Exo returns with 'monstrous' song

From left, S.M. Entertainment’s boy band, EXO, members Kai, Suho, Chen, Xiumin and Baekhyun pose during a press conference for their third album “EX’ACT” at SMTOWN in COEX Artium, Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

Boy band EXO released its third album ― “EX’ACT” ― on Wednesday, with a return to their earlier emphasis on choreography. It has been a year since the S.M. Entertainment group produced a full-length album.

The new album has nine songs, including the main tracks “Monster” and “Lucky One.” It is the first time an entertainment company’s artist has selected two feature songs.

“Monster and Lucky One are of two very different genres,” the group’s leader, Suho, said in a press conference at SM TOWN in Coex Atrium, Seoul. “Many people like EXO but there are also those who don’t like our music style. So we came up with two songs.

“Our track Monster is really a monster song. Its sound is grand. The song itself is dark but it blends with our fresh voices and our performance is like a monster. Every bit of the song is exceptional.”

Both songs were written and arranged by British producers LDN Noise, who have composed songs including SHINee’s “View,” f(x)’s “4 Walls” and Red Velvet’s “Dumb Dumb.”

“Lucky One” is an R&B funky dance tune with a disco tempo that tells the witty story of a man’s excitement in the search for his destined love.

“Monster” is co-produced by hit-song maker Kenzie. The hip-hop tune’s lyrics tell of a man’s instinctive desire and love in a rough and direct manner, like a monster.

Band member Chanyeol picked “Heaven” as his favorite song because he participated in writing its lyrics. D.O. selected “Artificial Love,” he enjoys its genre and the vocals of all EXO members harmonize well.

“Overall, most of the songs in the new album are love stories,” said Baekhyun. “But it includes tunes of various genres. You will have fun choosing which songs to listen to.”

The album and the music videos of two title songs were released yesterday at midnight and they have already received 660,000 orders.

Suho said he did not expect such a success because the group’s popularity could fade naturally at any time. But he is grateful to fans for their love and said it motivates the band to go one step further.

EXO also hinted at a possible musical collaboration with popular emcee Yoo Jae-suk of the television show “Infinite Challenge.”

“Collaboration with Yoo is being contemplated and the song will not be one of ours but a new one,” said Sehun. “It is actually so good that we asked if we could include the song on EXO’s album.”

The group’s third album is in Korean and Chinese.

“Our pronunciation in Mandarin is not perfect but we tried our best, so I hope our Chinese fans enjoy it,” Suho said. “We will also visit China as much as possible.”