Earlier this month, ENHYPEN previewed their second full-length album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD, through a video uploaded to HYBE Labels’ YouTube channel. The video has a house party theme, and in it, the members display their charms to full effect as they dance, DJ, and sing along to each track in succession.
In ROMANCE : UNTOLD, ENHYPEN uses different genres of music to tell the story of a boy devoted to someone who makes him a better person. ENGENES’ excitement for this release is at an all-time high due to the members’ involvement in the creative process. According to the group’s agency, BELIFT LAB, every single member of ENHYPEN was credited as a composer, lyricist, or producer for ROMANCE : UNTOLD.
The first half of the album includes the mellow alternative R&B track “Moonstruck” and the soft synth-pop song “Your Eyes Only,” whose medium tempo and rhythmic melody make it a definite earworm. There’s also “Hundred Broken Hearts,” an old-school R&B track with youthful energy.
Fans of ENHYPEN’s leader Jungwon should pay close attention to “Hundred Broken Hearts,” as he composed the topline for it. Composing the topline for a song means creating the main vocal melody and, in some cases, also working on the lyrics for that melody. The topline is the part of a song typically sung by a group’s main vocalist. It’s often the most memorable and catchy part, making it crucial in defining the song’s appeal and identity.
ENHYPEN (엔하이픈) ROMANCE : UNTOLD Preview
ENHYPEN is more hands-on now
The back half of the album includes the dynamic funk/dance-pop track “Brought the Heat Back” and the sexy, sophisticated “Royalty.” There’s also “Paranormal,” a rock DnB song with a singalong melody. Rock DnB is a fusion genre that combines elements of rock music with the fast-paced, breakbeat-driven rhythms of drum and bass. While ENHYPEN has been known to experiment with different styles in their music, this marks the first time they’ll try rock DnB.
All seven members contributed to the lyrics of “Highway 1009,” which means lines like “Hold me tighter so I can stand again even on weary days” came right from the members’ hearts. Heeseung also helped compose and produce this one. Finally, the album’s title track, “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” is, of course, a standout. Unlike most of ENHYPEN’s previous title tracks, which are dark and energetic, this one features a sweet melody and impactful lyrics. It’s about a boy who would do absolutely anything for his special someone.
Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki are becoming more and more hands-on with their music as time goes by, which is a sign of how far they’ve come since debuting four years ago via I-LAND. In a press release, BELIFT LAB stated, “As this is ENHYPEN’s first full-length album in about two years and nine months, the members and the production staff have put in great effort to achieve a high level of completion. Fans can look forward to ENHYPEN’s deeper musical color and authenticity as artists.”
ROMANCE : UNTOLD is set to drop on July 12. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: This photo is from the album’s third set of concept photos. Source: Weverse.