Dark Blood (EP)

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 off the seven group members.

Dark Blood
Digital cover
EP by
Enhypen
ReleasedMay 22, 2023 (2023-05-22)
Genre
Length18:13
Label
Producer
  • Wonderkid
  • Cirkut
  • Jason Evigan
  • Theo & The Climb
  • Tido Nguyen
  • Waveshower
Enhypen chronology
Sadame
(2022)		 Dark Blood
(2023)		 Orange Blood
(2023)
Singles from Dark Blood
  1. "Bite Me"
    Released: May 22, 2023

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
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
NME[1]

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]

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][10] 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,[11] and their first ever top five entry on the Billboard 200.[12]

Track listing
Dark Blood track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fate"
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • BreadBeat
  • Cashcow
  • Hybe
  • Jacob Aaron (The Hub)
  • Kyler Niko
  • Noerio (The Hub)
  • The Hub 88
  • Wonderkid
  • Shin Kung
  • Wonderkid
2:31
2."Bite Me"
  • Cirkut
  • Jason Evigan
2:37
3."Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)"
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Andy Love
  • Deeno (Snnny)
  • Hero (Snnny)
  • Josh McClelland
  • Matt Thomson
  • Max Lynedoch Graham
  • Ryan Lawrie
  • Wonderkid
  • Yejune Synn (Snnny)
  • Kim Jae-won (Jam Factory)
  • Jeon Ji-eun
  • Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Wonderkid
3:22
4."Chaconne"
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • January 8th
  • Aaron Theodore Berton
  • Elsa Curren
  • Matthew Robert Crawford
  • Tony Ferrari
  • Theo & The Climb
3:33
5."Bills"
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • Rum (Mumw)
  • Ryan Curtis
  • Sophie Hintze
  • Tido Nguyen
  • Y0ung(MUMW)
  • Kim Su-ji (Lalala Studio)
  • Shin Kung
  • Tido Nguyen
2:55
6."Karma"
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • January 8th
  • Andy Love
  • Waveshower
  • Waveshower
3:12
Total length:18:13

Accolades
Music program awards
Song Program Date Ref.
"Bite Me" M Countdown June 1, 2023 [13]
Music Bank June 2, 2023 [14]

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications for Dark Blood
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[39] Gold 100,000^
South Korea (KMCA)[40] Million 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Assis, Tássia (May 24, 2023). "ENHYPEN – 'Dark Blood' review: the first droplet of a deeper, denser era". NME.
  2. Benjamin, Jeff (June 7, 2023). "ENHYPEN Break Down 'Fantasy-Like' New Mini Album 'Dark Blood': Exclusive". Billboard.
  3. Bowenbank, Starr (April 24, 2023). "ENHYPEN's 4th Mini Album 'DARK BLOOD' Is Coming Soon: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. Ji-won, Choi (May 22, 2023). "Enhypen returns with 'Dark Blood'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  5. "ENHYPEN Know There Are "Ups and Downs" to Being K-Pop Stars". Teen Vogue. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. "엔하이픈, 새 앨범 하이라이트 음원공개…중독성 있는 'Bite Me'로 색다른 변신 예고". SportsW (in Korean). May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  7. "ENHYPEN returns with album 'Dark Blood'; sells 1.1 million copies in 6 hours". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  8. Major, Michael. "ENHYPEN Return With 4th Mini Album 'Dark Blood'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  9. Yeung, Neil Z. "Enhypen - Dark Blood Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  10. "한터차트 4.0". www.hanteochart.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  11. "Enhypen Lands Fifth Top 10 on Album Sales Chart With 'Dark Blood'". Retrieved June 16, 2023 – via Billboard News.
  12. "K-pop boy band ENHYPEN debuts in top 5 on Billboard 200 chart" (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2023 – via Manila Bulletin.
  13. "엔하이픈, 'Bite Me'로 컴백 첫 1위.."엔진 위해 만든 앨범"". Osen (in Korean). June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  14. "[뮤직뱅크] 엔하이픈, 빠져드는 1위 소감! "엔진 너무 사랑한다" ♪Bite Me". KBS Media (in Korean). June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  19. "Top Albums (Week 23, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  21. "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) Week: 22/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  22. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 23. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  23. "Italiancharts.com – Enhypen – Dark Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  24. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-06-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  25. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-06-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  26. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 31, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  27. "2023 22-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  28. "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 02.06.2023–08.06.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  29. "Portuguesecharts.com – Enhypen – Dark Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  30. "Circle Album Chart – Week 21, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  31. "Spanishcharts.com – Enhypen – Dark Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  32. "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 22". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  33. "Swisscharts.com – Enhypen – Dark Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  34. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  35. "Enhypen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  36. "Enhypen Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  37. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  38. "Circle Album Chart – May 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  39. "Japanese album certifications – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 9, 2023. Select 2023年5月 on the drop-down menu
  40. "South Korean album certifications – Enhypen – Dark Blood" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved July 6, 2023.
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