"With the mindset of 'H1-KEY, let's get hotter!' we prepared for this."

On a day when the temperature reached 35 degrees Celsius, the first heatwave warning of 2024 was issued in Seoul. Despite the heat, H1-KEY returned with 'hot' passion.

They sing about the rebellious spirit of youth. This time, they show their 'dark' side, unlike their previous warm and emotional image. They returned with wild visuals, music, and performances.

"While we used to convey hope and comfort, this time we are rebellious," emphasized Huiseo. Their spectrum has widened, preparing cool rocking music, groovy boom bap, and aggressive rock sounds.

On the 19th, H1-KEY held a showcase for the release of their 3rd mini album 'LOVE or HATE' at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Along with the members, their new mascot, Benny, appeared to celebrate the comeback.

It's their first comeback in four months and their first new release since the 'H1-KEYnote' project. Seoi introduced the album as rebellious and direct, unlike their previous songs, with straightforward lyrics and choreography.

The new album reflects H1-KEY's new emotions, focusing on rebellious youth. "Being only good isn't enough; being somewhat bad and rebellious is also part of us, and we should love that too," explained Huiseo.

The title track 'Let It Burn' features a heavy boom bap hip-hop rhythm with grunge rock sounds. Lyricist and composer Hong Ji-sang, known for 'A Rose Blooms Between Buildings,' wrote the song.

The lyrics are straightforward: "Let's get hot enough to turn to ashes," and "Don't try to stay sane, let's turn to ashes." Yel introduced the song as embodying their passion.

They were confident that it was a song true to H1-KEY's style. Seoi described her initial reaction to the song as intense: "As soon as I heard it, I thought, 'This is H1-KEY.' We believed we could deliver it well."

The performance was intense, like watching four flames. With a live band playing in the background, the members smiled at each other, creating a festival-like performance.

There was a minor mishap when Seoi's necklace got caught in the microphone, but she completed the performance, holding the mic firmly. Benny added to the richness by playing the drums.

They returned with a performance after a long time. Previously, H1-KEY focused on vocals without choreography. This time, they worked with Lia Kim from 1MILLION for the choreography.

Yel highlighted the intuitive choreography and demonstrated the moves for the "laugh or cry" segment. "Teacher Lia Kim guided us through every detail, helping us create a perfect stage," she said.

The music video exploded with H1-KEY's rebellious charm. The members ran through classrooms, rooftops, and hallways of a school, performing even at night.

The new album includes four tracks in total. Besides the title track, there are '♥ Letter,' 'Iconic,' and 'Rainfalls.' The second track holds special meaning as all members participated in writing the lyrics.

They wrote messages to each other, reflecting on their memories together. "We wrote our memories as if writing letters and rolling papers," Seoi explained.

Was it challenging to embrace the new delinquent concept? They were even directed to 'sing angrily.' "I tried to express my boiling emotions, which led to a lot of research," Seoi responded.

Rina described the experience as an extension of H1-KEY's story rather than a drastic change. "We continue to tell our story, focusing on youth rather than fantasy," she added.

They defined their music as relatable to everyone. "H1-KEY's music is about relatable stories felt in everyday life, featuring lyrics that everyone can empathize with," Rina said.

Do they feel pressure to surpass their previous hit 'Rose Between Buildings'? Seoi expressed their clear goal: "We focus on maintaining H1-KEY's color while showcasing new charms and music."

They are ready to move forward. "We aim to achieve our first music show win with this activity, and dream of fan meetings, solo concerts, and overseas tours," said Huiseo. Rina added, "We want people to say, 'H1-KEY is going to make it big.'"

Meanwhile, H1-KEY's 3rd mini album will be released at 6 PM(Korea time) today.