Apocalypse: Save Us

Apocalypse: Save Us
S version and digital cover
Studio album by Dreamcatcher
Released	April 12, 2022 (2022-04-12)
Recorded	2021–2022
Genre	Dance rock ballad [1]
Length	44:22
Language	Korean English
Label	Dreamcatcher Company Sony Music
Producer	Leez Ollounder
Dreamcatcher chronology
Summer Holiday (2021) Apocalypse: Save Us (2022) Apocalypse: Follow Us (2022)
Singles from Apocalypse: Save Us
"Maison" Released: April 12, 2022

Apocalypse: Save Us is the second Korean studio album by South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher. It was released on April 12, 2022, by Dreamcatcher Company, and distributed by Sony Music. ^[2] Apocalypse: Save Us features fourteen tracks including the lead single "Maison", as well as seven solo songs, and is available in "S", ^{[upper-alpha 1]} "A", "V", "E" versions and a jewel case ^{[upper-alpha 2]} version. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

This album is the start of Dreamcatcher's new Apocalypse series after the conclusion of the previous series Dystopia. ^[6] Commercially, the album sold over 136,239 copies. ^[7] The group also collected their first music show win of their career with "Maison" on MBC M's Show Champion . ^[8] The album received generally favorable reviews by the critics.

Background and release

On March 24, 2022, Dreamcatcher released the mystery code teaser for their upcoming April comeback. ^[9] The group's Mystery Code teasers signal the start of a new era as they gear up for a return. It was later revealed that Dreamcatcher will be making their return on April 12. ^[10]

Official teasers for the album were first released on March 28, starting with a track list, ^[11] followed by individual and group concept photos, ^[12] a highlight medley, ^[13] a dance preview, ^[14] a story preview ^[15] and a music video teaser. ^{[16] [17]} The album and the music video for the album were released on April 12, 2022. ^[18] The group commemorated the release by hosting a special mini-concert in Korea, which was also available as an online stream for international fans. A world tour titled 2022 Dreamcatcher World Tour [Apocalypse: Save Us] associated with the album was announced on April 27, 2022, initially featuring eight shows in the United States. ^{[19] [20]} Two more dates for the tour (Mexico City and a second show in Los Angeles) were announced on June 14, 2022. ^[21]

Composition

The title track "Maison" is a song described as a "cry for help" to save the Earth from the apocalypse caused by global warming, environmental pollution, and human indifference. The title of the song was hidden through the morse code '321124433433' in the first album teaser. Maison is French for home, referencing the only known habitable planet; Earth. ^[22] The other tracks include an intro titled "Intro: Save Us," "Locked Inside A Door," retro synth-pop "Starlight", deep house-based "Together," the ballad "Always," and the second instrumental track "Skit: The Seven Doors." The album holds more significance for the group's members as it includes a solo song produced by each of the members. Overall production was handled by composers Leez and Ollounder, who have collaborated before for Dreamcatcher's Nightmare and Dystopia worldviews. ^[23]

Promotion

Apocalypse: Save Us World Tour

Main article: Apocalypse: Save Us World Tour

Apocalypse: Save Us World Tour

World tour by Dreamcatcher
Associated album	Apocalypse: Save Us
Start date	June 28, 2022
End date	July 20, 2022
No. of shows	10
Dreamcatcher concert chronology
Dreamcatcher Concert: Invitation from Nightmare City Dreamcatcher World Tour [Apocalypse : Save us]

On April 27, 2022, Dreamcatcher announced the 2022 Dreamcatcher World Tour [Apocalypse: Save Us], scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 2022. Ticket sales for Dreamcatcher's new concert began on June 15 at 8:00 AM PST through Ticketmaster. The North American leg of their tour was originally set to conclude in Los Angeles, but the group has also since added a new show in Mexico City at the Auditorio BB on July 20. ^{[24] [25]}

List of confirmed dates and venues

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
June 28, 2022	New York City	United States	Palladium Times Square
July 1, 2022	Reading		Santander Arena
July 3, 2022	Louisville		Old Forester's Paristown Hall
July 7, 2022	Chicago		Radius Chicago
July 9, 2022	Minneapolis		Skyway Theatre
July 12, 2022	Denver		Fillmore Auditorium
July 14, 2022	San Francisco		The Midway
July 16, 2022	Los Angeles		The Wiltern
July 17, 2022
July 20, 2022	Mexico City	Mexico	Auditorio BB (BlackBerry)

Commercial performance

As of May 2022, the album sold over 136,239 copies. ^[7] It debuted on number 4 on Gaon Weekly Album Chart and went on to peak at number 8 on Gaon Monthly Album Chart with 126,654 sales for the month of April. According to Hanteo Charts, the album sold more than 85,000 copies first week since its release with 54,131 copies sold on the first day of release. ^[26] Dreamcatcher had their debut peak on The Official Finnish Charts, reaching number 26. ^[27] They also earned their first music show win of their career (1,924 days after their debut in 2017) with "Maison" on MBC M's Show Champion . On April 26, Dreamcatcher officially wrapped up their promotions with their goodbye stage performance on SBS MTV's The Show, where they earned their second music show win. ^[28] The music video has amassed 29 million views as of March 2024. ^[29]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
NME	[30]

Tanu Raj for NME gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "while Dreamcatcher tackle climate change on their second studio offering, the effort does seem a tad misplaced in the face of the album's youthful optimism and that keeping a frantic pace throughout, "Maison" underlines an urgency that seems to be missing in many when it comes to climate change." ^[31]

Track listing

Apocalypse: Save Us track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Intro: Save Us"		Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	1:01
2.	"Locked Inside a Door"	Leez Ollounder Maddox D.Van	Leez Ollounder Buddy	Leez Ollounder Buddy	3:07
3.	"Maison"	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	3:05
4.	"Starlight"	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder Max Borghetti	Leez Ollounder	3:19
5.	"Together"	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder Maddox	Leez Ollounder	3:44
6.	"Always"	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	4:29
7.	"Skit: The Seven Doors"		Leez Ollounder	Leez Ollounder	1:45
8.	"Cherry (Real Miracle)" (performed by JiU)	Ollounder JiU	Ollounder JiU Peperoni	Ollounder JiU Peperoni	3:15
9.	"No Dot" (performed by SuA)	Leez Ollounder SuA Oliv	Leez Ollounder SuA Oliv	Leez Ollounder SuA Oliv	3:19
10.	"Entrancing" (极夜; performed by Siyeon)	Leez Siyeon Kim Jun-hyeok	Leez Siyeon Kim Jun-hyeok	Leez Siyeon Kim Jun-hyeok	3:32
11.	"Winter" (performed by Handong)	Ollounder Handong Han Soo-seok	Ollounder Handong Han Soo-seok	Ollounder Han Soo-seok	3:51
12.	"For" (performed by Yoohyeon)	Yoohyeon Buddy Maddox	Yoohyeon Buddy Ollounder	Yoohyeon Buddy Ollounder	3:44
13.	"Beauty Full" (performed by Dami)	Leez Dami Kim Jun-hyeok	Leez Dami Kim Jun-hyeok	Leez Dami Kim Jun-hyeok	3:03
14.	"Playground" (performed by Gahyeon)	Leez Ga-hyeon Han Soo-seok	Leez Ga-hyeon Han Soo-seok	Leez Han Soo-seok	3:01
Total length:					42:23

Personnel

• Leez – producing, lyrics, music, arrangement (12 tracks), MIDI programming, background vocals (track 2), synthesizer
• Ollounder – producing, lyrics, music, arrangement (12 tracks), MIDI programming, guitar
• Maddox – lyrics (track 2), music (track 5, 12)
• Max Borghetti – music (track 4) ^[32]
• D.Van – lyrics (track 2)
• Buddy – lyrics (track 12), music, arrangement, bass, piano (tracks 2, 12)
• Kim Jun-hyeok – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 9, 13), bass, synthesizer
• Jeon Jae-hee – background vocals
• Sangyun – electric guitar
• Ji Yu-min – guitar
• Peperoni – music, arrangement, synthesizer (track 8)
• Oliv – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 9), MIDI programming
• Han Soo-seok – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 11, 14), piano, MIDI programming
• Lee Sang-beom – guitar (track 2)
• Shim Sang-yeop – choir
• Kim Soo-hee – piano
• Yeon Chang-jum – guitar
• SuA – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 9)
• Siyeon – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 10), background vocals (track 3)
• JiU – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 8)
• Handong – lyrics, music (track 11)
• Yoohyeon – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 12), background vocals (track 2)
• Dami – lyrics, music, arrangement (track 13)
• Gahyeon – lyrics, music (track 14)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Apocalypse: Save Us Chart (2022) Peak position Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [33] 26 South Korean Albums (Gaon) [34] 4

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for Apocalypse: Save Us Chart (2022) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon) [35] 8

Sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
South Korea	—	136,239 [36]

Accolades

Music program awards

Song	Title	Network	Date	Ref.
"Maison"	Show Champion	MBC M	April 20, 2022	[37]
	The Show	SBS MTV	April 26, 2022	[28]

Mid-year lists

Critic/Publication	List	Work	Rank	Ref.
Time	The Best K-pop Songs and Albums of 2022 So Far (Albums)	"Apocalypse: Save Us"	—	[38]

Release history

Release history for Apocalypse: Save Us

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	April 12, 2022	CD	Dreamcatcher Company Sony Music
Various		Digital download streaming

Notes

1. "S" version was released as a limited edition of the series
2. Released exclusively in USA

References

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