Introduction to DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR Original Soundtrack
“CRIMINAL LOVE”

K-pop powerhouse ENHYPEN released “CRIMINAL LOVE”, the second original soundtrack and ending theme song of DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, on July 31 2023.

DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR is a blend of urban fantasy and teenage romance brought to life through a collaboration between ENHYPEN and HYBE’s Original Story Business Division. It illustrates the events that unravel when seven boys, who happen to be vampires, meet a girl named ‘Sooha,’ who has long been wrongly accused of being a vampire herself.

In September 2022, ENHYPEN captivated global readers of DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR with the release of the first original soundtrack “One In A Billion” which reflected the complex emotions of a boy enveloped by nervousness and intense attraction towards his destined love. Building on this journey, the septet began to share the quintessential aspects of their album narrative with this fantasy story through their 4th Mini Album DARK BLOOD, released in May 2023. The lead single “Bite Me” tells the story of a boy’s recognition of a fateful bond with a destined ‘You,’ and all six tracks from the album organically intertwine with DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, showing a powerful collaboration between music and original story IP.

“CRIMINAL LOVE” explores the theme of toxic love that individuals continuously seek in spite of the cruel fate that repeatedly unfolds. The song conveys a story of seven boys and a girl who confront the harsh reality upon realizing their interconnected destinies that stretch back to their past lives. Despite this awakening, they find themselves trapped in a situation where they must await yet another fateful reunion. ENHYPEN’s intricate vocal harmonies and impactful rap verses add emotional depth to the song's evocative lyrics, such as “Is saying goodbye our fate on repeat?” and “Go back to the beginning. Go back to the moment I will run into you.” The string pizzicato and resounding timpani sounds complement the track to enrich the track’s fantasy-like aura.

Serving as the ending theme song of DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, “CRIMINAL LOVE” accompanies the series as it reaches its climactic peak since its inception in January 2022. Revealed as the background music for episode #60, released on July 29 2023, the song mesmerized the readers even deeper into the story. By capturing the poignant yearning of the boys and the girl for a reunion amidst the agonizing farewell, “CRIMINAL LOVE” is poised to resonate profoundly with devoted readers and listeners of both ENHYPEN and DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR.