The (not so long, maybe) awaited return for Tomorrow x Together is finally here with their new mini-album The Star Chapter: Sanctuary. I said not so long just because it’s been only seven months since the previous mini-album release, and maybe those guys just deserved some time off.
In fact, they worked on this new min-album while on tour (which is not completely over), and while promoting the previous one so, despite this is what a k-pop idol life looks like, I am sure another release wasn’t necessary so early. Me, as part of their fandom (MOA, as they call us very cutely), I wasn’t definitely waited for it.
If I remember well, I already talked to you about that past release last April (Minisode 3: Tomorrow) because, as you might have imagined by now, they are so precious to me. That’s why I’m here again to inform you a new album has been release last Monday.
The Star Chapter: Sanctuary is the seventh mini album by the South Korean k-pop band. It is the first (of we still don’t how many parts) of a new chapter of the beautiful fairytale they are continuing to tell us. In fact its name recalls easily the beginning of their journey, with their debut album from 2019 being called STAR. But I think I already shared some details about this in my previous article, so let’s go back to the album.
I must say it is very short, it contains just six tracks and all of them are less than three minutes long. This might sound disappointing, but it’s also the reason why it’s called a mini album I guess.
It is introduced by the single “Over the Moon”, of which we can watch the video on YouTube. We can immediately recognize the R&B sound well mixed with the members voices. It is quite obvious how they manage to grow through all these releases, in fact we can see in the credits how they took charge of the creation of music and lyrics of each song. It wasn’t always like that.
“Danger” has been the most surprising track for me. Someone even said that with this song, they did what Justin Timberlake was able to do before them. I will take it as a huge compliment on their behalf.
“Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)” is definitely my favourite. I might change my mind in a few days, because this mini album is so full of complete, various and independent tracks that explore different genres, it is quite difficult to choose just one.
For now though, this is the one. Maybe it’s because of the reggaeton sound, or maybe it’s the lyrics, which sees them quite openly talking about a tormented love feeling, but also about the very deep relationship between the band and their fans. With lyrics like “I can’t exist without you“, I want to see it as an open explanation of the second option, and the acoustic guitar enphasizes that a lot.
Let’s go on with “Forty One Winks”, with its not so new or modern sound, but with a way more profound meaning. Forty Winks is a way to talk about taking a nap, a break, so “Forty One Winks” is what happens next, the return to fight, to be back and ready.
“Higher Than Heaven” is the last track of this album, and it leaves us with lots of more expectations of what these five amazing boys can still give us.
The Star Chapter: Sanctuary is now available everywhere. With three standard versions (Knight, Savior, Lover). a fourth personalized for each member one (Angel), two digitals and one merch version. I can’t wait to have it in my hands!
Listen to Tomorrow x Together’s The Star Chapter: Sanctuary EP below and stream it everywhere else here.
Words by Barbara Aragona
