ENHYPEN’s latest mini-album, as you could have told from the review for their second single from the release, is next up to get an album review from me. MANIFESTO: DAY 1 was released in July of this year, and serves as the group’s second comeback of the year. The first was Blessed-Cursed, from the repackaged version of their first studio length album. Anyhow, back to their more recent releases. It features a total of six songs, including the title track Future Perfect (Pass the MIC), the single Paradoxx Invasion and four additional side tracks.

MANIFESTO: DAY 1, as an overall picture, was a decent album. The title track was the album’s weakest track, based on my ratings. Instead, the other tracks stand out. One of the side tracks became my highlight from the album (keep on reading to find out which one). The first and final tracks also serve as unofficial intro and outro tracks, which are common features of ENHYPEN’s release. I am specifically shining the spotlight on them, as they delve into deep topics, which might be of interest.

1. WALK THE LINE – Beginning the album is WALK THE LINE. This track features the members dramatically speaking in their own native languages of Korean, Japanese and English over a simple yet intense instrumental. The members speak and sing about their struggles whilst maturing, and how they come to realize that they are now the mature people who sets their own standards, relating everything to a line. A line once drawn for them, and a new line that they will draw for themselves. I like the meaning behind the track, but everything else was standard. (7/10)

2. Future Perfect (Pass the MIC) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Future Perfect (Pass the MIC). (7/10)

3. ParadoXXX Invasion – Click here to read the full review for ParadoXXX Invasion. (8/10)

4. TFW (That Feeling When) – Glad to see they clarified the meaning behind the acronym. Hahaha… TFW is quite a change to their previous tracks on the mini-album, which were more hip-hop centric. TFW is much more mellow, featuring a consistent pop rock band instrumental. I enjoyed the combination of the beat and melody, which bought out a pleasant atmosphere. This instrumental also enable the focus to be on the vocals, which were quite solid. However, I just do not see anything special with TFW, just that it is a nice track. (7.5/10)

5. SHOUT OUT – The opening of SHOUT OUT does exactly what the title suggests, allowing the song to just feel right from the very start. It then settles for an early 00s emo rock vibe, bringing great and nostalgic energy out of the song for me (especially during the chorus, when the instrumental is the most full-on and head-banging worthy). If the instrumental hasn’t won me over yet (spoiler: it has), then what I describe next will do the trick. ENHYPEN’s vocals are a perfect fit with the genre, with the members perfectly executing their delivery and encompassing the energy of SHOUT OUT. Without a doubt, my favourite from the mini-album. (10/10)

6. Foreshadow – Again, we go through the three-language narration from the initial song to close out the album. This time around, the members express their uncertainty about the immediate future. They say their past is making sense and they know there is a future waiting for them. But the light that is supposed to guide them to that future casts a shadow over the immediate future, hence the uncertainty and Foreshadow title. It is an abstract way of expressing uncertainty, but a clever way nonetheless. The song aspect of this track was more riveting than the initial song and has a much better bite to it. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10