[Dispatch=Lee A-jin Reporter] "I poured everything into it with sincerity." (Jungwon)
It was their first world tour facing as a six-member group. Worries, anticipation, and heavy responsibility followed. But ENHYPEN's sincerity toward the stage and fans burned hot.
The members never lowered their microphones for a single moment. They poured all their strength into filling the void left by the main vocalist. Even when their breath was caught in their throats, they insisted on performing live.
The effort to stand again as six members shone through. Their signature synchronized choreography became even more intense, and no gaps in vocals were felt. Sunoo, Jay, and Jake traversed a wide vocal range and showcased skills they had kept hidden.
That sincerity reached ENGENE. Fans responded with cheers of historic proportions. Explosive applause erupted without pause, as if it would shake the venue. Determination and overwhelming emotion continued to cross the members' faces.
ENHYPEN opened the curtain on their world tour 'Blood Saga' at KSPO DOME in Songpa-gu, Seoul from May 1st to 3rd. Over three days, 32,250 ENGENEs were present. Dispatch visited on the second day.
◆ VANISH
The theme of the first section was 'true blood narrative.' A massive red curtain draped across the stage. Jungwon on the screen sliced through the curtain with a sharp sword. All members appeared through the gaps.
The opening song was 'Knife.' A giant pillar of flames shot up, and rough band sounds swept through. At the end, a dance break centered on Ni-ki captured attention.
ENGENE's reaction was hot from the start. They cheered nonstop for three minutes straight. The energy of the members on stage and the heat from the audience blended perfectly, maximizing the thrill of the opening.
The energy continued through 'Day Dream' and 'Outside.' In particular, the rap parts flowing from Ni-ki, Jay, and Jake stood out in 'Outside.' Every time the members' raps caught the audience's ear, applause erupted once more.
The atmosphere continued to heat up. Sunghoon called out powerfully, "Let's have even more fun today than yesterday. Let's go." Sunoo also shouted, "Let's have fun today."
In the following 'No Way Back,' they sang while holding standing microphones. Ni-ki's deep cave-like bass was heard more clearly. The members overwhelmed the audience with hollow yet fatal expressions.
◆ HIDEOUT
The second section depicted a future with ENGENE. An intense beat resonated. The members, changed into casual outfits, appeared on stage.
They demonstrated more refined skills and completely blocked the audience's escape. 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and 'No Doubt' overflowed with composure in every aspect—gesture, expression, vocals, and choreography.
"We need to run hard in the second half, so let's rest a bit now." (Jake)
With Jake's remark, the atmosphere shifted. A beautiful forest set unfolded on stage. Within it, they continued with sweet songs.
'Moon Struck' showcased ENHYPEN's emotional tone. The members sang with eyes closed and yearning in their hearts. Particularly when Sunoo stably belted out the high note in the latter part, moved admiration erupted from the audience.
They also sang a bright and exciting future. They smoothly handled consecutive songs. Moving between the main stage and the protruding stage, they raised the energy once more.
In 'Future Perfect,' the venue performed with explosive vocal power. Mid-performance, they even clenched their teeth while showing synchronized choreography. ENGENE's collective singing also filled the venue.
◆ LOST ISLAND
ENHYPEN transformed into vampires once again. The direction resembled a thriller film. Mysterious pursuers in capes emerged from various parts of the audience. They cut through the audience and rushed to the main stage, instantly creating tension.
They added two songs to the setlist. In particular, an antique banquet table was utilized, maximizing the vampire concept.
The members climbed onto the table and performed seductive wave choreography on their knees. At that moment, ENGENE's cheers reached an all-time high.
'Bite Me' drew the largest collective singing as the representative song. A live band session strengthened the beat further. The lyrical piano melody added to it made the members' decadent charm stand out.
"Are you all ready to taste blood?" (Jay)
After the 'Fate' stage ended, Jungwon alone fell behind the stage. Immediately after, video of him sinking deep underwater filled the screen. Then his figure lying in a coffin on stage appeared as the song flowed.
A thrill ran through the venue during the performance of blood taste. After the stage ended, only "wow" filled the space. Only after approximately 15 seconds of silence did cheers begin.
◆ LOST ISLAND
The theme of the final section was 'an unknown island encountered after a long journey.' But the answer ENHYPEN and ENGENE found that night was clear. The answer was ultimately love for each other.
The members climbed onto a trolley and drew closer to fans. They sang 'Lost Island' while constantly throwing hearts. They ran tirelessly through additional songs.
Even after the songs ended, the lingering feeling remained. Fans called for an encore with louder voices. The members laughed, saying "the concert isn't over yet."
Lastly, Ni-ki said, "The energy I received from ENGENE today is really great. I hope that this time tonight becomes a happy memory for you all and gives you strength to live tomorrow."
Jungwon expressed gratitude, saying "Thank you ENGENE for truly enjoying the performance." Jay added, "There was worry, but I also had that much confidence," and said, "I hope ENGENE will always be with us."
ENHYPEN held the microphone tight and sang with sincerity. As ENGENE responded with collective singing, they removed their in-ears and smiled listening to the fans' voices. Afterwards, they added two songs as encores.
On the night when ENHYPEN and ENGENE's sincerity met warmly, brilliant smiles spread across the faces of both departing members and fans. That happy warmth lingered deeply even after the concert ended.
<Photo provided by Belif Lab>
