Within the ten months since ‘Manifesto : Day 1’, ENHYPEN have skilled life as world artists for the primary time – embarking on their first world tour, attending Milan Vogue Week and collaborating in outstanding Okay-pop festivals, from Music Financial institution in Paris to headlining Las Vegas’ We Bridge Expo 2023. In any case that, the septet are lastly able to usher in a brand new period with their fourth mini-album, ‘Darkish Blood’. The primary installment of the so-called ‘Blood’ collection, it marks a return to the group’s story-driven beginnings, absolutely embracing their narrative as Okay-pop’s smoothest vampires.
Whereas the legendary creatures have been solely alluded to in earlier releases (like debut single ‘Given-Taken’ and 2021’s hazy ‘Drunk-Dazed’), title monitor ‘Chunk Me’ leaves no doubts. “In case you’re going to avoid wasting me / Simply come kiss me and chew me,” they plead within the refrain. However like several improbable story, there may be some poison inside. ‘Chunk Me’ is laced with the most effective of early-’00s boyband pop, with an addictive “Oh my, oh my God” hook and a compelling chorus, however its pre-chorus stalls the momentum. Barging in just like the villain in a Disney film, it ends the enjoyable approach too quickly. There’s no bridge, no closing refrain, simply an eerie fade out that leaves us wanting extra.
However that’s the place ENHYPEN problem us, as they’ve executed with all their title tracks not too long ago. 2022’s ‘Blessed-Cursed’ was their final single to characteristic a hyphen, and the primary to not characteristic a bridge. ‘Future Excellent (Go the MIC)’ and ‘Chunk Me’ proceed this legacy, as if the dearth of the hyphen interprets right into a sonic absence and disconnect, too. “Come to me, make it proper / Please join me once more,” they beg within the latter.
Whether or not it is a intelligent selection or an uncanny coincidence, it does add to the truth that ENHYPEN’s lore is inextricable from their music. For higher or for worse, it invitations a unique method when listening to their albums, contemplating not solely the music itself, but in addition the bigger narrative being communicated by means of it. And ‘Darkish Blood’ – which additionally serves as a complement to HYBE’s ENHYPEN-based webtoon Darkish Moon: The Blood Altar – runs thicker and deeper than something they launched earlier than.
Opening track ‘Destiny’ introduces this somber journey with Renaissance-like harp chords and a momentous verve. After a contextualizing narration, the members notice it’s their future to “comply with this blood signal, on the finish of the street / to dedicate myself to you” The vampiric, waiving motifs proceed by means of the title monitor and its two inebriating follow-ups: ‘Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)’ and ‘Chaconne’.
Whereas within the first one they relinquish all energy underneath an intriguing darkish reggae rhythm (“I dedicate to you my life / Drink my flesh and blood, babe / This bliss sacrificed by destiny,” they sing), the dusky ‘Chaconne’ brings a descent into insanity, the place the group sees themselves as monsters, “dancing the dance of loss of life / drunk with conceitedness”.
It’s as much as the final two tracks to showcase a glimpse of sunshine – and echoes of ENHYPEN’s previous. The dreamy ‘Payments’, which stands out as probably the most sonically distinct within the album, employs lo-fi hip-hop beats and permits the members’ smart vocals to shine, working like an indie third sibling to feel-good hits ‘Polaroid Love’ and ‘TFW (That Feeling When)’. In the meantime, closing monitor ‘Karma’ is the group’s commonplace however dependable rock effort, borrowing guitar riffs from final 12 months’s ‘Shout Out’ and even considered one of its producers, Waveshower.
As a storytelling system, it’s clear that ‘Darkish Blood’ is only the start. It leaves sufficient open threads for the upcoming chapters to develop, and doesn’t dive deep into any conclusions about its characters’ futures — or fates. Musically, this could be ENHYPEN’s most cohesive work to date, however among the manufacturing selections play it secure after they may have been as daring because the graphic imagery they carry within the lyrics. ‘Darkish Blood’ is at its finest when it attracts from the underworld: unafraid to bleed, to beg and to be born anew.
Particulars
- Launch date: Could 22, 2023
- Document label: Belift Lab, HYBE
