Photo = BELIFT LAB

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] It was a moment that came right after major changes, including rebranding and a reorganization into a six-member system, but there was no wavering in the expressions of the ENHYPEN members. If anything, they looked more certain than ever.

 

ENHYPEN held a press conference for the release of its 8th mini album ‘THE SIN : BLISS’ at the Grand Ballroom of Mondrian Seoul Itaewon on the 20th and talked about the new album. The words that repeatedly appeared on this day were “certainty” and “confidence.”

 

“As much as we take pride in calling this album the best album of ENHYPEN’s career, we are confident that it is an album that can repay the many people who waited for us. While preparing this album, it was very unusual, but all the members agreed. We all agreed that the quality was so good in every aspect, and that among all our albums so far, this was the one we prepared with the least regret. Since it is the album we are most satisfied with, I think we will be able to promote it with the confidence that it will be our brightest album.” (JAY)

 

‘THE SIN : BLISS’ is the second album in the sin-motif series that follows the group’s 7th mini album. The narrative of the previous album, in which vampires began to flee with their human lovers, enters a new phase in this album. SUNGHOON introduced it by saying, “The previous album was about vampires beginning to flee with their lovers, and this album is about realizing that although there were many difficult moments during the escape, the fact that we are together itself is a blessing,” adding, “You will be able to feel a romance in which love for each other deepens even more amid crisis.”

 

Its completeness as a concept album is also exceptional. From the beginning, narration tracks and music tracks are arranged in order to form one story. Actors Park Jung-min, Kenjiro Tsuda, and Huang Zihongfan participated again following the previous album, and announcer KIM SUJI added realism by taking charge of the script and narration for the breaking news track.

 

“I think this is an album where, if you listen to the narration tracks and music tracks in order from the beginning, you can feel an immersion as if you are personally listening to a mystery show from vampire society on the radio. What fans have told us for a long time is that only ENHYPEN puts this much effort into concepts and builds storylines this much. We are continuing it in order to meet those expectations and bring out our strengths.” (JAY)

 

An interesting point is found here. The story inside the album surprisingly resembles the situation ENHYPEN is currently facing. The message of this album, that even in danger, if the person you love is by your side, that place is paradise, overlaps exactly with ENHYPEN’s present after going through the confusion of rebranding and a member change. And in that place of paradise were ENGENE, the fandom name.

 

“Our hearts have always been the same. In any situation, we thought of the stage and performance as the top priority. Starting with the Seoul concert in May, through the North and South America tour and Busan, we were able to receive so much energy from ENGENE. Through that tour, we were able to confirm that ENGENE felt the same way as us, and thanks to that energy, we were able to prepare hard for this comeback.” (JUNGWON)

 

Just as the vampires and human lovers in the album discovered paradise because they had each other even while fleeing, ENGENE were that paradise for ENHYPEN. In fact, ENHYPEN recalled gaining great strength at their Busan concert, where they first unveiled the new song’s stage, from seeing fans cheer hard and sing along even though the song had not yet been released. JAKE said, “Even though it was a song that had not been released yet, I was very surprised to see so many ENGENE cheering for us and singing along, and I am happy that we were able to receive so much support and strength before the comeback and prepare for it.”

 

Photo = BELIFT LAB

 

The title track ‘BLOODY PARADISE’ was completed in the Brazilian funk genre. It is a genre ENHYPEN is trying for the first time, but SUNGHOON has already tried the genre through his remix version of the title track from the 7th mini album. He compared this song to “tteokbokki eaten at a restaurant.” He said, “Tteokbokki is a food you can easily eat around you and is also stimulating, but this song gave me the feeling of tteokbokki eaten at a restaurant.” It is an expression that contains confidence that although it is a trendy genre these days, they have unfolded it in ENHYPEN’s own way.

 

“I think we have confidence that we can unfold Brazilian funk in ENHYPEN’s own color and in a way only we can.” (JAY)

 

“Although it is a song with a sound that is trendy these days, it is a genre we are trying for the first time, so I first thought that ENGENE would be able to feel both trendiness and freshness at the same time.” (NI-KI)

 

The fact that this is the group’s first album since reorganizing as six members was rather a secondary matter in the preparation process. JUNGWON said, “I think what we always thought about was the result of the work,” adding, “From the recording stage, rather than focusing on the number of members, we focused on how to make the result come out well as we prepared.” He explained that there was an Australia performance right after the team reorganization, and that as they continued working on the album afterward, the members actually talked even more with one another about the album.

 

Going through this time, JAY said he gained a new understanding of the team. JAY said, “Seeing our team carry out many performances on various big stages with an even more solid and bold presence made me think that we are an icon of growth, continuing to grow more and more,” adding, “I think each member was able to come this far by having their own concerns and making efforts.”

 

They also talked about the direction of the rebranding. JUNGWON said, “Even before the rebranding, there was the keyword of connection. We had talked about various connections through music, such as world to world and love to love, and through this rebranding, we carried out activities that connected us with various people through blood donation, for example, in addition to music and stages,” adding, “Going forward, we want to do more activities through which we can have a positive or good influence as ENHYPEN.”

 

Their future goal is clear. It is to wrap up 2026 well through this album. JAKE said, “Since we are making a comeback with such a good song this time, I am hoping for good results in digital music performance and on the Billboard charts.” Regarding the world tour, he added, “We also have a dome tour scheduled in Japan, and there are still many places around the world we have not been able to go to, so as long as ENGENE are there, we want to go and perform anytime.”

 

ENHYPEN’s 8th mini album ‘THE SIN : BLISS’ will be released tomorrow (21st) at 1 PM. Attention is focused on what kind of paradise ENHYPEN, like vampires who discovered paradise even while fleeing, will share with fans through this album.

 

grace@hanteo.com

 

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