When a new K-pop group debuts, the bar is always high. In an industry filled with catchy hooks, jaw-dropping choreography, and rapidly growing global acclaim, all eyes are on anyone who dares step foot into a world already inhabited by juggernauts like BTS and BLACKPINK.

ALPHA DRIVE ONE (also known as ALD1) is an eight-member K-pop boy group formed through BOYS II PLANET, the follow-up survival show that formed ZEROBASEONE. After the show’s finale aired on 25 September 2025, winning members JUNSEO, ARNO, LEO, GEONWOO, SANGWON, XINLONG, ANXIN, and SANGHYEON quickly got to work on their debut mini-album, EUPHORIA. 

Before they officially debuted, they gave early fans and curious onlookers a quick rev of their engine with “FORMULA.” Released on 3 December 2025, the track opens with a heavy beat that rattles your car speakers and makes you grip your headphones in both hands. Upon a first listen, it might not be for everyone. It might not even be what fans from BOYS II PLANET hoped for with how it favors deep, spoken vocal deliveries over the more powerful tones each member proved themselves capable of on the show.

“FORMULA” is an amalgamation of sorts. It pulls from classic K-pop boy group sounds with its unconventional instrumental, rap-heavy/chanting chorus, and over-the-top production, but it also manages to sound completely new, particularly for the current fifth-generation they were born into. 

It’s a strategically chosen pre-release single that seems built to result in divisiveness without any gimmicks. Listeners are bound to either love it or hate it, but no matter where one stands on that spectrum, they’re likely to find something among the many layers of “FORMULA” to love, whether that’s the hard-hitting chorus or the piano-accompanied, ethereal bridge. When SANGHYEON sings “My own way, my lane, watch close” in the second verse, it becomes clear that what ALD1 is doing is setting up their own course towards the finish line and asking those listening to either help them get there or step out of their way.

EUPHORIA, released 12 January 2026, is a six-track presentation of what exactly ALD1 is capable of. The title track is bold in a way that suggests the identity of a seasoned group rather than one formed just around four months ago. At the same time, the confidence placed in the song’s introductory lyrics by SANGWON, someone who’s waited a decade for this specific moment, already feels deserved. 

If “FORMULA” burst onto the scene with heavy bass and unapologetic boyishness, “FREAK ALARM” solidified ALD1’s debut as one listeners will be thinking about for months with impressive structure and purposeful production.

LEO muses questioningly “Feel so different like the new alien / Feels so close still it feels strange” in the pre-chorus, while ANXIN and JUNSEO double down on the confidence introduced to fans through “FORMULA,” singing “No one can deny / This drive / Keep your eyes straight up on me.” “FREAK ALARM” and its structure, especially while reading the lyrics on their own, feel like a chaotic yet realistic portrayal of the wavering confidence sure to weigh on the shoulders of anyone stepping onto a new stage for the first time. 

The group’s diverse talents shine in this track much more than with “FORMULA,” giving every individual member room to stand out in their own way. Vocalists like ANXIN, LEO, and GEONWOO float over every note they hit, while XINLONG’s deep vocal tone further accentuates each rap line and adlib. With every listen of the track and every view of the music video, a new member stands out, making “FREAK ALARM” an impressive first stop on the fast-moving journey of EUPHORIA.

As the mini-album progresses, listeners venture through four discernably different sonic worlds, each one showcasing a different side to what ALD1 is capable of fresh off of competing on a survival show. “Raw Flame” keeps up the pace with the opening tracks while swerving in and out of traffic seamlessly. “Chains” slows things down to the smoothest speed, bringing back a fan-favorite performance from BOYS II PLANET, reimagined in all its sensual glory to fit the official group. On their first try, they nail the classic sexy concept that most boy groups undergo at some point in their careers.

The final tracks, “Never Been 2 Heaven” and “Cinnamon Shake,” pick up speed with a more careful and distinctly sweet energy, easily bringing listeners to the finish line without a scratch. Both tracks overflow with a saccharine spirit that makes each of them stand out with the potential to become favorite b-sides for even the most unfamiliar onlookers. If listeners weren’t a fan of the first half of the mini-album, ALD1 invites them to stick around until the end to be sure they’ve seen everything they have to offer. 

On EUPHORIA, it becomes immediately evident that ALD1 isn’t afraid of their debut. If anything, they couldn’t be more prepared. All six tracks set them on a clear path for success in the way they provide a sample of what they’re capable of for those tuning in with different tastes. By the time they cross the line with over one million copies of their debut mini-album sold, fans are already on their feet, calling for a victory lap.