Already scoring a hit in 2023 with 5-Star, South Korean boy band Stray Kids manage to outdo themselves with their 13th EP, Rock-Star. Living up to the title, this is a star-making collection for a group already firing on all cylinders, bringing an almost unbearable energy with yet another collection of hybrid dance anthems that are boosted by muscular, swaggering rap attacks. Though there are faint hints of their contemporaries, Rock-Star sets Stray Kids apart from the pack with sheer production thrills and unrivaled delivery. Take lead track "MEGAVERSE," for example: pounding through the cranium, electro-noize gives way to robotic aggression, breakneck bars, a soul-lifting pre-chorus, and a gut-shaking drop that's punctuated by booming group "woofs" that might make listeners feel like flipping a table or kicking through a wall. "LALALALA" (both its original and "Rock" versions) and "COMFLEX" aim for similar results. The skittering "BLIND SPOT" and "Social Path" (featuring Japanese vocalist LiSA) add pop-punk energy to the mix, while "Cover Me" and "Leave" serve as this effort's catch-your-breath moments. With their honed brand of maximalist pop, Stray Kids have done it again. Upon release, the set topped charts in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., breaking into the Top Three in Australia, France, and Germany. ~ Neil Z. Yeung