Breaking News! ENHYPEN are back, and this time the seven vampire idols are on the run. Their new album, THE SIN: VANISH, released January 16, takes listeners on a journey filled with danger, rebellion, and forbidden romance.
Seven Deadly Sinners
Following their last album, DESIRE: UNLEASH, the septet — JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI — have been fully consumed by their desire and ready to act on it for their fans, ENGENE. THE SIN: VANISH chronicles their daring flight with their beloved against vampire authorities, expanding ENHYPEN’s worldbuilding and pushing the group into a new sound territory.
ENHYPEN’s comeback is a large-scale immersive investigative journalism campaign. In the lead-up to the release, the group launched a fully operational news site, Vampire Now, to deepen the lore of their vampire universe parallel to our own. They also dropped four teaser clips — “Chapter 1: ‘No Way Back,’” “Chapter 2: ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’” “Chapter 3: ‘Stealer,’” and “Chapter 4: ‘Knife’” — highlighting album tracks, concepts, and the different segments of their escape. Meanwhile, Vampire Now posted real-time “breaking news” article updates tracking the septet’s epic flight. The fictional news outlet even requested tips from fans with rewards for sightings of the seven fugitives. On social media, ENHYPEN released short clips mimicking jailbreak CCTV footage, complete with actors posing as journalists covering the chase.
To reach fans worldwide, ENHYPEN released four versions of THE SIN: VANISH on streaming platforms. Each version features the album’s five narration tracks in a different language: Korean, voiced by actor Park Jeong-min; Japanese, voiced by actor Kenjiro Tsuda; Chinese, voiced by actor Lars Huang; and English, which is currently unattributed. No matter which version you listen to, the album’s cinematic escape and ENHYPEN’s thrilling story remain just as immersive.
The Incident
The album starts with “사건의 발단 (Beginning of the Incident),” an intro track that member JAKE helped produce, creating the stage for ENHYPEN’s high-stakes escape. With a suspenseful, mystery documentary-like melody, the narration immerses you instantly into the moment that sparks the entire case. The story begins with a pair of lovers disappearing into the night and throwing the vampire society into turmoil, as the ultimate vampiric sin had been committed. Unsanctioned, a human has been turned into a vampire. All fingers point at ENHYPEN, who are anything but scared as the track concludes on the statement “As long as love exists, there is nothing to fear.”
“No Way Back” is the album’s first song track and a collaboration with So!YoON!, lead singer of the indie band SE SO NEON. Setting the tone for ENHYPEN’s daunting escape, the track was the first one teased to fans and their first step into the alternative R&B realm. Heavy synths and organ-like bass blend with low, whispery vocals. While the song serves as a pivotal beginning in the vampire storyline, the lyrics carry an empowering message of resilience and self-determination. The chorus, where leader JUNGWON’s echoing voice syncs with So!YoON!, captures the group’s resolution — “Now it’s bye to everything / With my back to the world before me / Erase the shadows of the past.” Embracing their decisions, ENHYPEN is burning the bridge to their past and moving forward into the unknown.
Tuning back into the mystery show, the second narration track “도망자들 (Fugitives)” has a lighter, exhilarating beat that contrasts with the narrator’s solemn tone. In the story, ENHYPEN are spotted by witnesses to be “laughing” like they are “reveling in the chase.” By the track’s end, the narrator reflects that for these seven accused vampires, the pursuit has turned into an “exhilarating game” and they seem “utterly captivated by the danger.”
It’s a Knife!
If you’re looking for the spicier, more aggressive counterpart to their previous era’s “Outside,” ENHYPEN deliver with “Knife,” the album’s title track and fourth song. Relishing their runner’s high, they charge forward on this explosive, trap-heavy hip-hop track built around the razor-sharp hook, “It’s a knife.” The playful opening — “What’s behind your back?” “It’s a knife!” — feels like a taunt, signaling they’re ready to strike.
The lyrics are sharp and cutting, matching the song’s title. “Yeah, it just missed once or twice / Nice try, but it felt too light,” JAKE declares. SUNGHOON then follows and doubles down on their untouchable energy, “Chase us, we’re miles above like a satellite / You can try, but you’ll only hit air with your slice.” Fanning the fire, lines like “You’re welcome to try and provoke me, it’s cute,” and “It’s funny how worked up you get, it’s pathetic” turn the track into a bold provocation aimed directly at critics and haters. They can try all they want, but their attacks are never going to land because ENHYPEN are so much sharper.
The music video mirrors the song’s intensity, jumping straight into gritty, action-packed scenes filled with fire, explosions, and speedy car chases. It opens with a “breaking news” broadcast from Vampire Now, declaring the seven vampires wanted for breaking the ultimate taboo. From there, chaos unfolds with metal fangs and claw strikes. Knives fly through every scene as ENHYPEN try to coexist in the human world while effortlessly dodging every threat. The sharp, high-energy choreography mimics the song’s knife-like precision with the camera shifting between the members dressed in sleek black and red outfits, white streetwear, and more casual, rough looks. The video closes on the youngest NI-KI with his hands raised and the group appearing cornered at a dead end. However, the defiant, charismatic look on his face makes it clear ENHYPEN are not surrendering any time soon.
A Sweet Escape
The fifth track, “Stealer,” shifts the album’s momentum into a chic, Latin-inspired dance pop groove. Seductive and addictive, the track embodies the heart of this Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque era. It captures the rush of stealing your lover away and disappearing out of sight. HEESEUNG’s high notes soar in the pre-chorus, “The whole world’s chasing us tonight / Holding your hand tight, let’s ride.” JAY follows with a confession, “Even if it’s a sin, that’s fine.” In this chapter, ENHYPEN confidently claims their outlaw roles, branding themselves as the “stealers.”
Pausing the music for a moment, the next two tracks unfold as narrative skits in the album’s immersive world. “우리가 찾던 목소리 (Voice We’re Looking For)” plays like a commercial break, humorously advertising ENHYPEN’s newly released voice keyring character dolls, which fans can purchase on the Vampire Now website and in real life. Then, the story picks back up with “목격자 (Witness)” featuring street interviews of “witnesses” sharing their takes on the vagabond vampires and the uproar they’ve left behind.
Bringing the music back in, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” carries a strong wild-west vibe, first teased in December with ENHYPEN sporting cowboy fits and wreaking havoc in a desert diner. The track pairs groovy guitars with funky drum rhythms to create a rugged, adventurous melody that fits perfectly within their outlaw segment. The song’s focus is on protection and responsibility, keeping their beloved close and promising to shield them from the dangers surrounding them. SUNOO’s slightly drunken vocals shine in the brazen chorus — “I’ll keep you safe, everything’s fine / Stay with me now.” Even in all the chaos and adrenaline fuel, the song is a reaffirmation that their greatest motivation is love.
The Beyond
“Lost Island,” the ninth track, brings a refreshing burst of energy to the album. This vibrant, bouncy pop song centers on escaping into a hidden sanctuary — a perfect paradise where only love and affection exist. It provides a brief moment of relief in the album’s storyline. NI-KI’s husky tone stands out as he delivers the line, “I’m seeing no trackers, this perfect shelter / Rising pleasure, we own it” — renewing the group’s sense of freedom and hope.
The final song on the album, “Sleep Tight,” is a soft, sensual R&B track and JAKE’s first self-composition with HEESEUNG helping write the lyrics. Acting as the calm after the storm, the song reveals ENHYPEN’s vulnerability as they face their anxieties and self-doubt while offering comfort and protection to their beloved — ENGENE. With soothing lines like “Without any worries, just sleep tight” and “I’ll watch over you, a lullaby just for you,” the track offers a tender reassurance of ENHYPEN’s devotion.
Rounding up the album, the final narration track, “사건의 너머 (Beyond the Incident),” delivers a gripping cliffhanger. The runaways have evaded the vampire authorities and vanished into the darkness, but ENHYPEN’s story is far from over. The narrator leaves us with a haunting question: “What fate awaits them?” And then closes THE SIN: VANISH on a powerful promise: “The story begins to unfold in an entirely new direction.”
While ENHYPEN’s vampire storyline remains to be continued, the group is slated to headline the Hello, Melbourne festival at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on March 14, alongside big K-pop names such as TREASURE and TAEMIN. This will mark their first-ever performance in Australia, and after their legendary set at Coachella 2025, fans can expect ENHYPEN to bring the heat.
THE SIN: VANISH is now available on music streaming platforms. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for ENHYPEN’s next move by following the group on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Weverse.
Need another EnVi album recommendation? Check out our breakdown of JOOHONEY’s latest EP here!
