The summer comeback season is in full effect for K-Pop music. Fans are scribbling notes into their calendars and eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite groups and soloists as the weather warms up and tours are announced. Among the artists looking to make the most out of the coming months is ATEEZ, an eight-member boy group under KQ Entertainment.

The last time ATEEZ released a full comeback was November 15, 2024. Their 11th mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2, was a collection of six impressively diverse songs, including the effortlessly cool "Ice On My Teeth." Generally, their music is defined by its power, both in its sound and in the performances that follow.

ATEEZ is a group that never gives less than 100% on stage, making live shows a hot ticket wherever they go. In the last two years alone, they've risen to new heights, planting themselves firmly alongside the biggest names in an ever-growing genre. Ahead of their 12th mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3, learn all about ATEEZ's incredible growth, previous heated hits, and where to catch them on tour this summer.

The Boy Group Is In A League Of Their Own

2024 Was A Monumental Year For ATEEZ

As a group under KQ Entertainment, they don't hold any of the slight privileges that come with being under a larger company, like SM Entertainment or HYBE. In short, this means that nothing was handed to them. Instead of being gifted opportunity after opportunity to perform on bigger stages or market themselves in a broader way, ATEEZ had to put in even more effort than some of their peers just to get their foot in one single door. Their blood, sweat, and tears over the course of nearly seven years have gotten them to where they are today.

It's not often that a K-Pop group experiences the year-long run that ATEEZ had in 2024. Over the course of 12 months, they released two mini-albums, two Japanese single albums, two explosive collaborations with Japanese boy group BE:FIRST (one of which was written, produced, and arranged by rapper Mingi), and a handful of solo ventures, including a collaboration between leader/rapper Hongjoong and superstar Chung Ha and an OST for K-Drama Lovely Runner sung by Jongho.

They started the year by kicking off their Towards the Light: Will to Power world tour in Seoul, which continued into 2025. Several made memorable appearances at Paris Fashion Week, including San's fashion show debut in Milan for Dolce & Gabbana. The GRAMMY Museum unveiled their first ever K-Pop exhibit featuring ATEEZ and their company juniors, xikers. They were announced as Record Store Day's first K-Pop Artist of the Year, the first K-Pop act to perform at the Mawazine Festival in Morocco, and received their first Grand Prize award at the Korean Grand Music Awards.

All of this is to say that ATEEZ is arguably at the height of their career. After debuting to moderate fanfare back in 2018 under a company that didn't think it'd debut a new group anytime soon, this octet couldn't have imagined that they'd become the first K-Pop boy group to perform at Coachella in 2024 or have multiple albums debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 back-to-back. They couldn't believe it, and yet it happened, because they earned everything they achieved.

ATEEZ Isn't A Stranger To Turning Up The Heat

Their Summer & Sexy Concepts Are Some Of Their Most Popular

There's a K-Pop song for every season, but nothing wins over fans like one that sounds like it was recorded on the beach or made for blasting on the hottest day of the year. ATEEZ aren't immune to the summer trend. Their first Korean music show win didn't come until their third mini-album with "WAVE," an energetic song encouraging listeners to let their worries go. They even sing "hakuna matata" in the choruses just to get their point across. On that same album was "ILLUSION," a bubbly track that feels like a breath of fresh, salty air.

There are other summery concepts sprinkled throughout the group's large discography, but also a lot of songs that are heated in a much different way. Summer and sexy concepts, specifically for boy groups, feel like a no-brainer; they're a fairly simple way to get anyone's attention, and there are countless templates to follow for each. Songs like "Deja Vu" and "IT's You" are just two of ATEEZ's most successful tracks that fall under the sexy concept umbrella. The choreography, styling, and vocal delivery are what always end up selling it for them, usually without even trying.

It's been a while since ATEEZ has tapped into either of these concepts. Their The World trilogy focused on heavier sounds that transported listeners to a dystopian wasteland, while their GOLDEN HOUR albums, so far, have been a more experimental era. "WORK" was ridiculously fun, featuring a clarinet lead-in and a music video where Mingi was dressed like Willy Wonka, cane and all. "Ice On My Teeth" was their well-deserved braggadocious track where each member presented their strengths without inviting .

So far, as of the time of writing this, it seems like their next title track, "Lemon Drop," could be a combination of the summer heat and the themes that come with a sexy concept. Images feature condensation clinging to every surface. Instagram captions read phrases like "Break glass in case of thirst." The two versions of the physical album are labeled "Thirst Ver." and "Heat Ver.," so it isn't difficult to imagine what they might have in store when they drop their 12th mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR : Part. 3, on June 13.

Their Summer Is Already Booked & Busy

Catch Them On Tour After Their Comeback

On March 31, ATEEZ announced their 2025 world tour titled IN YOUR FANTASY. Fans were shocked that this announcement came just over a month after their previous world tour ended, but the group is known for cramming in as much time on the road as they can and giving their all at every stop. With a name like IN YOUR FANTASY and the knowledge that an early June comeback is on the way, it's easy to imagine how perfect these new songs will sound on a summer tour so soon after they're released.

Whether you're a fan who doesn't need any kind of introduction to ATEEZ or one who is looking to get into a new group, you won't want to miss the chance to see them on tour this summer. They're a group that's been touring since the year after they debuted, so they've already crafted what must be one of the most impressive live shows in K-Pop. When you attend an ATEEZ show, you'll undoubtedly want to find out when you can see them next before the lights even come back up.