Dark Blood (EP)
2023 EP by Enhypen
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Dark Blood is the fourth extended play (EP) by South Korean boy group Enhypen. It was released on May 22, 2023, through Belift Lab. The album consists of six tracks, including the lead single "Bite Me". The theme of the EP is heavily influenced by the group's fantasy webtoon series Dark Moon: The Blood Altar, which features vampire characters based on the seven group members.
| Dark Blood | ||||
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Digital cover | ||||
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| Released | May 22, 2023 | |||
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| Length | 18:13 | |||
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| Enhypen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Dark Blood | ||||
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Background and release
On April 24, 2023, Belift Lab announced that Enhypen would be releasing their fourth extended play, Dark Blood, on May 22.[3] This comes ten months after their the release of their third EP, Manifesto: Day 1 and three months after the wrap-up of their first international tour.[4][5] The track list was later revealed on May 16 and an album preview was released on May 18.[3][6] On the day of the release, the group held a media showcase for the album in Seoul.[7]
Described by group member Heeseung as having an "unconventional" sound, the album has a vampire theme, in line with their webtoon series, Dark Moon: The Blood Altar.[4][8] Referencing the series, group member Jake commented that "with many connections between the webtoon and our album, paying attention to these aspects will definitely make the listening experience more fun".[2]
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of five stars, writing that Enhypen "slow it down, boost the low end, and amplify the menace".[9] Tássia Assis from NME gave the album four out of five stars, writing that "musically, this might be Enhypen's most cohesive work so far."[1] Paste ranked it number 13 in their list of The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023, calling it a "hypnotic, story-driven effort that sinks its teeth in with exactly the kind of addictive refrain that the group's become best known for". They named "Bite Me" the "glittery centerpiece, a monstrous mix of teen vampire lore and late nineties/early noughties boy-band appeal."[10]
Commercial performance
On South Korea's Hanteo Chart, Dark Blood sold more than 1.1 million copies on its first day alone, surpassing the sales of their previous EP.[7][11] Despite the two-week shipment delay in the US, Dark Blood became Enhypen's fifth top 10 entry on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart,[12] and their first ever top five entry on the Billboard 200.[13]
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s Global Music Report for 2023, Dark Blood was the sixteenth best-selling album worldwide, having sold 1.7 million units.[A][14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fate" |
| Wonderkid | 2:31 |
| 2. | "Bite Me" |
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| 2:37 |
| 3. | "Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)" |
| Wonderkid | 3:22 |
| 4. | "Chaconne" |
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| 3:33 |
| 5. | "Bills" |
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| 2:55 |
| 6. | "Karma" |
| Waveshower | 3:12 |
| Total length: | 18:13 | |||
Accolades
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Disc Awards | 2024 | Album Bonsang | Won | [15] |
| Song | Program | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bite Me" | M Countdown | June 1, 2023 | [16] |
| Music Bank | June 2, 2023 | [17] |
Charts
Weekly charts
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Monthly charts
Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Notes
- The IFPI Global Albums chart ranks, in order, the albums that generated the most money globally across streaming, download, and physical record sales (combined) in a calendar year. The Global Album Sales Chart measures global unit sales across all physical formats, as well as full album downloads.