LE SSERAFIM Enter a New Era in UNFORGIVEN
Just one day shy of their debut anniversary, everyone’s favorite fearless quintet is back with a brand new album. UNFORGIVEN marks LE SSERAFIM’s first studio album following a successful year under HYBE and SOURCE MUSIC. It consists of 13 tracks, including seven brand-new songs. The group is slated to have another big year with a performance at Weverse Con Festival in June and a world tour on the horizon. Enter a new era with LE SSERAFIM in UNFORGIVEN, now available on all streaming platforms.
Tracklist:
“The World Is My Oyster” (2023 Ver.)
“FEARLESS” (2023 Ver.)
“Blue Flame” (2023 Ver.)
“The Hydra”
“ANTIFRAGILE”
“Impurities”
“Burn the Bridge”
“UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)”
“No-Return (Into the unknown)”
“Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s wife”
“FEARNOT (Between you, me and the lamppost)”
“Flash Forward”
“Fire in the belly”
The first three tracks are 2023 versions of LE SSERAFIM’s debut mini-album, FEARLESS. Some fans were speculating how different they would sound from the originals, but it turns out that “2023 Ver.” is simply a polite way of saying “sans Kim Garam,” who was removed from the group in July 2022 following an alleged bullying scandal. The album then transitions into three tracks from their second mini album, ANTIFRAGILE, before finally moving into the seven new releases.
“Burn the Bridge” couldn’t be more appropriately titled as it essentially bridges the gap between old songs and new ones. The spoken word interlude is a mix of Korean, English, and Japanese and is about being faced with the choice to “give up or give in.” Backed into a corner of darkness, the girls of LE SSERAFIM choose a third, forbidden option and vow to move forward together. The final line, “We are unforgiven,” is the perfect lead-in to the title track of the same name.
“UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)” follows a similar formula to the group’s previous title tracks, “FEARLESS” and “ANTIFRAGILE.” It’s up-tempo and catchy with a repetitive tagline that’s sure to be the focus of a new Tiktok dance craze. Despite taking a slightly cookie-cutter approach, the overall message still manages to be inspiring as the lyrics urge listeners to stand up for what they believe in. The song focuses on self-confidence and empowerment, all while pushing back against societal norms. “UNFORGIVEN '' features American producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers, though it’s difficult to hear his influence in the track’s overall composition. However, his participation, in combination with the sampled soundtrack from the Western classic The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, makes “UNFORGIVEN '' a stand-out track.
The music video for “UNFORGIVEN” is unapologetic as the quintet embraces their inner villain with a Western twist. Inspiration was clearly drawn from the sampled OST with a modern flare as the girls don a mix of leather, fringe, bolo ties, and cowgirl hats. Impressive choreography is shown in various scenes, including dancing atop restaurant tables and classic cars. A key point in the dance mimics the appearance of devil horns, which is made abundantly clear when Kazuha rips off what’s left of her burning angel wings before the first chorus kicks in.
The following two tracks are equally dance-worthy, with “No-Return (Into the unknown)” serving as a pop anthem while “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s wife” takes on an EDM edge. The tracks bring listeners along for the ride as we enter a new world with LE SSERAFIM and face taboos head-on. The upbeat songs are counterposed with relaxed pop tracks “FEARNOT (Between you, me and the lamppost)” and “Flash Forward.” The first is a Taylor Swift-esque fan song about the members’ love and gratitude for their fanbase, FEARNOT. One of the most touching lyrics is an ode to their debut song, “In truth, she’s not all fearless / But you, you help her fear less.” The sweet track is followed up with a cool romantic song in which the girls of LE SSERAFIM boldly confess feelings of falling in love. The album wraps up with “Fire in the belly,” a track with clear Latin influences about moving forward to a bright future together.
Feel empowered with LE SSERAFIM in their first full-length album, UNFORGIVEN, and look forward to more captivating performances from the group this summer.
Edited by Asia Moore