From the medieval influences of England to the mythical exploration of Shangri-La and the piercing chill of Russia, the boys of KINGDOM are back with a new mini-album and a new historical concept. For member DANN, the group returns to tell the story of ancient Korea and brings historical influences both in concept and in the song production itself. The title track “Ascension” is centered around the Korean concept of Han (한), described as an internalized experience of trauma and sorrow of the collective Korean people. There’s no doubt that this group is currently releasing the most well-thought out and original concepts, and that remains true as the group takes us back to Asia to explore ancient Korea. 

The Title

“Ascension” is a track that can be described as incredibly unique. The track blends modern electronic influences and ancient instruments, which are heard very prominently throughout the melody. This certainly makes the track stand out and adds character to the song, since those ancient instruments are more noteworthy than in other releases that have used the same Korean influences. We thoroughly enjoyed this creative liberty on the song, but for a casual listener of K-Pop it may be a bit too eccentric for them. Regardless, you can feel the strength and sincerity in the track, and it seems to do the job of expressing Han (한) for those of us that do not experience it. 

Admittedly, the track packs less of a punch on its own compared to pairing with the music video. Compared to “Black Crown,” the production of this video was amped up to ten, with perfect settings reflecting ancient empires in Korea and beautiful hanbok outfits that are perfectly fit for each member. Much of the choreography takes inspiration from traditional dance practices, which adds a level of beauty and authenticity to the song. The storyline of the video depicts impending violence, likely to showcase the origin of Han (한). The video production is stunning, and probably their best one to date.

The Album

History of Kingdom: Pt.IV. Dann contains seven tracks, including the title and instrumental version of the title to round out. The album kicks off with an intro, as is their tradition, to lead into the theme of the title track. “Intro: Palace” musically paints a picture of a peaceful kingdom as it opens, but the tone shifts halfway through to an urgent and dystopic feel as if to convey the appearance of conflict. This tone stops dead in its tracks at about the 1:30 mark, where a simple string melody fades into the title track.

“Blinder” has a totally different feel from the title track. It’s something one might consider a typical K-Pop boy group title track, a driving upbeat classic pop sound. It’s an interesting contrast to the intense and serious “Ascension,” showing a more carefree side to the group. If you’re a fan of their more powerful songs, this one probably won’t hit the mark for you. But if you need a little break from all the intensity, it is a nice palate cleanser for that.

“Illusion” has a bit more character. The track is a more chill, EDM-influenced melody that we find particularly pleasant. While it still is definitely lighter than the title track, it feels a bit more substantial in showcasing the group’s talent than “Blinder.” “Appetite” gives us yet another genre shift, this time providing us with a more funky sound. This influence makes the song not just more upbeat, but also more groovy in general. It may just be personal preference coming into play for that, though.

The last B-side is “The Song of Dann (Promise),” which once again brings in ancient Korean instruments to tie it back into the title track. The song is a waltz ballad and screams sentimentality, which makes it much more beautiful. Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of ballads, but something about this track hits just right. It’s a great note to end the album on, showing strength in a genre we never see them use for the title tracks.

I do like that they have a little bit of everything on this album so we can see different sides to the group, and it helps to add depth to their sound. I was not very impressed with the B-sides opening with “Blinder,” but the album definitely improved as I listened on. Overall I think the album shows a lot of growth for the rookie group, especially in the realm of music video production. The album is definitely worth checking out, even if you’re not very familiar with KINGDOM.

“Ascension” Title Score: 8/10

Music Video Score: 10/10

History of Kingdom: Pt.IV. Dann Album Score: 8.5/10

Total Score: 8.8/10

Edited by Omani