Harry Kinds, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. Kevin Winter/Getty Photographs
Followers didn’t comprehend it, however One Path launched their final album with all 5 members in November 2014.
With the document, tilted 4 — a doable foreshadowing of what was to come back — Harry Kinds, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik dropped a 12-song document (with 4 bonus tracks) that ended up being the top of an period for the boy band.
Each member of the group had a writing credit score on the album, which supplied them an opportunity to point out off their extra mature sound. The high-energy X Issue tunes have been a factor of the previous because the boys have been now singing about real-life romances, a few of which have been extra public than others. Maybe essentially the most unforgettable music off this document is “Stockholm Syndrome,” which Horan continues to be performing regardless of the band members having their very own solo careers.
Look again with Us as we break down the success of 4 and the way it modified issues for One Path followers without end.
What Occurred:

One Path was shaped in 2010 on U.Ok.’s The X Issue and whereas they didn’t win the singing competitors, the boys grew to become a world phenomenon. Their debut album, Up All Evening, was launched in 2011 with a collection of pop hits together with “What Makes You Lovely.”
When it got here to their sophomore album, Take Me Dwelling, the boy band didn’t actually begin to experiment with sound, however their slight maturity was proven with the matching outfits (and dance strikes) saved previously. Whereas “Reside Whereas We’re Younger” was the massive pop hit on the album, the boys confirmed that they have been in a position to veer in a unique path (no pun supposed) with songs like “Little Issues.”
The group’s third album, Midnight Reminiscences, grew to become their greatest shift from their regular pop sound when it was launched in 2013. With extra rock affect, and Horan on the guitar, One Path proved they have been greater than only a boy band when singing about their private “Midnight Reminiscences” and ladies who put on a “Little Black Gown.”
The most important change, nevertheless, got here with 4 in 2014, followers simply didn’t comprehend it on the time. The album period was kicked off with a music known as “Fireproof” as the primary single. The album acquired blended opinions with critics praising the group for locating their most mature sound. Issues modified drastically for One Path within the months that adopted as Malik introduced his departure from the group in March 2015.
The remaining 4 members went on to launch another album, Made within the A.M. in 2015, earlier than the band went on an indefinite hiatus.
Why It Was a Massive Deal:

On the time of its launch, 4 didn’t appear to be that a lot of a giant deal, albeit some followers do argue that it’s the greatest One Path album. The importance of the songs and their meanings grew to become extra impactful after Malik left the group. Initially, the title appeared prefer it didn’t matter — they didn’t want one thing catchy, as a result of their fourth album could be simply as profitable as their final three.
Additionally, this album has the music “You & I,” which incorporates a be aware that solely Malik can hit. No, severely, Kinds tried to on stage after Malik left the band and his face in that second mentioned all of it.
The quantity 4 has since turn into rooted in One Path fandom as a result of some have speculated that the title was a touch at what was to come back throughout the group.
What Individuals Stated:
It was beforehand acknowledged that One Path followers regard 4 to be the band’s greatest album of all time. Nonetheless, critics felt in a different way on the time of its launch. Rolling Stone solely gave the album three out of 5 stars admitting that the document “primarily exhibits progress via the music.”
In a separate evaluate, Billboard known as the album One Path’s “awkward section” explaining that each their conventional pop and extra mature songs have been melding into one. Additionally they famous that the group missed the mark with their ballads and Us respectfully disagrees.
What Occurred Subsequent:

Nicely, Malik left the band. In March 2015, a press release launched to the One Path Fb web page modified the course of the group without end. Kinds, Tomlinson, Horan and Payne have been dedicated to staying collectively — however just for another album.
Their last efficiency as One Path occurred on December 31, 2015.
The place They Stand Now:
Malik was the primary to start out his solo profession and has since launched 4 full-length albums. Kinds got here subsequent together with his debut solo music coming in 2017. He has launched three albums since then. Horan has additionally kicked off a solo profession with three data below his belt and Tomlinson has launched two albums.
Payne launched one full-length album in 2019 previous to his October 2024 dying. The singer fell from a balcony at an Argentina resort, killing him at age 31. After an investigation into his passing, his dying was not dominated a suicide.