EPEX concludes ‘Prelude of Anxiety’ with overwhelming message on school violence

On the 4th, EPEX held a media showcase to commemorate the release of their sixth EP, ‘Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2: ‘Can We Surrender?’ at the Bluesquare Mastercard Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Singer Yoonha hosted the event.

This new album, ‘Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2: ‘Can We Surrender?,’ released after six months since April this year, is the final chapter that completes EPEX’s ‘Prelude of Anxiety’ series, which they have been working on since before their debut.

On this day, Baek Seung said, “It’s been a year and six months since ‘Prelude of Anxiety.’ Since this is the final chapter, I poured out everything, so please show your interest.”

Yewang emphasized, “Just as we had consecutive releases of ‘Puppy Love,’ we also eagerly waited for EPEX’s ‘Prelude of Anxiety’ comeback. We will show a performance as if we were thirsty for it.”

After a year and a half, they are presenting ‘Prelude of Anxiety’ again. In this album, they tackle the current state of school violence, various factors that coerce submission among boys, the limits encountered in the process of growth, and the dark and unsettling reality, all portrayed with robust storytelling.

The title track, ‘Full Metal Jacket,’ is a song that encapsulates EPEX’s intense determination against school violence. Explosive energy can be felt as the guitar sound is about to burst, accompanied by a powerful bassline.

Yewang introduced, “At first, it was challenging to immerse ourselves in the heavy theme, but we believe that EPEX, at an age where we can talk about the stories of teenagers and convey a story that only we can tell.”

In particular, Ayden stated, “School violence is not improving; it is deteriorating further. I thought this was a topic that we must address and it goes beyond simple description. It contains the courage to overcome.” He continued, “Even though I am still in my teens, I realized that school violence is worsening as I observed my friends. It seems that someone, whether individually or as a group, needs to step up and help, but it doesn’t seem to be happening, so I wanted to convey a message as a singer.”

The choreography is directed by the dance crew Just Jerk. MU explained, “Since the song deals with a heavy theme, we felt it was insufficient to express it only with the members, so we planned an overwhelming performance from the beginning. As a result, we created an overwhelming performance. There are many points, so even if you watch it multiple times, there will always be noticeable points.”

Wish said, “It’s a song with a strong impact, so I thought about how to express a powerful song, and after practicing with 20 dancers, I realized ‘This is it.’ So, I think that energy can be conveyed effectively.”

EPEX recorded pre-orders of 260,000 copies for their new album.

Regarding their growth, MU said, “We were surprised when we heard the news. We had some expectations after looking at our previous records, but we were even happier to hear better news than we expected.” He added, “Thank you to the fans who have been watching us grow step by step. We will work harder to repay you.”

With this album, they conclude ‘Prelude of Anxiety.’

Wish mentioned, “The storyline for the next album has already been established since the planning stage. So far, it has been the story of boys, but in the future, it will likely contain the story of young adults. In three months, we will all be adults.”

Lastly, Yoonha said, “When I look at them as a third party, I feel that their story serves as motivation for these guys to immerse themselves in the world and melt their own stories into it. When they sit in a circle and have a meeting, it feels like a rally, and that earnest energy is conveyed beyond the glass. In that regard, I think Effects’ charm lies in their concentration and focus.”

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