TXT weathers the storm in 'Steal The Wind'

Amid thunderous applause, the five boys of K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) emerge from a sea of fog, surrounded by a cloud of smoke and ushered in by pounding drums.

Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai bring you directly to the eye of the storm, as unnerving synths fill your senses. The opening song “Storm Is…” sets the tone for the whole concert, almost like a signal of the whirlwind that’s about to come.

The same track also opens TXT’s 9th mini album, “Perfect Storm,” set to drop Monday at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, the quintet kicked off their fifth world tour, “Steal The Wind,” with three sold-out shows at southern Seoul’s KSPO Dome, while also giving 32,000 fans a preview of their upcoming EP.

Foregoing the usual K-pop concert fare of an opening video and talking sections, TXT takes on a new challenge in “Steal The Wind,” with a setlist that flows like a musical with sparse breaks.

“Since it's our fifth tour, there were fixed routines, so this time we boldly stripped those away and built a setlist like a storm,” leader Soobin said.

“Steal The Wind” is an ambitious whirlwind of never-before-seen performances, weaving the band’s newer songs from the upcoming “Perfect Storm” and their May album “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns.”

Experimental tracks like “Take Me To Nirvana” and “Dream of Mine” showcase another side of the band, while crowd favorites like “Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go,” continue to bring out the rock vocals TXT became known for.

TXT also surprised fans with a performance of their Japanese song “Setsuna Hanabi” in Korea, a first for the band.

The quintet also debuted their new title track “Angel Bite,” an upbeat discoplug track that confronts the realities of loving in today’s chaotic society.

“Youth these days doesn't seem all that glamorous. Many feel anxious and think of themselves as nobody special, so we expressed the desire to be with someone even within that reality through ‘Angel Bite,’” Yeonjun said.

However, if there’s a standout track from the whole setlist, it’s easily the rock-powered “Higher Love” in all its anthemic spectacle and glory. TXT also showcases their chemistry with the crowd, creating a rousing choir that's bound to give you goosebumps.

In “Steal The Wind,” TXT takes a bold step into a new chapter, while also looking back at the last eight years.

“If you ask me what kind of group we are today, I'd say we're a very multidimensional group,” Taehyun said. “I think we're capable of expressing emotions, musical genres and performances in many different ways rather than limiting ourselves to just one style.”

TXT starts off the encore segment with their 2019 debut single “Crown,” showcasing their growth as a group.

“From our earlier albums to our latest releases, we've consistently tried to create music that reflects the emotions and experiences of many people's youth. I think we're a group that tells stories about the youth of our generation,” Hueningkai said.

“Steal The Wind” brings to life TXT’s genre-spanning discography, sweeping you off your feet.

TXT will tour 23 cities across four regions, with 33 shows in Asia, Japan, North America and Europe.