ENHYPEN stands out among K-pop boy bands by unwaveringly telling their own story. Comprised of seven members from Korea, Australia, and the U.S. they made their debut appearance last November on I-LAND: Making the Band Reality Show followed by multiple wins at award shows award shows for “New Artist of the Year”, all without even releasing an album!
ENHYPEN takes their name from the idea that just as hyphens connect words to create new meanings, ENHYPEN is all about connecting, discovering and growing together as a team. Their debut EP Manifesto: Day 1 explored this duality through songs such as “Given-Taken,” “Drunk-Dazed,” “Tamed-Dashed” and “Blessed-Cursed” — with music videos showcasing the band‘s cinematic flair for storytelling.
After their debut at Number Four on the Billboard 200 with their mini-album Dimension: Answer in October, BTS returned to the vampiric themes of Manifesto: Blood through their music videos and music album Dimension: Answer. This album not only marks a return to their core sound, but it also serves as an opportunity for Jungwon, Heeseung, Jake, Sunghoon Jay and Sunoo to reflect upon how far they’ve come in their careers and how these experiences have helped mold them into men they are today.
As such, Carnival is less immediate than their previous releases, and its hooks take more effort to latch onto. But that doesn’t mean it lacks depth or demands repeated listens; more likely it takes its time revealing itself through story arc.
Over the course of this album, ENHYPEN exhibit a more mature sound and show no fear in taking risks or pushing musical limits. From its dark synths on opening track “Blind” to dramatic rap verses on lead single “The Way It Is”, there are unexpected twists and turns throughout – but performances truly stand out on display here.
From Jay’s powerful yet melodic rapping to Heeseung’s haunting vocals, each member excels. This is particularly evident on “Clairvoyant,” an acoustic ballad which showcases their full range of harmonies and vocal capabilities.
This album also includes an acoustic rendition of their hit single, “More Than Me.” The video for this track perfectly captures its beauty and sentiment while further proving ENHYPEN is more than just flashy boy bands. As they expand in their industry presence, we expect them to continue showing fans why so many are drawn to them.