ENHYPEN Solidifies Status as 4th Generation K-Pop Leaders with 'Dark Blood'
Boy group ENHYPEN is proving their worth as the undisputed leaders of the 4th generation K-pop with their fourth mini album.
On May 22, ENHYPEN released their fourth mini album 'Dark Blood.' Coming 10 months after their third mini album 'Manifesto: Day 1,' this return, far from being too brief, delivers a striking musical and performance contribution to the "May Comeback War."
'Dark Blood' tells the story of a boy who reunites with his destiny (you) and prepares to make a sacrifice for 'you.' Having affirmed their connection with fans through the pandemic, ENHYPEN channels their feelings of closeness, preciousness, and gratitude to fans into a dark fantasy story.
Has their bond with fans, symbolized by the hyphen in ENHYPEN, been reflected in the album? The sales performance of this latest album suggests something extraordinary. As praise for the title track 'Bite Me' and its music video continues, the album's sales trajectory is promising from the get-go.
According to the music sales aggregation site Hanteo Chart, ENHYPEN's fourth mini album 'Dark Blood' sold a total of 1,108,337 copies on the day of release alone, earning it 'Million Seller' status in just one day.
This is ENHYPEN's third 'Million Seller' album, setting a new personal record by significantly shortening the time it took for their third mini album 'Manifesto: Day 1' to surpass one million sales. If this momentum is maintained, there's a high probability of reaching a career-high in the first week's sales, surpassing the previous record of approximately 1.24 million.
The album hit number one on iTunes' 'Top Albums' charts in 30 countries/regions worldwide, including Japan, Indonesia, France, and Mexico. The music video for the title track 'Bite Me,' released simultaneously with the album, has also received a hot response, with YouTube views surpassing 10 million in just 15 hours, setting a new personal record.
The reaction to the title track is positive. 'Bite Me,' a pop genre song, expresses the feelings of a boy realizing that he is bound by blood to 'you' and asking 'you' to bite him again. This track, showing a somewhat different atmosphere from previous ENHYPEN title songs, offers a refreshing challenge rather than feeling unfamiliar.
During their debut showcase, the members embodied the changed atmosphere with grace, proving once again that they're a group that can do it all. With a sleek and profound performance, they left a strong impression, reaffirming their status as 'Performance Powerhouses.' Their worth will be fully verified through their music show performances.
The album also features highly complete and addictive music. Especially among K-pop fans, the 'Oh my oh my god' part in the middle of the title track is generating buzz. In addition, the quality of the songs included in the album besides the title track is exceptional, garnering praise for the overall quality of the album.
Among the '4th generation' groups that debuted in 2018-2019, ENHYPEN stands out. Since their debut in November 2020, their momentum is unparalleled among their peers who debuted in the 2020s.
ENHYPEN decorated their first year after debut with a solid global fandom, swept newcomer awards in various music awards in the following year, 2021. Despite the pandemic hindering debuts, they have been marching forward without pause, reaching a first-week sales of 1 million in just 1 year and 8 months since debut, drawing a steep growth trajectory and maintaining a unique journey since the early stages of their debut.
With each album, ENHYPEN has written their growth narrative through differentiated concepts and performances. Powered by their fandom 'ENGENE' and their own passion, they have made relentless strides. Particularly, they completed their first world tour in various regions including Asia and America, making a remarkable move as the first 4th generation group to hold a standalone performance in a Japanese dome.
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