MONSTA X: BREAKING THE SHELL OF THE BEAST IDOL

MONSTA X TALK ABOUT THE 'GROWING PAINS' OF MILITARY SERVICE AND WHY THEY CHOSE A SOFTER, MORE MELODIC SOUND FOR THEIR NEW ENGLISH ALBUM 'UNFOLD.'

- By DEBASHREE DUTTA

Monsta X have always written their story in pure adrenaline. I mean, if you look back at their debut in 2015, they didn’t just walk into the industry; they “Trespass”-ed, crashing through expectations with a jagged, aggressive hunger that was remarkably bold for a rookie group at the time.

Since then, they’ve built a legacy rooted in that specific brand of visceral, unrestrained intensity—clear in their sound—be it in the sirens of “Dramarama,” the roaring precision of “Shoot Out,” or the dark, velvety intensity of “Love Killa.” Over time, Monsta X evolved into the industry’s “beast idols”—a title they cemented with sweat and, surely, a physicality that often felt like an explosion.

But when you think about it, the concentrated heat left behind after the explosion is what really defines the fire. For Monsta X, that heat is the maturity they’ve gained through years of constant reinvention, moving from the relentless “All In” energy of their youth to a sophisticated, masculine vulnerability that began to peek through in their record-breaking All About Luv era. Yet throughout the journey, now a decade in, the one constant has been their identity as powerhouse performers—something that Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M have established with every stage. Now they’ve reached a point where they realize that strength isn’t just about how hard you can hit a choreography; it’s about how much truth you're willing to face. That’s precisely what their new English album, Unfold, is all about—finally breaking through the shell to see what’s actually inside of them after all this time.