Music

LE SSERAFIM's 'Growth': Will They Dominate the May Girl Group Battle?

May 01, 2023 | by Deborah Kim

Source Music LE SSERAFIM Returns with an Expanded Universe: 'Our Unique Creations and Identity'

K-pop Girl group LE SSERAFIM is gearing up for the May girl group showdown.

On May 1, LE SSERAFIM held the release showcase for their first full-length album, 'Unforgiven,' at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, officially kicking off their promotions. LE SSERAFIM stated, "We've prepared diligently with the determination to show a more mature and cool image. We will present a stage that exceeds expectations."

The May girl group battle is expected to be a crucial turning point as representative '4th generation girl groups' clash. As the recently returned IVE is sweeping the upper ranks of major music charts, LE SSERAFIM is followed by groups like Newjins and (G)I-DLE preparing their comebacks. LE SSERAFIM, in particular, inevitably faces intense competition.

LE SSERAFIM's momentum is anything but ordinary. They have shown determination to pave their unique path, unfazed by others' opinions, in their album 'Unforgiven.' The choreography, where they create devil horns with their fingers above their heads, in line with the lyrics "Unforgiven I'm a villain," leaves a strong impression on the public.

LE SSERAFIM's growth is also dazzling, showing no signs of lagging compared to other groups. Their debut album 'Fearless' recorded 380,000 pre-orders in a week, and their second mini-album 'Antifragile' reached 620,000 sales. The pre-orders for 'Unforgiven' totaled 1.38 million (as of April 28th), showing how rapidly LE SSERAFIM's popularity is rising.

Experts praised LE SSERAFIM, saying, "They show a stylish look with every new song," and "Their sound is flawless."

Pop culture critic Kim Do-heon expressed optimism, saying, "LE SSERAFIM creates music with a story, capturing the essence of K-pop. This album is also based on the members' individual narratives, focusing on delivering their message through music."

There are still areas for improvement to achieve perfection. One K-pop producer analyzed, "LE SSERAFIM's songs seem to lack a memorable punch, specifically in the top melody lines. If they can create music that brings out that distinctiveness, LE SSERAFIM's concept and performance quality will only increase."