K-Pop’s new concept idols have returned. Rookie boy group KINGDOM released their third mini-album History of Kingdom: Pt. III. Ivan, centered around member Ivan. The album is led by the powerful new single “Black Crown” and features five new B-sides. Let’s take a look at what the group has to offer. 

Based on the seven iconic rulers of the world, each KINGDOM release has centered around one member who represents one ruler. With their debut, the group started their journey in medieval Europe with the tale of King Arthur. With their first comeback, KINGDOM traveled to ancient China, dubbed the Cloud Kingdom, to share the story of the great emperor Chiyou. For their latest release, KINGDOM travels to the desolate icy deserts of Russia, dubbed the Snow Kingdom, to tell the somber story of Ivan the Terrible. The song “Black Crown” tells the story of the conflict between good and evil, similar to the story of Ivan and the tsar's complex personality. Historical texts have described him as intelligent and devout, but also prone to paranoia and rage. 

The lyrics of the song find KINGDOM reluctantly wearing the “black crown” and accepting the evil within themselves. They come to the realization that there is no other way of living without good and evil coexisting. The song incorporates an orchestral arrangement that draws on the eerie feeling of cold winter nights and makes for a sinister tone in time for Halloween.

KINGDOM’s music videos are by far their crown jewels. The new video features a much darker aesthetic with faux furs and generally dark themes, despite the outfits being white as snow. This contrast helps convey the story in the lyrics through dynamic visuals and intense choreography. The video features a lot more CGI compared to their previous videos and contains many references to shows like Game of Thrones and The Witcher as well as movie series The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. 

The mini-album once again features songwriting by members Dann and Mujin on the B-side track “Fallen Star,” an EDM-influenced R&B track, and contains a nice mix of pop, dance, and EDM tracks among its B-sides, further showcasing their versatility. In line with their concept, the group has once again hinted at their next release being centered around member Dann. Fan theories about Dann being based on King Dan of Denmark have been proven wrong, and it is speculated that his character is based on King Dangun, the legendary founder and god-king of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom. Watch the cinematic music video for “Black Crown” below!