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Armageddon (Aespa album)

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Armageddon
Digital cover
Studio album by
Aespa
ReleasedMay 27, 2024 (2024-05-27)
GenrePop
Length31:02
Language
  • Korean
  • English
Label
Producer
Aespa chronology
Drama
(2023) 		Armageddon
(2024) 		Synk: Parallel Line
(2024)
Singles from Armageddon
  1. "Supernova"
    Released: May 13, 2024
  2. "Armageddon"
    Released: May 27, 2024

Armageddon is the first studio album by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 27, 2024, and contains ten tracks including two singles, "Supernova" and "Armageddon".

Background and release

[edit]

On April 22, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their first studio album titled Armageddon. It was also announced that the album would feature two singles: "Supernova" and "Armageddon", with the former releasing on May 13 and the latter, along with the album, on May 27.[1] On May 2, the promotional schedule was revealed in a trailer titled "Launch Code".[2] Eight days later, the track listing was revealed alongside a highlight medley teaser video.[3] On May 12, the music video teaser for "Supernova" was released.[4] "Supernova" was released along with its music video on May 13.[5] The teaser videos for "Long Chat",[6] "Licorice",[7] and "Live My Life",[8] were released from May 15 to 17. A CDP version of Armageddon that includes a CD player will be released on July 19.[9]

Composition

[edit]

Featuring ten tracks, Armageddon, is a pop effort that incorporates various genres of hip hop, dance and ballads.[10][11] The first track, "Supernova", is a "glittering cosmic" dance and hyper-pop song characterized by "heavy kick and bass", "catchy top line", and "synth melody" with lyrics about "Aespa's expanded world view by comparing the beginning of an event that opens a door to another dimension to a supernova, expressing the beginning of a big explosion".[12][13][14] The second track, "Armageddon", is a hip hop and dance song described as "old-school yet trendy track" with a "fluid R&B bridge" and lyrics containing the message that "I can only define myself".[15][16] The "thumping" tune, "Set the Tone", is a hip-hop track with "exhilarating punches of synthesizers".[12] The fourth song, "Mine", sees the group "reflecting on growing up with fear and feeling like the 'fake portrait' that was their reflection in a 'broken mirror' was 'going to swallow me up'", but ultimately "standing tall" despite their worries.[17]

The fifth track, "Licorice", is a dance song featuring "an addictive churning rock-pop hook" and "vintage electric guitar sound, and strong trap beat".[12] Lyrically, it "compares a person with a strange charm to licorice and wittily expresses the feeling of being drawn to it".[18] The "breezy" mid-tempo pop track, "Bahama", features "sleepy, swooning summer chorus" and "details taking a friend on a trip to the titular island" over "handclaps and sunkissed, sparkling melodies".[17][16] The seventh track, "Long Chat", is a dance song with lyrics "containing friendly conversations that continue throughout the night".[19] The upbeat pop song, "Prologue", finds the group "address[ing] the difficulties and messiness of growing up, admitting to anxiety, disappointments, and loss of passion".[12][17] The ninth track, "Live My Life", is a "cheerful guitar-based" pop-punk song containing a message of "living an independent life confidently" with lyrics about "breaking away from the existing framework as there is no right answer in life".[20] The closing track, "Melody", is a piano "fan anthem" dedicated to the group's fans.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Forty-Five[21]
The Guardian[10]
NME[17]

Rhian Daly of NME praised the album for falling "into the former camp and reinforces what we already knew – that when Aespa are allowed to run free in the sounds and sonics they've made their trademark, they're nothing short of exquisite".[17] Writing for The Forty-Five, Jenessa Williams appreciated the group's "willingness to experiment with both hard and soft [sounds]", and noted that Aespa "really thrive when they stick to the edgier end of their USP".[21] She furthermore stated that the group's "badass alchemy and attitude might just save the musical world".[21] Rolling Stone India's publisher, Debashree Dutta praised Aespa's "vivid story" and the album's "poetic landscapes" which she described as "a varied and profound auditory experience" filled with "sentiments, moods, and instances woven into each song".[22] Jeff Benjamin of Billboard described the album as "an artistic evolution in Aespa's" discography "by taking their narrative into an expansive multiverse to blur the boundaries between reality and virtual realms".[12]

However, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian described it "all intriguing, and, it has to be said, very well done – Aespa's videos are charming and made to an extraordinarily high standard – yet it can't help but rouse the suspicion that their music might constitute something of an afterthought, a theory not dispelled by actually listening to it."[10]

Commercial performance

[edit]

On May 27, 2024, it was reported that Armageddon has sold over 1.02 million copies in pre-orders sales.[22][23] In China, the album reached number one on the QQ Music digital album sales chart, and was certified as "a double platinum album" within 3 hours of release.[24]

Accolades

[edit]
Awards and nominations for Armageddon
Award ceremony Year Category Result Ref.
Asian Pop Music Awards 2024 Best Album of the Year (Overseas) Pending [25]
Golden Disc Awards 2025 Best Album (Bonsang) Pending [26]
MAMA Awards 2024 Album of the Year Nominated [27]
Melon Music Awards 2024 Album of the Year Won [28]
Millions Top 10 Album Won [29]

Track listing

[edit]
Armageddon track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicProduction/ArrangementLength
1."Supernova"Kenzie
Dem Jointz2:59
2."Armageddon"Bang Hye-hyun (Jam Factory)
  • Ejae
  • Sumin
  • Waker (153/Joombas)
  • No Identity
No Identity3:17
3."Set the Tone"Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Ludwig Lindell
  • Daniel Caesar
  • Ylva Dimberg
Caesar & Loui3:23
4."Mine"Lee Eun-hwa (153/Joombas)
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Nicole "KOLE" Cohen
  • Adrian McKinnon
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
3:14
5."Licorice"Kang Eun-jeong
PhD2:39
6."Bahama"Kenzie
  • Jonatan Gusmark
  • Ludvig Evers
  • Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker
  • Ellen Berg
  • Kenzie
  • Moonshine
  • Kenzie
3:11
7."Long Chat (#♥)"Moon Seol-li
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Live Rabo Lund-Roland
  • Nora Grefstad
  • Julia Finnseter
Stian Nyhammer Olsen3:16
8."Prologue"
  • Mola
  • Mi-ah (153/Joombas)
  • Gil Lewis
  • Micky Blue
Gil Lewis3:15
9."Live My Life"Leslie
Edvard Erfjord2:40
10."Melody" (목소리)Lee O-neul
  • MinGtion
  • Sophia Pae
MinGtion3:08
Total length:31:02

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[30]

Studio

  • SM Wavelet Studio – recording (track 1–2, 6, 9), digital editing (track 6, 9–10), engineered for mix (track 10)
  • SM Droplet Studio – recording (track 2, 7), digital editing (track 2), engineered for mix (track 2)
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording (track 3, 5), digital editing (track 1, 3)
  • SM Aube Studio – recording (track 4, 8), digital editing (track 4–5, 8)
  • SM Dorii Studio – recording (track 5, 10)
  • Vibe Music Studio 606 – recording (track 10)
  • The Vibe Studio – recording (track 10)
  • SM Big Shot Studio – digital editing (track 7), mixing (track 5, 7)
  • Doobdoob Studio – digital editing (track 7)
  • SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing (track 1–2)
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing (track 3–4)
  • SM Starlight Studio – mixing (track 6, 9–10)
  • SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing (track 8)
  • 821 Sound – mastering (all tracks)

Personnel

  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • Lee Sung-soo – A&R executive
  • Tak Young-jun – IP executive, executive supervisor
  • Jang Cheol-hyuk – executive supervisor
  • Aespa – vocals, background vocals (all tracks)
  • Kenzie – producer, arrangement (track 6), lyrics, composition, vocal directing (track 1, 6)
  • Paris Alexa – composition, background vocals (track 1)
  • Dem Jointz – producer, composition, arrangement (track 1)
  • Bang Hye-hyun (Jam Factory) – lyrics (track 2)
  • Ejae – composition, background vocals (track 2)
  • Sumin – composition, background vocals (track 2)
  • Waker (153/Joombas) – composition, piano, programming (track 2)
  • No Identity – producer, composition, arrangement, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer, programming (track 2)
  • Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics (track 3)
  • Ludwig Lindell (Caesar & Loui) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 3)
  • Daniel Caesar (Caesar & Loui) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 3)
  • Ylva Dimberg – composition (track 3)
  • Lee Eun-hwa (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 4)
  • Mike Daley – producer, composition, arrangement (track 4)
  • Mitchell Owens – producer, composition, arrangement (track 4)
  • Nicole "KOLE" Cohen – composition (track 4)
  • Adrian McKinnon – composition (track 4)
  • Kang Eun-jeong – lyrics (track 5)
  • Daniel Davidsen (PhD) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • Peter Wallevik (PhD) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker – composition (track 5–6), background vocals (track 6)
  • Karen Poole – composition (track 5)
  • Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Ludvig Evers (Moonshine) – producer, composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Ellen Berg – composition, background vocals (track 6)
  • Moon Seol-li – lyrics (track 7)
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen – producer, composition, arrangement (track 7)
  • Live Rabo Lund-Roland – composition (track 7)
  • Nora Grefstad – composition (track 7)
  • Julia Finnseter – composition (track 7)
  • Mola – lyrics (track 8)
  • Mi-ah (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 8)
  • Gil Lewis – producer, composition, arrangement (track 8)
  • Micky Blue – composition (track 8)
  • Leslie – lyrics (track 9)
  • Sophia Brenan – composition (track 9)
  • Nick Hahn – composition (track 9)
  • Edvard Erfjord – producer, composition, arrangement (track 9)
  • Lee O-neul – lyrics (track 10)
  • Sophia Pae – composition (track 10)
  • MinGtion – producer, composition, arrangement, bass, piano (track 10), vocal directing (track 5, 10)
  • Maxx Song – vocal directing (track 2)
  • Saay – vocal directing (track 3)
  • Kim Jin-hwan – vocal directing (track 4, 9)
  • Emily Yeonseo Kim – vocal directing, background vocals (track 7)
  • Perrie – vocal directing (track 8)
  • Park Shin-won – guitar (track 10)
  • Han Seong-eun – strings arrangement (track 10)
  • Yung – strings (track 10)
  • Kang Eun-ji – recording (track 1–2, 6, 9), digital editing (track 6, 9–10), engineered for mix (track 10)
  • Kim Joo-hyun – recording (track 2, 7), digital editing (track 2), engineered for mix (track 2)
  • Noh Min-ji – recording (track 1, 3, 5), digital editing (track 1, 3)
  • Kim Hyo-joon – recording (track 4, 8), digital editing (track 4–5, 8)
  • Jeong Jae-won – recording (track 5, 10)
  • Lee Kang-hyun – recording (track 10)
  • Oh Hyun-seok – recording (track 10)
  • Kim Kyung-tae – recording (track 10)
  • Lee Min-kyu – digital editing (track 7), mixing (track 5, 7)
  • Eugene Kwon – digital editing (track 7)
  • Kim Cheol-sun – mixing (track 1–2)
  • Jung Eui-seok – mixing (track 3–4)
  • Jeong Yoo-ra – mixing (track 6, 9–10)
  • Nam Koong-jin – mixing (track 8)
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Armageddon
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[52] Million 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history for Armageddon
Region Date Format Label Ref.
South Korea May 27, 2024 CD
[1]
Various
United States July 5, 2024 CD
[53]
South Korea February 24, 2025 Vinyl LP SM

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kim, Myung-mi (April 22, 2024). "역대급 스케일" 에스파 첫 정규앨범 'Armageddon' 5월27일 발매[공식] [Aespa's first full-length album 'Armageddon' released on May 27th with "largest scale ever" [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Lee, Ye-joo (May 2, 2024). 에스파, '아마겟돈' 스케줄 포스터 공개...업그레이드 된 '쇠맛' [Aespa releases 'Armageddon' schedule poster...Upgraded 'taste of iron'] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Yoon, Sang-geun (May 10, 2024). '컴백' 에스파 6월 서울 콘서트 전석 매진..티켓파워 입증[공식] ['Comeback' Aespa June Seoul concert sold out..Ticket power proven [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Ahn, Tae-hyun (May 12, 2024). 에스파, 신곡 '슈퍼노바' MV 티저 공개...힙한 비주얼 '눈길' [Aespa releases MV teaser for new song 'Supernova'...Hip visual 'eye catching'] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (May 13, 2024). 에스파, '슈퍼노바' 오늘(13일) 선공개...강력한 쇠맛 선사 [Aespa, pre-release of 'Supernova' today (13th)...Provides a strong iron taste] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Yoon, Jun-ho (May 15, 2024). 다중우주 속 에스파...신곡 무드 엿보기 [Aespa in the multiverse...A sneak peek into the new song's mood] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (May 16, 2024). 에스파, 민트초코가 괴물이라니...'Licorice' 톡 쏘는 매력 기대 [Aespa, mint chocolate is a monster...'Licorice' is expected to have a spicy charm] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Kim, Na-yul (May 17, 2024). 에스파, 'Live My Life' Universe' 트랙비디오 공개..27일 첫 정규 컴백 [Aespa releases track video for 'Live My Life' Universe'..first full-length comeback on the 27th] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Cho, Yong-Jun (May 24, 2024). "Aespa special 'Armageddon' album to include CD player". KoreaJoongAngDaily. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Petridis, Alex (May 30, 2024). "Aespa: Armageddon review – music is an afterthought in high-concept pop". The Guardian. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (April 22, 2024). 에스파, 세계관 시즌2 시작된다...5월 27일 첫 정규앨범 발매 [Aespa, worldview season 2 begins...First full album released on May 27th] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Benjamin, Jeff (May 31, 2024). "Aespa;s 'Armageddon – The 1st Album': All 10 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 13, 2024). "Aespa Flash Fangs, Lift Cars, Show Off Superpowers in Futuristic 'Supernova' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (May 13, 2024). 에스파, '쇠파민' 폭발 예고...오늘(13일) '슈퍼노바' 선공개 [DA:투데이] [Aespa predicts explosion of 'dopamine'...'Supernova' pre-release today (13th) [DA: Today]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  15. ^ Ahn, Yun-ji (May 20, 2024). 에스파, '슈퍼노바'로 차트 올킬..'쇠맛' 도파민 행보 [Aespa, all-kills the charts with 'Supernova'...'Iron taste' dopamine action] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via Naver.
  16. ^ a b Williams, Jenessa (May 27, 2024). "Aespa – 'Armaggedon' review: long-awaited debut from K-Pop Titans". The Forty-Five. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e Daly, Rhian (May 27, 2024). "aespa – 'Armageddon' review: the girl group shine brightest at their most experimental". NME. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (May 16, 2024). '컴백' 에스파, 감초처럼 달콤+톡 쏘는 매력..'Licorice' ['Comeback' Aespa, sweet and tangy charm like licorice..'Licorice'] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  19. ^ Geum, Bit-na (May 15, 2024). '다중우주' 속 에스파, 사랑스러운 'Long Chat (#♥)'...통통 튀는 매력에 '시선집중' [Aespa in 'Multiverse', lovely 'Long Chat (#♥)'...'Focus on the plump charm'] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  20. ^ Ahn, Tae-hyun (May 17, 2024). 에스파, 자유로운 밴드로 변신...신곡 '라이브 마이 라이프' 콘셉트 공개 [Aespa transforms into a free band...New song 'Live My Life' concept revealed] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Naver.
  21. ^ a b c Williams, Jennesa (May 27, 2024). "aespa – 'Armaggedon' review: long-awaited debut from K-Pop Titans". The Forty-Five. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Dutta, Debashree (May 28, 2024). "Aespa Drops First Full-length Album 'Armageddon'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
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