Originally scheduled to release in February, 4Minute released their third mini-album Volume Up and the music video for title track “Volume Up” on April 9, 2012. “Volume Up” has an overall EDM sound, but the inclusion of saxophone throughout the track is refreshing, and during the opening and the choruses, it takes on a bit of a dance-pop vibe. Even though the music video was released in April, the video has all the essential elements of a vampiric music video, making it perfect for the Halloween season.

While the comeback stage for “Dream Racer” is available to watch on the official Mnet YouTube channel, the comeback stage for “Volume Up” is not. However, their performance of the track for the One Asia Tour 2012 is. This performance included an intro of their song “Get On The Floor,” also off of the Volume Up mini-album, before the girl group launched into the performance of “Volume Up.” Continuing with the gothic vibes seen in the music video, 4Minute and their backup dancers are seen in long, sheer jackets. The difference between the dancers and 4Minute, however, is that the backup dancers are in all-black outfits while 4Minute sported baroque-style prints on their jackets and pants. The female idols also wore bejeweled golden necklaces and bracelets.

Two tracks from Volume Up appeared on the Gaon charts. “I’m OK” and “Volume Up” both charted on the Gaon Weekly Digital Chart, peaking at No. 79 and No. 2 respectively. The two tracks also charted on the Gaon Weekly Download Chart, with “I’m OK” peaking at No. 71 and “Volume Up” peaking at No. 1. “Volume Up” also peaked at No. 3 on the Gaon Weekly Streaming Chart and No. 9 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart. Volume Up also charted, with the mini-album peaking at No. 1 on the Gaon Weekly Album Chart, No. 4 on the Gaon Monthly Album Chart for April, and No. 30 on the Gaon Yearly Album Chart.

“Volume Up” took home three music show wins: two from Show Champion and one from M!COUNTDOWN. 4Minute were nominated for “Best Dance Performance (Female Group)” and “Song of the Year” at the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards and “Disc Bonsang” at the 2013 Golden Disc Awards, with the group taking home the “Disc Bonsang.”