MONSTA X Returns with Yet Another Stunning English Album
- Cristal Camargo
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by Cristal Camargo
| MONSTA X continues to explore romantic scenarios and the language of love.
After five years since their last full-length, English album, The Dreaming, the 3rd generation kings are back with another. Ever expanding their global reach, Unfold marks MONSTA X's third all English full length album, making them the first Kpop group to do so.
2025 celebrated the group's 10th Anniversary, and first full member release, X, in nearly four years. All six members, SHOWNU, MINHYUK, KIHYUN, HYUNGWON, JOOHONEY and I.M, return with their ten-track album.
Out of 10 tracks, pre-release “growing pains” and “baby blue” have found a home on the album. The remaining eight tracks remained greyed out on Spotify while the numbers above it counted down the days, hours, and seconds until the release. The moment 9:00PM hit, I pressed the “Listen Now” button on Spotify and began my dive into Unfold.
YouTube STARSHIP and MONSTA X
Listening to “heal”, the first song on the album, I was instantly met with I.M.’s smooth, smoky voice as if to reassure Monbebe that even though he was away, currently serving his mandatory military service, he was still present. “heal” began with absolutely gorgeous melodies that only over a decade of perfecting can produce. The combination of soft piano keys that carried the lyrics and a dramatic choir echoing after the vocalists cemented it at the top of my list of favorite MONSTA X songs. This song absolutely deserved the spotlight of being called a ‘title track’ and was instantly saved to my library. Everything came together to carry the emotions the members practiced to portray and brought a sense of depth to connect my soul to the track itself.
Tying beautifully into “heal”, pre-release tracks “growing pains” and “baby blue” follow with a sense of yearning. Although “growing pains” has a more upbeat tempo than the previous song, it still carries the same theme: the many different emotions and situations of a tumultuous relationship. For MONSTA X, love is not a new concept to sing about on their albums and it is one they always deliver masterfully.
The rest of the album is a variety of music styles ranging from lofi with long, melodic notes (“this!”) to something very reminiscent of 90’s techno (“enemies with benefits”). But one song stood out to me and it was “before you met me”.
Maybe it was because SHOWNU started off the track and he is my bias. Maybe it was the stunning piano piece that accompanied the lyrics. Whatever it was, it really worked to convey the sense of curiosity of “what if?” along with a trace of desolation. It’s definitely a song to listen to while laying against a window while it’s raining and overcast outside.
Another favorite of mine was “glass half empty,” more so for the lyrics. Alongside the mix of bass and harmonies, the lyrics connect with listeners who yearn for their partner they love to love them back equally but now recognize the draining relationship.
In a complete 180 from “glass half empty”, MINHYUK starts singing about finding love in “on our way”. This track smoothly follows his, and the rest of MONSTA X’s, voices alongside the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar that conveys a heart full of romantic longing and falling head over heels for the partner of your dreams. It starts off with the lyrics “I believe in a thing called love and every time I’m with you it’s closer” which immediately filled my heart with overwhelming desire and identification because who hasn’t fallen in love with such intensity? Whether it was an elementary school crush, our favorite fictional character, or our soulmate, everyone who has had the pleasure of falling in love will connect with this song. It’s an easy song to listen to and play on repeat.
To wrap up the album, SHOWNU and HYUNGWON start off “sorry to myself” and as the title suggests, it’s about someone who realizes their relationship isn’t as fulfilling as they originally thought and they only feel sympathy for themselves. It’s a subtle, EDM track that finishes off the Unfold album.
This album is another MONSTA X classic that is full of the various emotions a partner can elicit from you. From being hyped up as the “main attraction” to the heart-breaking realization that you’re pouring from a “glass half empty”, the six-membered group knows how to utilize the gift of song to really connect Monbebe.
You can find Unfold at Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble; all versions containing their own exclusive photocards. Target has Strawberry Ver., Walmart has Cookie MONSTA Ver., and Barnes & Noble has Croissant Ver. Unfortunately a photo card collector's job is never done because there are also hello82 exclusive photocards as well as POP-UP versions. Happy photocard hunting and album collecting and don’t forget to download the Unfold album today on Spotify or Apple Music.
After you buy this masterpiece of an album, you can also catch MONSTA X in a city near you, as they embark on the North American leg of their 2026 world tour THE X: NEXUS. The tour kicks off in Fairfax, VA on October 3 with ticket sales beginning April 14.
MONSTA X
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