Stray Kids’ fourth studio album KARMA is, in a word, full of delightful surprises.
Helmed once again by 3RACHA — Bang Chan, Changbin and HAN — the record carries forward the group’s unmistakable identity, as seen in their earlier full-length projects: 5-STAR (2023), NOEASY (2021) and GO LIVE (2020). Yet KARMA distinguishes itself with a strikingly more cohesive sense of unity, elevating Stray Kids’ artistry to a new level of refinement.
The album comprises 11 tracks, including “CEREMONY” in both a Festival Version and an English Version. While the project spans a wider range of genres than ever before, it still maintains a striking sense of cohesion — thanks largely to the strength of its overarching theme. As explained by the members themselves in the podcast-style [INTRO “KARMA”] video, the record embodies their conviction and pride in “transforming even unfavorable karma into something good.” “CEREMONY” crystallizes that message, serving both as a declaration of confidence and a celebratory moment to revel in their current achievements.
One of the first impressions the album leaves is the noticeably greater presence of English lyrics and the presence of tracks that are clearly designed with live performance in mind. The songs are also strikingly shorter in length — aside from emo-hip-hop track “MESS” and the sentimental fan-dedicated track “0801,” nearly every piece barely reaches the three-minute mark. This stands in clear contrast to their previous EP ATE, highlighting a deliberate shift in structure and intent.
Another remarkable point about this album is that, once again, every track was produced under 3RACHA’s direction. For Stray Kids, this may be not surprising — but considering that they also released the full-length Japanese album GIANT last November, and spent an exhaustive 11 months on their world tour dominATE, one can’t help but wonder: How did they manage it?
Now in their eighth year, Stray Kids are showing no signs of slowing down. From August 2024 through July 2025, the group mounted their biggest world tour to date, 54 shows across 34 cities, including 27 stadiums worldwide. The marathon trek underscored not only their global reach, but also their determination to keep pushing boundaries. Fresh off the road, Stray Kids channeled that momentum into KARMA — an album conceived as both a celebration of how far they’ve come and a declaration of trust in who they are. The project serves as a reminder to embrace the present while keeping their gaze fixed forward. That belief is paying off: KARMA opens at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated Sept. 6, marking Stray Kids’ seventh chart-topping debut.
“BLEEP”
“BLEEP” stands out as the track that feels most quintessentially Stray Kids. With its powerful boom-bap rhythm, it’s a fitting opener to deliver the album’s central message — though unlike some of the other tracks, it doesn’t necessarily surprise with novelty. Still, its concept of equating the resolve to ignore outside noise with a literal “bleep” is clever, and the playful hook — “Rumors, bleep /boomers, bleep /crisis, bleep /hardship, bleep” — adds plenty of character. From Changbin’s heavy-hitting verse in the second half, to Seungmin and I.N’s vocals, and the seamless singing-rap flows of Lee Know and HAN, the track is packed with moments to savor.
“0801”
The track opens with a heartbeat-like rhythm and warm vocals, setting the tone for a heartfelt fan song. Having a chance to listen to the vocals of all the members is also very pleasant, since the track showcases the voices of all eight members so clearly. Another notable aspect lies in the lyrical arrangement; unlike the common K-pop formula where Korean verses lead into English choruses, here the sequence is reversed — an English verse precedes a Korean one — giving the song a distinctly pop-oriented impression. And when the line “I’ll STAY forever, oh I’ll STAY here” rings out in a live setting, it’s hard to imagine fans holding back tears. A synthwave-pop track that transcends taste, it’s one anyone can enjoy.
“Phoenix”
Despite its majestic title, “Phoenix” turns out to be an upbeat EDM track — and one of the first songs to instantly catch the ear when playing the album. As 3RACHA revealed in the [INTRO “KARMA”] video, it was written during a period when they were immersed in Avicii, and naturally evokes the spirit of early Avicii or Zedd. Alongside “In My Head,” it stands as one of the group’s boldest new ventures on this future house and EDM track “Stay,” it’s a song built for collective joy.
“MESS”
An emo hip-hop track where crisp guitar riffs intertwine with heavy beats, this song immediately signals HAN’s handiwork to anyone familiar with Stray Kids’ discography. Its raw portrayal of post-breakup emotions and regret also recalls the sensibility of their earlier tracks such as “Ex.” Originally running at four and a half minutes, the song has been trimmed down for the album, yet its emotional weight remains intact. Laden with vocal effects on record, it’s the kind of track that raises anticipation for how its emotions might resonate even more powerfully when performed live, carried purely by the members’ delivery.
“CREED”
Opening with a scratch sound that grabs the ear instantly, the track unfolds like a darker, trap-infused counterpart to the grandeur of “Mountains,” which opened last year’s ATE EP. True to its weighty title, “CREED” carries a solemn gravitas from start to finish — underscored by resonant effects that run throughout, and the commanding rap sequence delivered in turn by Hyunjin, Felix and Changbin. Positioned after the opener “BEEP” and the title track “CEREMONY,” it firmly anchors the album’s message, setting the stage for KARMA’s thematic journey.
“Ghost”
Carrying the sensation of an out-of-body emptiness against an upbeat rhythm, the track initially draws attention to its smooth interplay of lyrics and vocals. Yet with repeated listens, its playful details and unmistakable Stray Kids energy begin to surface. Centered on piercing synths that drive the melody, the production shifts fluidly — from synth lines to organ textures — while introducing fresh touches such as Felix’s deep-toned vocals. It’s a track full of layers, offering plenty to discover and enjoy.
“Half Time”
A prime example of Stray Kids’ take on easy listening, this track was even considered as a title contender. Alongside “CEREMONY,” it conveys a clear theme of competition and momentum. Bursting in as the sixth track — the album’s midpoint — with the rallying cry of “It’s only the first half,” it mirrors the unpredictability of a dribble through its shifting pitch dynamics. I.N’s chant-like shouts of “Uno, dos, tres, quatro” and a rousing group chorus add further texture, with unconventional elements flashing by before being neatly woven into a cohesive whole. As its title “Half Time” suggests, the song marks a turning point, embodying Stray Kids’ resolve to charge into the second half.
“In My Head”
With lively guitar and drum sounds and an instantly singable chorus, this pop-rock track showcases a fresh musical side of Stray Kids. It also carries a nostalgic edge, evoking early 2000s pop-punk acts like Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. As a song that’s bound to take on an electrifying new energy when performed live, it’s arguably the most delightful surprise on the album, leaving little doubt about its standout, feel-good impact.
“CEREMONY”
In terms of listenability and originality, “CEREMONY” easily ranks among the album’s best. Less serious than “BEEP” or “CREED,” yet clearly communicating the theme of celebration, it already succeeds in conveying the album’s message. Whereas their previous title track “Chk Chk Boom” leaned heavily on Latin hip-hop, “CEREMONY” fuses Brazilian funk rhythms with EDM trap. Written during a time when the group’s worldwide stadium tour was approaching, the track playfully weaves the celebratory chant ‘Hip-Hip (Hooray)’—a common cheering phrase in Australia and the U.K. — into its intro and chorus, serving as a nod to the two Australian members’ identity. Aside from the recurring chants of ‘Hip-Hip (Hooray),’ ‘Karma,’ and ‘Ceremony,’ the chorus is deliberately stripped back, leaving it spacious and cool — an intentional contrast to the group’s typically high-energy ‘hot’ style. Of course, there are still fiery moments — like Changbin’s commanding rap declaration: “We’re moving forward with maximum power.”
