Start your ENGENES, because ENHYPEN are back! The septet has just released their new mini-album, ORANGE BLOOD, and we have adrenaline coursing through our veins. Finishing off a very successful 2023 for ENHYPEN, ORANGE BLOOD is so dynamic, yet one of the most cohesive bodies of work we’ve seen in K-Pop this year.
Whether you’re a hardcore stan or new blood(!), we truly can’t recommend the album enough! Do we have you convinced to give it a listen yet? No? Well, here are a few more reasons you should give it a try.
‘Sweet Venom’
We still can’t escape ‘Bite Me’ on our FYP or Spotify On Repeat playlist, and here ENHYPEN are with another iconic title track. That’s pretty much where the similarities end, though, aside from the not-so-subtle vampire references. Where ‘Bite Me’ was dark and intense, ‘Sweet Venom’ is bright and smooth. If you love 80s-influenced tracks, then this one is for you. Opening with a bassline that cuts right through you, ‘Sweet Venom’ is full of funk.
There are so many stand-out moments in ‘Sweet Venom,’ not the least those high notes, but we have to give special appreciation to Jay for co-writing the Korean lyrics and to Jake for that iconic outro.
The Aesthetic
If you haven’t seen the styling yet in this era, you are in for one seriously sweet treat. Adding onto the sonic influence, the aesthetic of ‘Sweet Venom’ is heavily Michael Jackson-inspired, too. Are you seeing those shoes?! Contrasting with the maximalism of DARK BLOOD, we’re seeing a more refined ENHYPEN in ORANGE BLOOD. Like the album, the aesthetic is cool and slick, and some of the concept photos even showed us a soft autumnal vibe.
‘Sweet Venom’ Music Video
Speaking of aesthetics, the music video for ‘Sweet Venom’ is frankly delicious. The cinematography is incredible, and we’ll put our hands up and say we genuinely don’t understand how they filmed those frozen parts. It’s truly beyond us.
Even more potent than our shock over the filming quality is our awe over how well it emphasizes the storyline of ‘Sweet Venom.’ The frozen background is a great visual representation of how ENHYPEN are single-mindedly focussed on the source of this ‘Sweet Venom,’ whilst everything else fades into insignificance. Even more so, verses one and two, being completely identical scenes except for the member singing, show their reluctance to free themselves from this exhilarating temptation; they have to just keep going back for more and more. Plus, the 90s camcorder-style filming during the dance break is just gorgeous.
The Performances So Far
Guess what? Just like ENHYPEN, our obsession with ‘Sweet Venom’ isn’t over yet. The performances and choreo for ORANGE BLOOD’s title track are just as stunning as the song itself. With appearances on Korean music shows, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and Good Morning America, it’s safe to say that ENHYPEN are taking on the world in this era. Just like in the music video, we’re obsessed with the styling in these performances (shout out to Heeseung’s stetson), and we have to highlight how cool the isolations are in this choreo.
‘Still Monster’
If one lot of ENHYPEN performances wasn’t enough to satiate your thirst, don’t worry! ORANGE BLOOD has a coupling track, too. Pop ballad ‘Still Monster’ shows a different side to ENHYPEN whilst still feeling completely on brand. The track reminds us of fan favorite ‘FEVER,’ so how could we not love it? The vocal delivery in the pre-chorus has major indie energy, which we’re living for. “Na na, na na, na na, na na, still a monster,” is living in our heads rent-free.
The Album
Last but definitely not least, we need to discuss the entire album. As well as ‘Still Monster’ and three different versions of ‘Sweet Venom,’ ORANGE BLOOD contains three more b-sides. We have ‘Mortal,’ ‘Blind,’ and ‘Orange Flower (You Complete Me),’ which all fall in different places on the spectrum between R&B and Pop. Our favorite has to be ‘Blind’ for its anthemic intro and futuristic production; we need to see this one live in a stadium of “Blinding Lights!” The track pulses, which we didn’t mean to be a vampire reference, but hey, if the shoe fits…
So, there we have it! Do you agree that ORANGE BLOOD is one of ENHYPEN’s best albums so far? We wanna hear from you over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP. And you can also take a look at our Instagram and Facebook!
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