Surpassing the border of expectations, ENHYPEN makes a grand entrance into the K-Pop industry. The seven-member boy band takes up the title as a rising rookie group with their debut album BORDER: DAY ONE, leaving a profound impression with their charismatic stage presence. Impressing many fans with their polished skills through Mnet’s survival show I-LAND, the boy band of impeccable character is rapidly gaining traction on an international stage.

“Given-Taken”

The global rookie group’s first title track is “Given-Taken,” standing as a representation of the contradicting ideas surrounding the group. Is this debut “given” to them or did they “take” up this challenge? A pop hip-hop song that manifests into a distinctive music style, “Given-Taken” exudes an unexplainable mysterious aura paired with the group’s mature concept. Overall, the track presents a modern sound, blending a rather complicated combination of beats that function as important elements in pointing out the mixed emotions ENHYPEN aims to deliver. Retaining a dark atmosphere, the title comprises smooth transitions that intensify the unique vocals of every member. 

The music video does a great job in embodying the restrained darkness portrayed in the title track. Mirroring the mystical aura, the video takes place at a grand old mansion that contributes toward building a mysterious atmosphere. Throughout the course of the music video, we see the depiction of the dualistic message that “Given-Taken” expresses; portraying bright scenes with the members smiling and then later more solemn expressions that create a slightly eerie atmosphere. Make sure to be on the lookout for the group’s dynamic and synchronized choreography!

Debut Album BORDER: DAY ONE 

The rookie group’s first album consists of six tracks total––five excluding the title. 

“Intro: Walk the Line” marks the beginning of BORDER: DAY ONE. Filled with Jake’s English narration, the intro track illustrates the seven members at an imaginary border. The song embraces the group’s collective determination and passion to start their journey into the world as expressed by the layered arrangement of vocals voicing out their resolute goal.  

ENHYPEN makes a direct confession with their next track “Let Me In (20 CUBE).” The song encompasses a catchy chorus that exudes powerful energy as the seven-member act asks for their lover to accept their confession. Powerful beats guide the rhythmic flow of the song, raising the internal hype accompanied by the irreplaceable grooviness present in “Let Me In (20 CUBE).”

“10 Months” integrates a pop sound, emitting mild retro vibes. In large contrast to the charisma of “Given-Taken,” the upbeat rhythm is a perfect match with the cheery keyboard sequence that merges to create a bright aura. The lyrics express a rather adorable side of ENHYPEN as they show their determination to outgrow their childishness to become a dependable partner.

Following “10 Months,” the boy band brings “Flicker,” a darker and calmer track. Overall, the song is composed of a minimized enigmatic charm as the atmosphere gradually grows intense throughout the course of the track. Although “Flicker” was previously released on the competition show I-LAND, BORDER: DAY ONE presents us with a complete ENHYPEN version this time around. 

The final song on the debut album is “Outro: Cross the Line.” While it mirrors the intro in that the narration guides the listener throughout the track, the outro fulfills its role in concluding this tracklist. It seems to stand parallel to the main concept as the outro starts off with a gloomy vibe that soon transforms into something spooky and eerie. With a defiant message, the outro brings BORDER: DAY ONE to an end.

Fresh on the scene, rookie group ENHYPEN is already setting notable records such as reaching 11 million views within the first day of the music video release. A global craze over the newest seven-member group is in progress, and with the group’s official debut being quite a success, it’s definitely worth looking forward to ENHYPEN’s future musical pursuits.