Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer
{{Infobox album
| name = Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer
| type = ep
| artist = Ateez
| cover = Treasure Epilogue Action to Answer.png
| alt =
| caption = Digital cover{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/treasure-epilogue-action-to-answer-ep/1493365097|title=Treasure Epilogue : Action to Answer – EP by Ateez|website=Apple Music|accessdate=April 18, 2020}}
| released = {{Start date|2020|01|06}}
| recorded = 2019
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|K-pop|hip hop|EDM}}
| length = 15:29
| language = Korean
| label = KQ Entertainment
| producer =
| prev_title = Treasure EP.Extra: Shift the Map
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Treasure EP.Map to Answer
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer
| type = ep
| single1 = Answer
| single1date = January 6, 2020
}}
}}
Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer is the fourth extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band Ateez. It was released on January 6, 2020, with "Answer" serving as the lead single. The physical album comes in two versions: A and Z.{{cite web|url=https://www.yesasia.com/us/ateez-treasure-epilogue-action-to-answer-a-z-version/1086767150-0-0-0-en/info.html|title=YesAsia: Ateez – Treasure Epilogue : Action to Answer (A + Z Version)|website=YesAsia|accessdate=April 18, 2020}} Musically, it is a hip hop and EDM album.
Commercially, the album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart, becoming Ateez's second number-one album in South Korea. Ateez promoted the album with a series of live performances on the Golden Disc Awards and various South Korean music shows. The band also announced The Fellowship: Map The Treasure World Tour in support of the album series.
Release and promotion
On December 24, 2019, Ateez teased their comeback in 2020, through a poster teaser containing the words: "Look around you. Did you find your TREASURE? Through the phrase, Can you see the changes?"{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=213&aid=0001146466|title=ATEEZ, 2020년 컴백 선언…강렬한 글로벌 인상|trans-title=ATEEZ announces comeback in 2020 ... Strong global impression|date=December 24, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=TV Report|last=Ye-na|first=Kim|via=Naver}} On December 26, KQ Entertainment announced the release of Ateez's fourth extended play Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer along with the release date.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004140930|title=에이티즈, 2020년 1월 6일 새 앨범 컴백 확정..새로운 변신 예고|trans-title=ATEEZ Confirms New Album Comeback On January 6, 2020|date=December 26, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=OSEN|last=Kyung|first=Jimin|via=Naver}} It serves as a follow-up to their successful "Treasure" album series which began with their debut in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200107000643|title=Ateez kicks off new year with 'Answer'|date=January 7, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|work=The Korea Herald|last=Hong|first=Dam-young}}{{cite web|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=001&aid=0011299114|script-title=ko: 에이티즈, 다음 달 6일 컴백…'트레저' 잇는 신보|trans-title=Ateez, comeback on the 6th of next month… Shin Treasure connecting 'Treasure'|date=December 26, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|work=Yonhap News Agency|last=Oh|first=Bo-ram}} A comeback schedule was released the same day containing dates for the sequential release of teasers for the album.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000224567|title=컴백 에이티즈, 새 앨범으로 보여줄 세계관‥다채로운 콘텐츠 예고|trans-title=Comeback Ateez, Worldview to show with new album ‥ Colorful Content Notice|date=December 27, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Newsen|last=Lee|first=Ha-na|via=Naver}} The full album tracklist was released on December 27.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001091964|title=에이티즈, 새 앨범 프로모션 맵·트랙리스트 공개…독보적 콘셉트 예고|trans-title=ATEEZ unveils new album promotion map tracklist… Unique concept notice|date=December 24, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Xports News|last=Park|first=So-yeon|via=Naver}} The album consists of five tracks including the lead single, "Answer".{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000786576|title='컴백' 에이티즈, 호기심 자극 트랙리스트 공개…독보적 세계관 예고|trans-title='Comeback' ATEEZ reveals curiosity-stimulating track list… Unprecedented worldview notice|date=December 27, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Sports Donga|last=Jeon|first=Hyojin|via=Naver}} The same day, a group photo teaser for the album was released.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000786766|title='컴백' 에이티즈, 세련된 블랙 수트…단체 티저 공개|trans-title='Comeback' ATEEZ, stylish black suit… Group teaser release|date=December 28, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Sports Donga|last=Jeon|first=Hyojin|via=Naver}} From December 28 to December 31, solo teaser photos for the band members were released, in sets of two.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=410&aid=0000656376|title=ATEEZ 홍중·성화, 티저 이미지 공개…오묘한 분위기|trans-title=ATEEZ Hongjung · Sunghwa, teaser image released… A subtle atmosphere|date=December 29, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=MK Sports|last=Son|first=Jin-a|via=Naver}}{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000787882|title='컴백' 에이티즈, 클래식+절제 카리스마 티저 공개|trans-title='Comeback' ATEEZ reveals classic + abstinence charisma teaser|date=December 29, 2019|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Sports Donga|last=Jeon|first=Hyojin|via=Naver}} On January 2, the group released a performance poster teaser.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000788333|title='컴백' 에이티즈, 시크 눈빛 발사…퍼포먼스 포스터 공개|trans-title='Comeback' ATEEZ, chic eyes launch… Performance poster released|date=January 3, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Sports Donga|last=Jeon|first=Hyojin|via=Naver}} On January 3, a performance preview video of the lead single, "Answer" was released.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004144892|title=에이티즈, 치명적 매력 퍼포먼스 프리뷰 공개..'TREASURE' 시리즈 끝과 시작|trans-title=ATEEZ's lethal charm performance preview released .. 'TREASURE' series end and start|date=January 3, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=OSEN|last=Kang|first=Seo-jeong|via=Naver}} The album was released on January 6 in CD and digital formats.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003516528|title=[공식] 에이티즈, 오늘(6일) 'TREASURE)' 완결판 에필로그 앨범 발매|trans-title=[Official] ATEEZ's Releases Epilogue Album 'TREASURE', Today (6th)|date=January 3, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Sports Chosun|last=Bae|first=Ji-eun|via=Naver}} An accompanying music video for the lead single, "Answer" was released in conjunction with the release of the album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8547368/ateez-answer-video|title=Ateez Kick Off the New Year With Dramatic 'Answer' Video: Watch|date=January 6, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|magazine=Billboard|last=Herman|first=Tamar}} The video references to the group's past releases "Say My Name", "Wave", "Illusion", "Hala Hala" and "Pirate King" and depicts the band looking back on their journey, along with a brand new spoiler for an upcoming song, which was revealed three years later as "Sector 1" from their 2022 EP The World EP.1: Movement.{{Cite magazine |last=Benjamin |first=Jeff |date=2022-08-09 |title=ATEEZ Break Down Every Song on Their First Top 10 Album 'The World EP.1: Movement' |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/ateez-break-down-every-song-on-their-first-top-10-album-the-world-ep-1-movement/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{cite magazine|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/ateez-raise-a-glass-to-themselves-in-the-new-video-for-answer/|title=ATEEZ Raise a Glass to Themselves in the New Video for 'Answer'|date=January 6, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone India|last=Chakraborty|first=Riddhi}} The group maintained their "dynamic performance style" while showcasing "powerful choreography".
On January 4, Ateez performed "Answer" for the first time at the 34th Golden Disc Awards. The group promoted the album through a series of live performances on various music shows, starting with Mnet's M! Countdown on January 9.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000429603|title='엠카운트다운', 스트레이 키즈·에이티즈·온앤오프·AB6IX 컴백무대 '최초 공개'|trans-title='M Countdown', Stray Kids, ATEEZ, On & Off, AB6IX Comeback Stage 'First Release'|date=January 9, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Hankook Ilbo|last=Lee|first=Jihyung|via=Naver}} They also performed the songs from their album on KBS's Music Bank,{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=410&aid=0000660196|title='뮤직뱅크' 에이티즈, 섹시 카리스마 발산한 '지평선'→'Answer'|date=January 10, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=MK Sports|last=Kim|first=No-uel|via=Naver}} MBC's Show! Music Core,{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002996117|title=SF9·에이티즈·드림노트·베리베리, '음악중심' 컴백|trans-title=SF9, ATEEZ, Dream Note, and Verivery, comeback with 'Music Core'|date=January 11, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Daily Sports|last=Hwang|first=Ji-young|via=Naver}} and SBS's Inkigayo.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002996350|title="역시 퍼포먼스돌"…'인기가요' 에이티즈 극과극 반전무대 '강렬'|trans-title="Performance Stone"… 'Inkigayo' ATEEZ drama and extreme anti-war stage 'strong'|date=January 10, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|language=ko|work=Daily Sports|last=Jo|first=Yeon-kyung|via=Naver}} Ateez further announced The Fellowship: Map The Treasure World Tour in support of the album series.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/live/8547884/ateez-add-tickets-world-tour|title=Ateez Sell Out Multiple Arenas on World Tour, Add More Seats For Sale: Exclusive|date=January 13, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020|magazine=Billboard|last=Benjamin|first=Jeff}}
Composition
The album's lead single, "Answer" is a hip hop, trap and EDM song in style of dark Latin pop. The song features "high-notes", "soaring hooks", vocal harmonies, "melodic verses" and heavy raps. It derives from piano and panpiped instrumentation which invokes a blend of Celtic folk and Eurobeat musical styles.{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/music/article/3070595/ateez-treasure-epilogue-action-answer-review|title=Ateez 'Treasure Epilogue: Action To Answer' review: Packing in as much as possible|last=Gillett|first=Chris|work=South China Morning Post|date=January 8, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020}} The end of the "Answer" music video features the intro of their 2022 song "Sector 1". "Star 1117" is an R&B ballad song with slow piano notes, falsetto inflections and smooth melodies. Featuring an "easy-to-sing-along-to" chorus, the song is dedicated to the group's fans. "Horizon" is a "bombastic" hip hop and EDM song.{{cite web|url=https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10371984|title=TREASURE EPILOGUE: Action To Answer|website=Melon|date=January 6, 2020|language=ko|accessdate=May 13, 2020}} It was composed and written by HongJoong and was inspired by "Pirate King".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8550164/ateez-interview-treasure-epilogue-album-domestic-overseas-fans-world-tour-2020|title=ATEEZ Explain 'Treasure Epilogue' Album Messages, Feelings on Growing Fanbase & Preview 2020 World Tour|last=Benjamin|first=Jeff|magazine=Billboard|date=February 6, 2020|accessdate=May 13, 2020}} "Precious" is a hip hop song that serves extension to the song "Precious (Overture)" from their first studio album Treasure EP.Fin: All to Action (2019). "Outro: Long Journey", spanning for 90-seconds, features string instrumentation which has been compared to Coldplay's "Sunrise" from the album Everyday Life (2019).
Reception
Chris Gillett from South China Morning Post gave the album a positive review, writing: "Ateez sound at home with their synth-led hard hitters, but it’s when they break out of this formula, where they really strike gold." Hong Dam-young from The Korea Herald wrote, "The group has succeeded in carving out its own sonic niche, staying away from the more typical boy-next-door image and leaning toward a more aggressive and swaggering hip-hop style." Reviewing for IZM, Park Soo-jin wrote: "When looking at the title 'Answer' as the center, it is interesting to note that the creation of the members who gave different accents, even with the same lyrics (because they gave different directions), is interesting and distinctive."{{cite web |title=Answer- ATEEZ |url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=29946&bigcateidx=8&subcateidx=10&view_tp=1|website=IZM |accessdate=May 13, 2020 |language=Korean}}
The album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart giving Ateez, their second consecutive number one album in South Korea.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week|title=Album Chart – Week 2 of 2020|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|accessdate=January 16, 2020}} Additionally, it topped the Gaon Monthly Chart for the month of January, selling 128,273 copies.{{cite web|title=2020 Monthly Album Chart – January|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2020&termGbn=month|website=Gaon Chart|accessdate=February 6, 2020}} It also debuted at number five on the Billboard World Albums Chart.{{cite magazine |last1=Benjamin |first1=Jeff |title=ATEEZ Earn Best U.S. Sales Week & Return to Multiple Chart Peaks With New EP |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8548450/ateez-best-us-sales-week-treasure-epilogue-ep |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=May 13, 2020 |date=January 20, 2020}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|headline = Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Answer
| writer1 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Hongjoong, Mingi
| extra1 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Buddy
| length1 = 3:39
| title2 = Horizon
| note2 = 지평선; Jipyeongseon
| writer2 = Eden, Leez, Hongjoong, Mingi
| extra2 = Eden, Hongjoong, Leez, Buddy
| length2 = 3:11
| title3 = Star 1117
| writer3 = Eden, Leez, Hongjoong, Mingi
| extra3 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Buddy
| length3 = 3:42
| title4 = Precious
| writer4 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Hongjoong, Mingi
| extra4 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez
| length4 = 3:23
| title5 = Outro: Long Journey
| writer5 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Buddy
| extra5 = Eden, Ollounder, Leez, Buddy, 어나일
| length5 = 1:34
| total_length = 15:29
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly charts |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|144|artist=Ateez|album=Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer %5BEP%5D|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 8, 2020|refname=Flanders}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|181|artist=Ateez|album=Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer %5BEP%5D|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 8, 2020|refname=Wallonia}} |
| {{album chart|Oricon|31|date=2020-01-20|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 22, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Hungary|19|year=2020|week=7|artist=Ateez|album=Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer %5BEP%5D|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 22, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Poland|17|id=1266|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 23, 2020}} |
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Album Chart – Week 2, 2020|website=Gaon Chart|language=ko|accessdate=January 22, 2020}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|18|artist=Ateez|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 22, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardWorld|5|artist=Ateez|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 22, 2020}} |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end charts |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web |title=2020 Album Chart |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=year&hitYear=2020&year_time=3 |website=Gaon Chart |access-date=July 22, 2021 |language=ko}}
| 47 |
Accolades
| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and nominations !Year !Organization !Award !Work !Result !class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.}} |
| 2020
|Album of the Year – 1st Quarter |Treasure Epilogue: Action To Answer |{{nom}} |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Year-end lists !Critic/Publication !List !Work !Rank !class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.}} |
| Dazed
|The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 |"Answer" |8 |
| MTV
|The Best K-pop B-sides of 2020 |"Horizon" |12 |
| Paper
|The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 | rowspan="2" |"Answer" |13 |
| Time
|Best K-pop Songs of 2020 |N/A |
| South China Morning Post
|The 15 best K-pop albums of 2020 |Treasure Epilogue: Action To Answer |13 |
See also
- List of 2020 albums
- List of Gaon Album Chart number ones of 2020
- [https://ateezstore.com/ Ateez Merchandise]