Hunter is the third studio album by South Korean singer Key. It was released on August 11, 2025, through SM Entertainment. It consists of ten songs of different genres, including the lead single, "Hunter", and is themed around urban legends. It peaked at number three on South Korea's Circle Album Chart.
Key's second studio album, Gasoline, was released in 2022. Follow-up releases Good & Great (2023) and Pleasure Shop (2024) featured songs with a milder sound in order to show variety. However, Key found this less fulfilling and decided to return to making more conceptual music, stating: "I wanted to go back to what I really want to do, and this is it. It is something I had been putting off for a long time."[1][2] He decided to release a studio album as a gift for fans,[3] and selected the songs with performing in mind.[4] The concept was inspired by horror films and urban legends like the jangsanbeom.[3] It features collaborations with Eunho of Plave and Seulgi of Red Velvet.[5] Key said the album had no connection to the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters and that he had already filmed the music video before it was released.[2]
Composition
Hunter contains ten songs of various genres, and is described as "an album that weaves a variety of stories about the self".[4] It opens with lead single "Hunter", a dance song that describes a complex and obsessive relationship. It features bass, kick sounds, rhythmic guitar riffs and synth pads.[6] "Trap" incorporates "aggressive" drums, a "tense" bass rhythm, "rough electronic edges" and bell sounds. The lyrics depict a nightmarish existence that constantly provokes self-doubt.[7][8] It is followed by "Strange", Key's signature English track, an experimental punk rock song with textured synths and distorted vocals that asks questions about the inner lives of humans.[9] "Want Another" is a dance-pop song about awakening hidden desires.[7] It combines "choppy vocals" and "metallic synths" with an "off-kilter song structure".[8] "No Way!" blends R&B and house, with lyrics about fighting back against the different voices inside one's head.[10] "Infatuation" is a synth-infused new jack swing track about a summer fling.[11] "Glam" is a retro dance-pop song with synths and kick sounds. It portrays Key enjoying his life and celebrating himself.[10] "Picture Frame" is a house-inflected dance song with glitchy vocals and "dreamy" synths. It compares the border between reality and dreams to a picture frame.[9] R&B pop track "Perfect Error" contains guitar riffs and synths, with a message about self-belief.[9] Finally, "Lavender Love" is a pop song with "dreamy" synths and "emotional" vocals. The lyrics express gratitude for a person who has been a source of strength.[9]
Release and promotion
On July 21, 2025, SM Entertainment announced that Key was planning to release his third studio album the following month. They uploaded images of a mock noticeboard online containing a phone number fans could call to learn more about the album.[12] Key launched a website containing hints about the album and uploaded promotional imagery to social media depicting the horror theme.[13] Between August 5 and August 10, he held an event titled Dr. Odd's Room, where fans could visit the secret office of "Dr. Odd", a character who collects ghost stories, and view objects shown in the album artwork.[14] Key performed lead single "Hunter" for the first time at SM Town Live in Japan on August 9.[15] The album was released on August 11, alongside the music video for the lead single.[5] Key performed "Hunter" on music programs, beginning with M Countdown on August 14.[16] He received two music show wins for "Hunter", marking the first time he had done so as a solo artist. Key commented: "I hoped this album would be a gift to my fans, but I feel like my fans have given me a gift instead. I know full well that winning first place on a music show at my age is by no means an easy feat, so I'm even more grateful."[17] He will promote the album with a concert tour, titled 2025 Keyland: Uncanny Valley, beginning with shows in Seoul in September.[18] On October 2, he will hold a fan meeting, hosted by music streaming service Melon, for his subscribers on the platform.[19]
Critical reception
In a five-star review, Carmen Chin of NME lauded the album's "incredibly taut and cohesive artistic vision". She felt that it was one of the best Korean releases of the year, and stated that Key made "a strong argument for his case as the next pop disruptor".[8]
↑ Lee, Min-ji (July 28, 2025). 믿고 듣는 조합 온다…샤이니 키, 켄지와 또 한번 의기투합[A trustworthy and listenable combination... Shinee's Key and Kenzie team up once again]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
1 2 Sun, Mi-kyung (July 29, 2025). 샤이니 키, 정규 3집 'Hunter' 수록곡도 콘셉추얼하다[Shinee Key's third studio album, 'Hunter', features conceptual tracks]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
1 2 3 4 Lee, Min-ji (August 1, 2025). 샤이니 키, 시그니처 영어곡 라인업 추가…실험적인 'Strange'[Shinee's Key adds signature English song to line-up... experimental 'Strange']. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
1 2 Ji, Min-kyung (July 30, 2025). 샤이니 키, 다채롭게 전하는 '나’'에 대한 메시지[Shinee's Key delivers a colourful message about himself]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Hwang, Hye-jin (July 31, 2025). 샤이니 키 정규 3집 'Hunter' 레드벨벳 슬기·플레이브 은호 피처링[Shinee Key's third studio album 'Hunter' features Red Velvet's Seulgi and Plave's Eunho]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Myung, Hee-sook (July 22, 2025). 서늘한 도시괴담…샤이니 키, 신선한 콘셉트로 귀환[A chilling urban legend... Shinee's Key returns with a fresh concept]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Baek, A-young (August 3, 2025). 샤이니 키, 팬 참여형 컴백 프로모션?5일부터 오픈…정규 3집 기대감 up[Shinee's Key has a fan-participatory comeback promotion? Opens on the 5th... building anticipation for his third studio album]. MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Ji, Min-kyung (August 7, 2025). 샤이니 키, 도쿄돔 'SM Town Live'서 신곡 'Hunter' 무대 선공개[Shinee's Key previews new song 'Hunter' at 'SM Town Live' at Tokyo Dome]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 9, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Yoo, Ji-hee (August 23, 2025). 샤이니 키, 신곡 '헌터'로 '뮤뱅' 1위…솔로 첫 음방 2관왕[Shinee's Key wins first place on Music Bank with new song "Hunter," his first time winning two music show awards as a solo artist]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Jeong, Hee-yeon (August 13, 2025). 샤이니 키 팬밋업 10월 2일 개최[Shinee's Key to hold fan meeting on October 2]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2025– via Naver.
↑ Kim, Na-yeon (August 22, 2025). 샤이니 키, 'Hunter'로 '뮤직뱅크' 첫 1위..스키즈 컴백→코르티스 핫데뷔[종합][Shinee's Key takes first place on 'Music Bank' with 'Hunter'... Stray Kids comeback → Cortis hot debut [Roundup]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 22, 2025– via Naver.
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