On March 16, 2023, Source Music reported that Le Sserafim would be releasing an album in early May.[2] On April 3, it was confirmed that the group's first studio album would be titled Unforgiven and released on May 1.[3] A day later, the promotional schedule was released.[4] On April 10, the album teaser video was released.[5] On April 17, the track sampler video was released.[6] A day later, the track listing was released with "Unforgiven" announced as the lead single.[7] On April 24, the highlight medley teaser video was released.[8] The music video teasers for "Unforgiven" was released on April 28 and 30.[9][10] The album was released alongside the music video for "Unforgiven" on May 1.[11]
Composition
Unforgiven consists of 13 tracks, with the first six tracks having previously been released as part of Fearless and Antifragile, respectively.[7] The seventh track, "Burn the Bridge", was described[by whom?] as a song that "announces the start of Le Sserafim's new journey" with lyrics "based on the members' own writings or what they [had] said in interviews [previously], adding sincerity to the message they wanted to convey". The eighth track and lead single, "Unforgiven", was described[by whom?] as a hip hop song characterized by "funk guitar rhythms" played by American musician Nile Rodgers; it samples "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", a theme song used in the film of the same name. Rodgers stated he was excited to work on the song due to the new types of chord changes it included.[12] The ninth track, "No-Return (Into the Unknown)", was described[by whom?] as a song with lyrics that "expressed the excitement ahead of the adventure". The tenth track, "Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard's Wife", was described[by whom?] as a song with lyrics that contains the meaning "you can move on to the next level only when you break the taboo". The eleventh track, "Fearnot (Between You, Me and the Lamppost)", was described[by whom?] as a song with lyrics written by all of the members for their "fandom and singing just for them". The twelfth track, "Flash Forward", was described[by whom?] as a social media pop song with lyrics about "risking everything without hesitation even if the ending is obvious". The thirteenth and final track, "Fire in the Belly", was described[by whom?] as a song with lyrics about "burning the passion in [your] heart by showing the ambition to becoming the winner of an adventure".[13]
Unforgiven was met with positive reviews from critics. Cristina Jaleru of AP News called the album "an absolute firecracker of a record" and praised it as being "a bold anthem of female empowerment."[16] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote that the album is "an ideal entry point into the world of Le Sserafim" and particularly commended the track "Fearnot (Between You, Me and the Lamppost)" for highlighting "the group's vocal harmony."[17] Onome Uyovbievbo of Riff Magazine noted the album's "nonconventional tropes and experimental pop twists" and opined that "Le Sserafim is setting the example for a new generation of K-pop artists."[18]Paste ranked the album number three in their list of The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.[19]
On April 11, 2023, media outlets reported that Unforgiven had sold over one million copies in pre-orders in less than one week.[21] Pre-orders increased to 1,380,000 copies by April 28.[22] In the United States, the album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 main album chart on 15 May 2023, marking the first time Le Sserafim entered the Top 10 of the chart since their debut.[23]
Promotion
Prior to the release of album, on May 1, 2023, Le Sserafim held a live event on YouTube to introduce the album and communicate with their fans.[24]
^Moon, Wan-suk (March 16, 2023). "[단독]르세라핌, 5월 컴백 확정" [[Exclusive] Le Sserafim confirms comeback in May] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Ji-hyun (April 3, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 'Unforgiven' 발매...5월 1일 컴백 [공식입장]" [Le Sserafim Releases 1st Full-length Album 'Unforgiven'...Come back on May 1st. [Official entrance]] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Im, Min-ji (April 4, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 'Unforgiven' 프로모션 타임테이블 공개(공식)" [Le Sserafim, studio 1st album 'Unforgiven' promotion timetable released (official)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Min-ji (April 10, 2023). "르세라핌이 전하는 연대의 메시지, 정규 1집 트레일러 공개" [The message of solidarity from Le Sserafim, the first full-length album trailer released] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seung-hun (April 17, 2023). ""용서 바란 적 없어"..르세라핌, 정규 1집 샘플러 공개" ["I never asked for forgiveness"... Le Sserafim, 1st studio album sampler released] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abSeon, Mi-kyung (April 18, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 트랙리스트 공개..나일 로저스 피처링[공식]" [Le Sserafim, 1st studio album tracklist released..Featuring Nile Rogers [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang, Da-yoon (April 24, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 하이라이트 메들리 공개 "새 시대로 기억될 언포기븐"" [Le Sserafim unveils the highlight medley of the 1st studio album "Unforgiven to be remembered as a new era"] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jeong-hyeok (April 28, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 티저 공개...서부 영화 같은 영상미" [Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV teaser released...Western movie-like visual beauty] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Seon-gyo (April 30, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' 두 번째 MV 티저 공개" [Le Sserafim unveils second MV teaser for 'Unforgiven']. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
^Jin, Joo-hee (May 1, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 공개...화려한 군무" [Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV released...Splendid group dance] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jung-hyuk (April 24, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 하이라이트 메들리 공개...'Unforgiven' 흥행 예열!" [Le Sserafim, 1st regular album highlight medley released...Warming up for 'Unforgiven' box office!] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Na-young (April 11, 2023). "르세라핌, 2연속 밀리언셀러? 예약 판매 7일 만에 선주문량 103만 장" [Le Sserafim, 2 consecutive million seller? Pre-order 1.03 million in 7 days] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Min-ji (April 29, 2023). "르세라핌, 새 앨범 선주문량 138만 장 돌파" [Le Sserafim, new album surpassed 1,380,000 pre-orders] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jung, Byeong-geun (May 1, 2023). ""더 입체적으로"...르세라핌, 진취적인 석양의 무법자(종합)" ["More three-dimensional"...Le Sserafim, the pushing sunset outlaw (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^年間 アルバムランキング 2023年度 [Annual Album Ranking 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
