TOMORROW X TOGETHER Revisits Their Debut Era with ‘The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY’
K-Pop icons TOMORROW X TOGETHER released their latest installment to their The Chapter series The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY on November 4. Marking their 7th mini-album, the members YEONJUN, SOOBIN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI introduce the listeners to a blissful storyline through the exploration of romance in a subtle, yet passionate and youthful perspective. The overarching theme of the six-track album depicts the members in the honeymoon phase of a relationship, from the sweet melodies of “Heaven” and “Forty One Winks” to the more intense and feisty tracks such as “Danger” and “Resist (Not Gonna Run Away).” The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY also features the members revisiting a promise made to a lover in their debut project “Nap of a Star” about a reunion under a starlit sky. The album’s concepts “KNIGHT,” “SAVIOUR,” “LOVER,” AND “ANGEL,” all depict love in various worlds. For instance, the members take on the role of the knight-in-shining armor alongside motorcycles in the “KNIGHT” version, thus giving a modern twist to the old-age romantic trope of a prince on a white horse. On the other hand, the “SAVIOUR” concept includes visually striking images inspired by the works of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen.
Photo Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC
Over the past five years, the members have brilliantly showcased their vocal and artistic capabilities in a multitude of genres. Their most recent release minisode 3: TOMORROW included the group incorporating afrobeats in the unit song “The Killa (I Belong To You)” from members YEONJUN and SOOBIN. This time around, the mini-album features the group’s first foray into 2000s reggaeton.
Photo Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC
Let’s take a look at their latest installment while exploring the themes and sounds the group has incorporated into the series over the past few years. The first chapter of TXT's journey The Dream Chapter starts by highlighting the repercussions of broken friendships, a shared sentiment that we all experience during our adolescence. In The Chaos Chapter, the group moves onto the chaos of a romantic relationship, as they start experiencing the more complex intricacies of growing up. The Name Chapter is where all hell breaks loose and they finally start finding themselves. Their latest era The Star Chapter is a fresh page within their story, as they explore the more positive aspects of relationships, away from the chaos.
‘Heaven”
The album starts off with a bit of 80s nostalgia through the melodious track “Heaven.” The track is an amalgamation of disco and pop, built upon a simple layer of piano and synths. Overall, the track is the perfect appetizer for the bright and youthful soundscape listeners can expect throughout the project. The vocals are a sweet addition to the mid-tempo opener. Penned by members YEONJUN, SOOBIN and TAEHYUN, the track highlights the euphoric feeling of seeing starlight in “heaven” after the long-awaited reunion (“You make it feel like heaven”).
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Dream Chapter: STAR
“Over The Moon”
For fans who loved and long waited for more tracks like their most recent single “Deja Vu,” this is the track for you. “Over The Moon” is a pop track blended with rock, city pop and R&B, making it a lead track that best highlights the signature TXT sound that they have established for themselves over the past few years. Furthermore, SOOBIN’s falsetto and TAEHYUN’s adlibs in the choruses add the perfect atmospheric feel to the song. The ethereal intro to the track might even remind you of their city pop remake of Dosii’s “Fairy of Shampoo” from 2020.
The music video for the song features choreography done in a wedding hall and a parking lot, as they confess their love while dreaming of a probable promise of marriage in the future. This proposition is further highlighted with the lines “Beyond the moon, reaching further // Crossing dreams, sanctuary // Into the splendid cosmos of promises // For you, here in the land of eternity.”
Unlike their previous work, much of the scenes take place in their day-to-day life, which is evident in certain scenes where YEONJUN is seen getting ready in front of a bathroom mirror while HUENINGKAI is seen pacing back and forth in his room.
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY
“Danger”
When one hears the word “danger,” there is a sense of hurry associated with it, and TXT has perfectly captured the essence of it with this next song. “Danger” is a song that encapsulates the thrill and apprehension of falling in love with someone. The catchy bass loop is quite distinct throughout the song, and the explosive choruses further highlight its distinct qualities. The track was written by members YEONJUN, TAEHYUN and BEOMGYU.
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Name Chapter: FREEFALL
“Resist (Not Going To Run Away)”
Penned by members BEOMGYU, SOOBIN, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI, this would be a track that would take listeners by surprise the most. “Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)” is a track about fighting through any obstacles that may come with love. The early 2000s-inspired reggaeton anthem features acoustic guitar, synth rhythms and powerful percussions that make the song quite memorable on the first listen. It might even make it to the top of your favorites for this year, as it did with ours.
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION
Photo Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC
“Forty One Winks”
The groovy mid-tempo R&B tune “Forty One Winks” is a rather whimsical track that is reminiscent of the group’s 2019 b-side “20cm.” The song’s title comes from the idiomatic expression for a short nap “forty winks.” Essentially, the 41st wink is when the protagonist finally wakes up from their slumber, and walks into a heartwarming reunion. The song tells the story of two twinkling stars blinking back to life after meeting each other.
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Dream Chapter: MAGIC
“Higher Than Heaven”
What is TXT without their signature pop-rock track to end the album? “Higher Than Heaven” is an outburst of bright electric guitars and drums. This pulsating rock track was penned by none other than TXT’s resident rock-enthusiast TAEHYUN. The lyrics echo sentiments similar to that of their intro song “Heaven,” but this time around declaring a deeper love by “carrying you to somewhere higher than Heaven.”
If you liked this song, you may like the album: The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE
HALSUG’s Top Picks:
“Over The Moon”
“Resist (Not Going To Run Away)”
“Higher Than Heaven”