Armageddon (Aespa album)

Background and release

SM Entertainment announced on April 22, 2024, that Aespa would release their first studio album Armageddon, featuring two singles. "Supernova" was released on May 13, and the title track along with the album followed on May 27. A promotional trailer titled "Launch Code" appeared on May 2, and the track listing with a highlight medley teaser came eight days later. Music video teasers for "Supernova" and tracks "Long Chat", "Licorice", and "Live My Life" were released in May. A CDP version including a CD player is scheduled for July 19.

Composition

Armageddon is a pop album incorporating hip hop, dance, and ballads. "Supernova" is a dance and hyper-pop track with heavy kick and bass, a catchy top line, and synth melody, its lyrics comparing the start of an event opening a door to another dimension to a supernova. "Armageddon" is a hip hop and dance song described as old-school yet trendy, with a fluid R&B bridge and lyrics conveying that the speaker can only define themselves. "Set the Tone" is a thumping hip-hop track with exhilarating synthesizer punches.

"Mine" reflects on growing up with fear and feeling like a fake portrait in a broken mirror, but ultimately standing tall. "Licorice" is a dance song with an addictive churning rock-pop hook, vintage electric guitar, and strong trap beat, comparing a person with strange charm to licorice. "Bahama" is a breezy mid-tempo pop track with a sleepy, swooning summer chorus about taking a friend to the titular island. "Long Chat" is a dance song about friendly conversations lasting through the night.

"Prologue" is an upbeat pop song addressing the difficulties of growing up, admitting anxiety, disappointments, and loss of passion. "Live My Life" is a cheerful guitar-based pop-punk track about living independently and breaking away from existing frameworks. The closing track "Melody" is a piano fan anthem dedicated to the group's fans.

Critical reception

Armageddon received generally positive reviews. Rhian Daly of NME praised the album for reinforcing that Aespa are exquisite when allowed to run free in their trademark sounds. Jenessa Williams of The Forty-Five appreciated the group's willingness to experiment with hard and soft sounds, noting they thrive at the edgier end of their USP.

Debashree Dutta of Rolling Stone India praised the album's vivid story and poetic landscapes as a varied auditory experience. Jeff Benjamin of Billboard described it as an artistic evolution blurring boundaries between reality and virtual realms. In a mixed review, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian gave two out of five stars, finding the music intriguing and well done but suspecting it might be an afterthought.

Did You Know?

• The album reached number one on the QQ Music digital album sales chart in China and was certified double platinum within three hours of release.