NEXT (; stylized as N.EX.T as an abbreviation for New EXperiment Team) was a South Korean rock band known for its provocative songs that critiqued social injustice. The band was formed by iconic Korean experimental rock singer Shin Hae-chul and debuted in 1992 with the album Home. NEXT went through several line-up changes over the years and has been inactive since Shin's death in 2014.
History NEXT (New EXperiment Team) was the band of singer/songwriter Shin Hae Chul (신해철). The group split up following the 1997 release of Lazenca: A Space Rock Opera, and the instrumentalists formed the alternative metal band Novasonic with rapper Kim Jun Pyo.
N.EX.T reformed around 2003 following the disbanding of Novasonic, and composed the soundtrack for the Korean release of Guilty Gear XX #Reload. A few of its instrumental songs were re-worked into songs with vocals on the following album, The Return Of N.EX.T Part 3: The Book of War/The Diary of a Soldier. The Return of N.EX.T Part 3 included the song "Dear America" which featured many prominent Korean vocalists such as Psy, Kim Jun Pyo and Crash's Ahn Heung-Chan. Guitarist Kim Se-hwang released his first solo album, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, on June 27, 2011.
In 2014, group leader Shin Hae-chul died due to cardiac arrest after receiving poor medical treatment following a surgery where the surgeon illegally conducted a gastric bypass without patient consent. On August 8, 2015, the band made their last appearance at the Pentaport Rock Festival, along with other musicians, for a special memorial stage for Shin. Since then, NEXT has been considered to be on hiatus.
Themes NEXT's songs contain many cultural criticisms, with "Turn Off the T.V." and "Money" pointing to mediation and consumerism. Criticism of human disregard for the environment can be found in "Lazenca, Save Us" and "The World We Made," which creates musical contrasts between a pleasant, natural world and a terrifying, industrial, human-influenced world. "Cyber Budha Company Ltd." tells of a dark future in which humans can purchase small amounts of divinity through the use of machines and credit cards.
Members NEXT went through multiple line-up changes between 1992 and 2014. Shin Hae-chul (1992–2014) – vocals Jeong Gi-song (1992) – guitar Lee Dong-gyu (1992–1994) – drums, bass guitar Im Chang-su (1994) – guitar Lee Su-yong (1994–1997, 2006) – drums Kim Se-hwang (1994–1997, 2005–2014) – guitar Kim Yeong-seok (1995–1997, 2006) – bass guitar Won San-guk (2003–2005) – bass guitar Devin Lee (2003–2006) – guitar Dr. Juny (2003–2005) – drums Dong Hyeok (2003–2005) – keyboard Ji Hyeon-su (2006–2014) – keyboard Yun Te-ra (2007–2008) – drums Jade (2007–2014) – bass guitar Kim Dan (2008–2014) – drums
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR HomeReleased: June 1, 1992 Label: Jigu Inc., Danal Entertainment rowspan="4" rowspan="4" The Return of N.EX.T Part I: The BeingReleased: May 1, 1994 Label: Danal Entertainment The Return of N.EX.T Part II: WorldReleased: September 15, 1995 Label: Daeyoung AV Co., Ltd., Danal Entertainment Lazenca - A Space Rock OperaReleased: November 30, 1997 Label: Bugs Guilty Gear XX #Reload Korean Version Original Sound Track Released: November 6, 2003 Label: Team-- The Return of N.EX.T Part III: Republic of KoreaReleased: June 16, 2004 Label: Sony Music Entertainment (Korea) Inc. 6 KOR: 39,639+ ReGame?Released: February 23, 2006 Label: Sony Music Entertainment (Korea) Inc. 15 KOR: 9,874+ 666 Trilogy Part IReleased: December 9, 2008 Label: OGAM Entertainment
Compilation and live albums Title Album details Live Concert Chapter 1Released: May 25, 1995 Label: Danal Entertainment Live Concert Chapter 2Released: May 25, 1995 Label: Danal EntertainmentN.EX.T Is Alive [The World] TourReleased: February 9, 1996 Label: Daeyoung AV Co., Ltd., Danal EntertainmentThe First Fan Service: Live 2Released: August 1, 1997 Label: EMI Records, Bugs
Soundtrack albums Title Album details We Must Go To Apgujung-Dong On Windy DaysReleased: 1993 Label: Danal Entertainment
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR "Here I Stand For You" 1997 Here I Stand For You single album "I Want It All (Demo 0.7)" 2014 — "Cry"2016 - -Cry OST"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
See also Shin Hae-chul
References