The group ENHYPEN is unfolding the confusion of identity, growth and its relationship with fans in three dimensions through a "dark fantasy" narrative. They have woven the symbolic motif of vampires into various content such as lyrics and music videos, further expanding global fans' immersive experience.
The unique album story ENHYPEN has built is cited as a major driving force that allowed them to become a top global group. Ahead of the mini seventh album THE SIN : VANISH set for release on the 16th, we look back on the grand saga of seven vampires that has continued for about five years from ENHYPEN's debut album BORDER : DAY ONE to the present.
#혼란 속 정체성 확립기 - 'BORDER', 'DIMENSION', 'MANIFESTO'
ENHYPEN's narrative started from feelings that were extremely realistic and human rather than grand fantasy. In the hearts of the boys who crossed the unknown border ('BORDER') and faced a new world are the feelings of those taking their first steps into the unfamiliar music industry, and the journey of finding the right answer amid confusion and dilemma ('DIMENSION') reflects the idol's self who experiences various worries with each promotion. In this process, the members come to realize their calling and roles and declare that they will go forward first to find "our own answer" ('MANIFESTO').
Even as they built this growth narrative, fantasy devices were woven throughout ENHYPEN's music. They revealed "my white fang" (from the lyrics of 'Given-Taken') in their debut song, hinted at a vampire identity by expressing the feeling of falling in love as "my heart is thirsty because of you" (from the lyrics of 'FEVER'), and such attempts that deftly oscillated between reality and fantasy became the foundation of the meticulously constructed narrative ENHYPEN created.
#the intensification of the "dark fantasy" that led to awakening and immersion - 'BLOOD', 'ROMANCE', 'DESIRE'
From the 'BLOOD' series onward, ENHYPEN opened their eyes to the existence of "you" and entered a deeper "dark fantasy" world. For them, "you" is a community bound by blood ('BLOOD') and someone they must protect even at the cost of sacrifice. The members displayed blind, devoted love toward "you," who accepted them as they were even with the secret of being vampires ('ROMANCE'), and furthermore were swept up in a strong desire ('DESIRE') to make "you" into a vampire like them.
The story with "you," which also means ENGENE (the fandom name), led to fans' immersion and cohesion. As a result, all five albums in the 'BLOOD', 'ROMANCE' and 'DESIRE' series exceeded first-week sales (album sales in the week immediately after release) of 1 million copies, and three of those works became double million sellers. In particular, the second full-length album ROMANCE : UNTOLD recorded the first triple million seller, confirming ENHYPEN's rising status as the narrative deepened.
#the beginning of another evolution… new release THE SIN : VANISH breaks down entertainment boundaries
Having shown the epitome of stepwise growth and established themselves as a new leader of K-pop, ENHYPEN opens a new chapter of an evolved "dark fantasy" narrative with THE SIN : VANISH. This album contains the story of lovers who chose to run away for love, breaking the taboo of a society where humans and vampires coexist, and is attracting attention as a "concept album" in which tracks, lyrics and sound are intricately connected.
A blockbuster scale comparable to a full-length album has been foreshadowed. All areas, including music, visuals and marketing, will mesh closely to induce a new level of immersion. Expectations are growing about what fresh thrills ENHYPEN will deliver as they return with a major work beyond "listening music" and expand the boundaries of entertainment.
[Photo] Provided by Belift Lab Inc.
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