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EPEX addresses youth anxiety in 'Full Metal Jacket'
Members of K-pop boy group EPEX pose during a press event held at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall, Yongsan District, Seoul, to mark the release of its new album, "Can We Surrender?" Wednesday. From left are members MU, Wish, Jeff, Ayden, Keum, A-min, Yewang and Baeksung. Courtesy of C9 Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop boy group EPEX dropped its latest album, "Can We Surrender?", bringing its "Prelude of Anxiety" series to a compelling close while highlighting continued growth.
The octet, featuring members Wish, Keum, MU, A-Min, Baeksung, Ayden, Jeff and Yewang, officially launched its sixth album Wednesday and gave a captivating performance at a press event held on the same day at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, Seoul.
The "Prelude of Anxiety" series continues a narrative the group initiated since its debut, alongside "Prelude of Love." It delves into the tragedies of school violence, challenges of growth and accompanying frustrations and hopes faced by today's youth.
At the press event, member Jeff shared the group's eagerness to showcase its charismatic stage presence with the return of the "Prelude of Anxiety" series after a year and a half.
Wish, the group's leader and eldest member, introduced the album as a candid exploration of the "darkness and anxiety experienced by youths."
"The album's title, 'Can We Surrender?,' reflects the rebellious thoughts of youths as they confront the harsh reality of school violence, and through this, we aimed to address a major source of anxiety for young people like ourselves," Wish noted.
The album's title track, "FULL METAL JACKET," stands as a resolute musical manifesto against school violence. Featuring a dynamic combination of intense guitar melodies and powerful bass sounds, the song presents an electrifying auditory experience.
Member Ayden described the track as "a narrative about individuals consumed by violence and losing touch with their humanity."
"We initiated this with the notion that we must remain vigilant to the ongoing tragic reality of school violence. It serves as a call to confront these issues rather than evade them, a message intended for both students and schools to unite against the scourge of school violence," he explained.
To amplify the song's powerful message, the group collaborated with renowned dance crew Just Jerk for a large-scale performance featuring 20 dancers. At the showcase, the group captivated the audience with an intense stage presence featuring 18 dancers.
Following their performance at the press event, member A-min said, "I was initially nervous about the expansive stage, but once I stepped onto it, I was able to deliver a satisfying performance thanks to my immersion in the moment."
Member MU elucidated the motivations driving their performance, saying, "Given the dark theme conveyed by the song, we felt it wouldn't suffice to express it solely through the members."
He continued, "Hence, discussions regarding large-scale performances began, culminating in a multi-person spectacle that suits the song's powerful message. The perspective will evolve with each viewing, offering fresh insights into the concerns of our youths."
K-pop boy group EPEX / Courtesy of C9 Entertainment
In addition, the new album features a total of four songs, namely "Surrender," "Hit The Wall" and "No Roof," crafting a cohesive narrative throughout.
When questioned about their future aspirations, EPEX members quickly shared their goals one after another, all brimming with anticipation.
"EPEX aspires to become a group that excels through continuous growth," member Keum said, emphasizing their commitment to progress.
"Our group always strives to surpass our previous endeavors. Our objective is to grace more stages, enhance communication with our fans, offer digestible music and attain new career highs with each comeback, unhindered by limitations."
Member Baeksung echoed the sentiment with determination, saying, "We aim to transition from the public's perception of us as 'a tall, young and cute team' to a team renowned for outstanding performances and achievements through this album."