On
NCT 127
's sixth full-length (and fifth in as many years), the crew scales back some of the bombast of 2023's
Fact Check
and narrows their scope to great effect on the focused
Walk
. Smooth R&B ballads, old-school rap showcases, and restrained dance-pop give off an effortless cool that is both charming and engrossing. The rapped verses are the highlights of
, heard across the entire set but most aggressively on the title track, and most impressively on the standout "Rain Drop." Even without a flurry of explosive tracks like "Kick It" or "Bring the Noize" ("Gas" is the most raucous it gets),
is maturing with class and
is yet another solid release from the crew. ~ Neil Z. Yeung