As K-pop continues its global domination, few groups have captured the attention of Gen Z quite like ENHYPEN. The septet—comprised of members Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki—are more than just a boy band; they are K-pop’s unrivalled storytellers, weaving a complex and captivating narrative through their music and concepts. On August 22nd, ENHYPEN brought their magic to London, kicking off the European leg of their highly anticipated ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ‘WALK THE LINE’ IN EUROPE at The O2. Having been completely mind-blown by their talent at Music Bank in Madrid last year, I was beyond excited to finally witness a full-length show from a group I’ve been following since their debut, and let me tell you right now… I was not disappointed!
Following this explosive opening night, the group is set to light up the stage in Manchester on August 25th, giving UK ENGENEs another chance to walk the line with them.
Since their debut in 2020 through the reality competition show I-LAND, ENHYPEN has ascended with record-breaking speed. They’ve made history as the fastest K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, and have placed five albums in the Billboard 200 Top 10, including their 2nd Studio Album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD, which debuted at No. 2 in 2024. Their unique musical style blends smooth R&B, dance-pop, and rock with a distinctive, often gothic, vampiric concept that draws fans into their ever-evolving universe. Beyond the music, the members have made a significant impact on the fashion world, with all seven being named global ambassadors for Prada. Individually, they are also known for their diverse talents and personalities: Heeseung for his incredible vocals and songwriting, Jay for his humour and electric guitar skills, Jake for his heartwarming personality and Australian roots, Sunghoon for his background as a competitive figure skater, Sunoo for his bubbly “happy virus” energy, Jungwon for his strong leadership, and Ni-ki for his astonishing dance prowess. This blend of artistry, unique narratives, and individual charm is what makes an ENHYPEN show an experience unlike any other.
Let me now WALK you through the night (and THE LINE) in London, where ENHYPEN absolutely slayed their big opening!
As showtime approached, the energy in the arena was electric. The crowd’s singing and cheering grew louder and louder, and you could feel the excitement building in the air. After a captivating opening VCR, the large screen on stage opened up to reveal the members, and the roar from ENGENEs was like nothing I’ve ever heard. I’ve reviewed plenty of K-pop shows, but the love the crowd showed was on another level. This is exactly how we should be welcoming artists.
ENHYPEN lit up the stage with their first song, “Brought The Heat Back,” showcasing black and stylish outfits from Prada. As a proud Italian, I love seeing K-pop artists representing Italian brands, especially iconic ones like Prada. They then moved into the iconic and catchy “FEVER.”
Next up were the classic introductions. Each member introduced themselves, expressing how excited they were to finally meet ENGENEs in London. Jay even practiced his British accent and jokingly asked if he sounded like James Bond. The members then explained that their WALK THE LINE tour is all about the journey they’re on with their fans. With only two songs in, we had already witnessed how amazing they are. Heeseung even sang a few lines a cappella to warm up the fans, showcasing his incredible vocal skills.
After hyping up the crowd with a powerful “ENHYPEN, ENGENE!” chant, they transitioned to “Fireworks,” where a curved screen at the top scrolled down to give a new dynamic to the performance. The stage production for each song was incredibly elevated, perfectly setting the scene for “ParadoXXX Invasion” that followed.
As the curved screen rose again, a new stage was revealed, showcasing ruins and a podium with multiple microphones. This setting made a huge impact on the performance of “Future Perfect (Pass the MIC).” You know that feeling when a studio song is made 100 times better live? This was one of those moments. The outstanding performance closed out the first act.
After a short break and an outfit change, ENHYPEN returned for “Given-Taken.” The stage then transformed for the unit performances. Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon performed “Lucifer,” with a stage that shifted from a vampire-inspired video to an ice theme. They emerged from the ruins in what I can only describe as priest-inspired outfits, delivering a stunning performance.
Following them were Jungwon, Heeseung, Sunoo and Ni-Ki for “Teeth.” The mood shifted completely with fun comic-style effects on the screens. It was such a playful and exciting performance, complemented by their outfit change into denim jackets, white vests, and black trousers.
The full group came back together with new outfits and a totally new vibe for “Blessed-Cursed.” Jay played the electric guitar, surrounded by fireworks—a true rock star moment! The production was incredible, and the attention to detail for each song and set was on another level. This was followed by fan favourites “Fatal Trouble” and “Bite Me,” two tracks that are still on repeat in my workout playlist. This set officially closed the second act.
After a quick video interlude and another outfit change, ENHYPEN returned in casual, comfy clothes to perform “Your Eyes Only” and “Loose.” They took another moment to get closer to ENGENEs, sharing some fun stories. Jay talked about going to a tennis match not long ago in London, and Jake asked for food recommendations, wondering if they should try sausage rolls. Jake also delivered a hilarious, perfectly timed British joke, ending his chat with a pitch-perfect, “Time for a new song, innit?!”
The night continued with “Scream,” performed with mic stands, followed by the high-energy “Tamed-Dashed” where everyone was vibing. They then performed “Sweet Venom” and the hype anthem “Go Big or Go Home.” The arena was filled with green lasers and screens showing a huge smiling face, creating an incredible vibe that had everyone jumping.
I couldn’t believe the show was coming to an end. It was now time for the final act, which began with “Moonstruck,” accompanied by a space moon playing on the back screen. The members wore new outfits—white shirts and sparkly gray vests—and their amazing vocal skills truly shined.
They then took another heartfelt moment to chat with the fans. They expressed how sad they were for the show to end, and Jay mentioned his love for London’s football team and British music. Each member shared touching messages, explaining how important it was for them to finally visit the UK. They even tried fish and chips and said they loved listening to the British accent. Jake also opened up about the difficulties of traveling and thanked ENGENEs for their support. He then teased an upcoming new album, so ENGENEs should definitely keep an eye out for that!
After this moving moment, the show continued with “XO (Only If You Say Yes).” The stage set was incredible, transforming into a mystical garden with butterflies and a white piano. Heeseung began the set by playing the piano, showcasing his incredible talent. The group then performed the iconic song, closing out the main set. They finished with “No Doubt” and the latest track “Bad Desire (With or Without You).”
But a K-pop show isn’t a K-pop show without the classic encore! ENHYPEN returned to the stage with incredible energy for “Helium” and “Paranormal,” a perfect and sweet goodbye song.
This was the real end of the show, proving that all beautiful things must come to an end. ENHYPEN not only lived up to expectations but surpassed them. From the moment I saw them at Music Bank in Madrid, I knew they were a force to be reckoned with. The WALK THE LINE tour is a masterpiece of a show, with every detail meticulously planned. The outfit choices, the visuals and lighting, and the different stage presentations—from ancient ruins to a mystical garden—elevated the entire experience.
And what can be said about ENHYPEN themselves? They are extremely talented and genuinely happy to be there for ENGENEs. Their vocals are amazing, their dancing is smooth, and their individual personalities and talents truly shine. It’s only been four years since their debut, but it’s clear that ENHYPEN will be around for a very, very long time.
As Jake mentioned, ENHYPEN will have a comeback soon, though we don’t have the details yet. Stick around—I’ll share news with you all as soon as I have it! For now, make sure to support ENHYPEN on all your social media, and you can still catch them in Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, and Paris in these coming days!
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