ENHYPEN are back! And arguably at their most vampiric yet, with their sixth mini-album DESIRE : UNLEASH! Following the trajectory of their previous releases, ENHYPEN blend 90s and 00s R&B nostalgia with their classic intensity. From obsessing over the cinematography to a review of every b-side, here’s why you need to check out ENHYPEN’s DESIRE : UNLEASH and the title track ‘Bad Desire.’ Right. Now.
DESIRE : UNLEASH
Have you ever heard the expression “it does what it says on the tin?” Because that is DESIRE : UNLEASH in a nutshell. ENHYPEN’s vampiric sensibilities have never been more potent, with the intoxicating emotions of desire and obsession at the forefront of their storytelling. Musically, they explore genres including synth-pop, R&B, and rock (which we know some of the members will be pleased about!). The thing that shines the most, though, throughout DESIRE : UNLEASH is ENHYPEN’s confidence, and how unabashedly they step into these concepts.
‘Bad Desire (With Or Without You)’ Storytelling
There’s one song on the album that showcases this all the best, and aptly it’s the title track! ‘Bad Desire (With Or Without You)’ is rife with yearning, tension, and sensuality, as ENHYPEN delve into the complexities (and contradictions) of desire.
From the moment they whispered, “ENHYPEN” at the onset of the track, we knew we were not in the least bit prepared for what the group had in store for us. Where ENHYPEN have previously toyed with ideas of light and dark, good and evil, but here they sit firmly in the night. In fact, the English version features the lyrics, “Don’t wanna take your golden light, Out in the world, you’re just an angel, But here in the dark, my sacrifice.” There truly isn’t a better way to describe this ‘Bad Desire’ than to say it’s ENHYPEN UNLEASH-ed.
‘Bad Desire (With Or Without You)’ Production
Let us also declare that the production on ‘Bad Desire’ is pure genius. Right from the start, the song does something most don’t even bother with anymore: it builds! With an actual intro! The production constantly plays with tension, which aligns perfectly with the yearning and friction in the storytelling. Every part of the song feeds (sorry, but we’re allowed at least one vampire pun, right?) off of each other, creating this fraught longing.
One of the first things you probably noticed about ‘Bad Desire’ was the editing on ENHYPEN’s vocals, right? Look, it might take a listen or two to get used to, but we 100% think it was such a smart move. It adds to the friction! ENHYPEN’s desire is twisted and tense and they don’t even know if they want to want these things. It’s a bold choice, but it works!
We also, obviously, have to acknowledge how much this song reminds us of some pop-R&B classics, namely Justin Timberlake’s ‘Cry Me A River’ and ‘Mirrors.’ But ‘Bad Desire is doing its own thing, too! Instead of the classic high-impact chorus we’re used to, ‘Bad Desire’ leans into an anti-chorus. It might leave you feeling restless, but that’s the point. This song isn’t meant to be a cathartic release; it’s meant to ache.
‘Bad Desire (With Or Without You)’ Music Video
Ok, who’s starting the campaign for this MV to win an Oscar? Just when we think ENHYPEN’s acting skills and commitment to their lore (and their music video budgets!) can’t get any better, they outdo themselves. Playing more with those ideas of light and dark, heaven and hell, ‘Bad Desire’ is a cinematic masterpiece! And it was directed by an actual film director, Lee Chung-hyun, so when we say “cinematic,” we mean it. If you’re an ENGENE who loves spotting clues and knows about their deep lore, then this music video was made for you.
DESIRE : UNLEASH – The B-Sides
And if ‘Bad Desire’ wasn’t enough? First of all, you’re spoiled. Second, ENHYPEN have got you covered with all the b-sides from DESIRE : UNLEASH!
‘Flashover’ – From the very start of DESIRE : UNLEASH, ENHYPEN aren’t pulling any punches; the falsetto in the ‘Flashover’ intro is bound to get your attention. And who saw that beat drop coming? Not us, but we’re so happy to add this alongside ‘Go Big Or Go Home’ on our hype playlists.
‘Outside’ – If you loved 2024’s ‘Daydream,’ then ‘Outside’ is for you. And by “you” we mean “us” because no one loves those songs more than THP’s hive (fight us). “Pretty boy? No, I’m not.” Sorry, ENHYPEN, we don’t like to disagree with you but the facts are the facts. In all seriousness, we absolutely love this hip-hop track and the surrender to oneself that it represents. It’s about embracing your true nature, even if that’s messy or not what it “should” be.
‘Loose’ And ‘Loose (Korean Ver.)’ – You probably already know ‘Loose,’ ENHA’s first all-English single from earlier this year. Contrasting with much of DESIRE : UNLEASH’s tension, here ENHYPEN seek honest and open communication. Now it’s the “girl” who is keeping their desires at bay. Nonetheless, we’re so happy to see both versions of ‘Loose’ see new light in DESIRE : UNLEASH.
‘Helium’ – After catering to 90s and 00s lovers, this one is for the synth-pop and 80s lovers! ‘Helium’ wouldn’t sound out of place at the end of any John Hughes movie. The relentless bass line and rhythm guitar are so addictive, and the whole song just makes us want to run into the horizon in a main character moment. Most importantly though, we have to spotlight Jay who wrote and produced the track! We also particularly love Jake and Jungwon’s vocals in this one, and those breathing ad-libs are so fun. We’re glad they didn’t breathe any ‘Helium’ before recording though…
‘Too Close’ – “You so bad, I gotta move back.” Wait. We thought ENHYPEN were the bad ones, now it’s us? We can’t keep up. This track is (again) like nothing else on DESIRE : UNLEASH; ENHYPEN really covered all bases! ‘Too Close’ was one of the tracks ENHA performed at their comeback showcase, and that just made us love it even more.
‘Bad Desire (With Or Without You) (English Ver.)’ – We already touched on this English version, but we’re keeping this paragraph in just so we can say: Stream ‘Bad Desire.’
So there you have it! We wanna hear from you over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! And you can find us on Instagram and Facebook!
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