ultimately, the emotional impact this person has on them matters more than anything else and in the end, it suggests the impact their loved one has on the speaker goes beyond anything that can actually be ranked, making the idea of a “top five” feel almost meaningless in comparison to how they actually feel. Sonically, the track leans towards an early-2000s hip-pop and R&B sound. My only criticism is that it falls victim to the under-three-minute curse, which seems to be the norm in K-pop in recent times; however, it still remains one of the most memorable releases of the month for me.
The music video has a heavy use of black, white, and grey throughout, with the muted grey-toned sets accentuating the members’ black outfits further; however, this creates a sleek and refined look, proving that simplicity can still leave a strong impact. Every performance shot feels striking without relying on excessive set design or storytelling, focusing instead on ZEROBASEONE’s sharp dance moves and charismatic presence.
“V for Vision” is built around sleek R&B-inspired production, giving the track a more sensual and atmospheric feel. Compared to the louder, more performance-heavy aspects of “TOP 5,” this song focuses more on layered vocals and subtle groove rather than explosive production. The falsettos throughout the track add a softness that makes the chorus feel even more immersive. Again, this song almost feels too short and has the potential to be longer. The line “Visions that I see in my dreams make it real” perfectly captures the song’s core message about ambition and self-belief, turning dreams into something tangible rather than distant fantasies. It also reinforces the album’s theme of ascension, suggesting that growth begins with believing strongly in yourself and your dreams to eventually turn them into reality.
The next B-side track stands out largely because member GUNWOOK helped write, compose, and arrange the song, adding a more personal layer. With its pop-rock direction, the track easily showcases the members’ vocal talents. The repeated line “You can customize my heart” turns love into something transformative, showing a willingness to let another person completely reshape your emotions and identity; however, it also carries a slightly unsettling undertone, especially alongside lines like “I’m in the palm of your hand,” making the song feel less like romance and more as if you’re surrendering yourself to someone fully.
“Exotic” leans heavily into techno and Y2K synth textures, offering a catchy, energetic listening experience. The song captures escaping routine and embracing something unfamiliar. Combined with its hypnotic production and repeated usage of the line “Inside out, I’m giving you that exotic,” the track turns stepping outside of your comfort zone into something empowering.
“Changes” goes back into R&B track territory, but this time, slower and more soulful. The track focuses heavily on vocal harmonies and emotion, portraying love as something that appears gentle outwardly while hiding much deeper emotions underneath. Combined with the recurring ocean imagery throughout the track, the line, “고요한 바다 같이 / 겉으로 보기엔 잔잔해 (“Like a quiet ocean / On the surface, it looks so calm)” reinforces the idea that feelings can quietly grow more intense over time, even if on the surface, nothing visible seems to change.
The last track on Ascend-, “Zero to Hundred,” brings their album to a powerful close with its upbeat dance-pop production. The song highlights powerful synth work with a seamless blend of vocals and rap. The track captures both the song’s and album’s core theme of ascension, using speeding imagery, late-night cityscapes, and acceleration to mirror the feeling of continuously moving forward and climbing higher without hesitation, despite uncertainty.
Ultimately, Ascend- feels like a defining moment for ZEROBASEONE. Not because the group completely reinvents themselves, but because they feel fully confident experimenting with who they want to become. Even when certain tracks feel shorter than they should or leave room for fuller development, the album never loses its sense of ambition and momentum. More importantly, ASCEND- proves that ZEROBASEONE are at their strongest when they push beyond familiarity and continue exploring new sounds, textures, and atmospheres. Each track contributes to Ascend-’s overarching theme of growth, elevation, and continuously climbing higher, and only time will tell just how high the group will go.
With KCON LA just around the corner, fans will not have to wait long to experience this live. On August 15, ZEROBASEONE will take the stage, where they are set to perform “Exotic” for the first time. If Ascend- is any indication of where the group is headed next, their KCON performance will offer an exciting glimpse into how this new era translates to the stage.
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