It’s been 10 months since the world got a taste of the talents the seven-member band ENHYPEN holds, but they’re back with mini-album DARK BLOOD, and it is exciting, new, and thrilling. One way I would describe the new sound the boys decided to venture into is a mixture between 2000s R&B and the second generation of K-Pop. Whether that sounds exciting to you or not, this is definitely a comeback to follow.

Concept Trailer

The K-Pop industry is known for its storylines and concepts that make them stand out and make them unique. For ENHYPEN, they brought back the one thing many people were waiting for after their most recent comeback: their vampire concept.

After the release of DIMENSION: ANSWER, there was an obvious shift in their concept, going with the concept of needing to break free from the chains the industry had on them and how they should act and be. They wanted freedom, and I think they showcased that perfectly this time around.

The concept trailer for this comeback was a bit different than what most are used to; it was more of a short film than a trailer. From eerie music to dark lighting, the trailer really helped fans envision what the new album and era was gonna look like. I can go deep into the analysis of what the trailer really means, but that’s up for each person to interpret. Let’s talk about the sound ENHYPEN is bringing into 2023.

Title Track: “Bite Me”

The release consists of six songs, and the title track “Bite Me” sets a tone for what listeners can expect for the rest of the album. Before the release of the song, BELIFT LAB released an article explaining which members of the group were a part of the creative process behind the song, with NI-KI taking his insanely talented dance moves and putting them to work by being a part of the choreography process. After their most recent comeback, it’s obvious ENHYPEN stuck to their word about creating music they enjoy.

The song starts off in a thrilling way with Sunoo defining the relationship between them and the person they long for with the lyrics, “It’s you and me in this world / Again come to me, tie me”. My favorite thing this song does is isolate the vocals in the beginning before the low beat drop that comes in before Jungwon starts his verse. The song explains the desire for solidifying a relationship with someone that you know is a part of your destiny. Intertwining both that idea and the concept of vampires, the song became perfect to me.

The very simple lyric, “Oh my, oh my god,” in the refrain of the song wrapped me in the second I heard it. While not having a bridge, the song still found a way to loop in my mind and create new surprises for listeners. As much as this song screams late ‘90s and early 2000s pop, it also solidifies a new and fresh sound for the group which is something they’ve been wanting for a while.

The Music Video

The music video screams exquisite and old-timey vampire. The video was filmed in unique-looking castle ruins, which fully enticed me and really allowed me to feel the idea of vampires and sultry vibes. From unique choreo on a dance floor that symbolizes a chess board to dancing with backup dancers, this era is new and unique.

There are scenes in the video that can loop back into their debut song “Given-Taken,” which continues the vampire storyline. From standing and floating in the air to floating sitting in a chair, NI-KI really knew how to make himself seen in the video. The color scheme consists of red, black, and white, which caught my attention because seeing a dark side from the boys isn’t odd, but was definitely something I’ve been waiting for.

After the release of a “Bills” fanchant guide, ENGENES are speculating the song to be a potential promoted B-side. While we wait to see if any new music videos emerge from this album, check out “Bite Me!”

The Rest of the Album

The one thing I enjoy about ENHYPEN and their albums is that an intro and outro are always included. However, in this album, we only got an intro but it’s amazing. “Fate” sounds like the intro to a thriller, which makes this album that much more exciting; starting it off so strong is just like ENHYPEN.

“Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)” sounds like a sulky pop song that gives the thrilling but exciting vampire vibes all while speaking on the sense of darkness the boys feel. The one thing that really pops in this album is the influence of both pop and R&B, and I think that can be heard in the next two songs of the album. “Chaconne” and “Bills” both have an edge to them while also displaying the vocals the group holds. “Chaconne” is a song in which both Jay and Sunoo are use their lower registers to pull in listeners. This is my favorite song on the album right now.

The album ends with “Bills” and “Karma,” and while they’re both very different sounds, I personally think the instant shift made a lot of sense for the album. “Bills” speaks about the desire to hold onto something even if it isn’t good for you. Throughout the album, we get to experience the stages of love with the boys, from wanting to continue life with someone you think you’re destined to be with to ending the album pleading to not be forgotten, but finding peace in being let go.

“Karma” is a great way to end off such an amazing album that had many shifts in between. The rock-pop sound of this song brought me back to the release of “Blockbuster” and “Attention, please!” both from the DIMENSION : DILEMMA album. The rock sound is something I’ve been waiting for ENHYPEN to explore, and wow did they do it perfectly. The song screams 2000s pop punk, and if that’s something you enjoy, make sure you stream “Karma.”

While this album was highly anticipated, I personally think it was worth the wait. Being able to experience what it’s like when ENHYPEN takes the creative direction in their art has been a wonderful experience.

“Bite Me” Title Track Score: 9/10

“Bite Me” Music Video Score: 9/10

DARK BLOOD Album Score: 8.5/10

Overall Score: 8.8/10

Edited by Vivian N.