Odyssey (Riize album)

Last updated

Odyssey
Riize Odyssey.jpg
Digital cover
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 19, 2025 (2025-05-19)
Genre K-pop
Length29:47
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
  • Kasper Almkvist
  • Chanti
  • Collapsedone
  • Strong Dragon
  • John Flynn
  • Joel Gunnarsson
  • Humbler
  • Kenzie
  • Mathilde Clara Nyegaard
  • Matthew Jung
  • Oscar Ögren
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Jop Pangemanan
  • PhD
  • Pizzapunk
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Wyatt Sanders
  • Yoon Sang
  • Matt Zara
Riize chronology
Riizing
(2024)
Odyssey
(2025)
Singles from Odyssey
  1. "Fly Up"
    Released: May 19, 2025

Odyssey is the first studio album by South Korean boy group Riize. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 19, 2025, and contains ten tracks, including the lead single "Fly Up".

Contents

Background and release

On February 2025, SM Entertainment announced in its roadmap that Riize would make their comeback in the second quarter of 2025. [1] On April 28, 2025, it was announced that Riize would release their first studio album titled Odyssey on May 19. The album trailer video was also released on the same day. [2] Promotional schedule was released on the next day on April 29. [3]

Teaser images for the album were released on a regular basis between April 30 [4] and May 15. [5] Several promotional videos were released ahead of the album. The first was the music video for the track "Bag Bad Back", which premiered on May 1. [6] This was followed by a track video for "Ember to Solar" on May 6. [7] On May 11, a monologue video was also released. [8] A full-length video featuring all ten songs from the album premiered via Weverse on May 14. [9] The album was released alongside the music video for "Fly Up" on May 19. [10]

Composition

Odyssey contains ten tracks. The lead single and fourth track, "Fly Up", is a vibrant dance track that draws inspiration from the rock and roll style of the 1950s. The lyrics illustrate the six members of Riize gradually coming together and finding joy through shared experiences with people from all walks of life. [5]

The opening track, "Odyssey", sets the tone for the album with an atmospheric blend of synthesizers and UK garage rhythms, evoking the feeling of drifting through space. Its lyrics speak to the importance of trust and mutual reliance, portraying a fearless determination to move forward together. [11] The second track, "Bag Bad Back", is a hip-hop-infused song driven by a heavy bassline, groovy drum patterns, and an addictive, shout-along chorus. The track stands out with its dynamic vocal delivery, alternating between playful whispers and bold shouts, adding a layer of charisma and spontaneity. Lyrically, the song brims with clever wordplay, drawing a metaphor between a bag and the ambitions the members carry. [6]

The third track, "Ember to Solar", is an energetic dance song featuring bold brass instrumentation and a fast-paced beat that drives its uplifting momentum. The track encapsulates the theme of growth and realization. [7] The fifth track, "Show Me Love", is a vibrant pop anthem marked by an addictive bassline and an easy-to-sing, chant-like chorus that invites audience participation. Radiating youthful energy, the song delivers a signature message of encouragement and self-expression. [12]

The sixth track, "Passage", is a brief yet impactful 39-second instrumental piece that serves as a narrative interlude within the album. Featuring the creative touch of renowned singer and music producer Yoon Sang. [13] The seventh track, "Midnight Mirage", is a captivating pop song that blends a fairytale-like atmosphere with a foundation of heavy bass and dreamy synthesizers. The track conjures a sense of quiet wonder, evoking the stillness of early morning hours when inspiration feels distant yet mysteriously present, like a fleeting mirage. [14]

The eighth track, "The End of the Day", is a tender ballad that blends the warmth of electric piano, gentle acoustic guitar, and a rich orchestral arrangement. "The End of the Day" serves as a musical thank-you, wrapping the listener in a sense of comfort, connection, and enduring appreciation. [15] The ninth track, "Inside My Love", is a pop ballad that evokes the nostalgic charm of 1990s retro sensibilities. Soft and sincere, the song channels a timeless warmth both in its sound and sentiment. [16]

The tenth and final track, "Another Life", is a dynamic pop song that blends an emotional piano melody with striking drumbeats and soaring electric guitar lines, delivering a powerful and cathartic finale to the album. The song offers a fresh twist, both musically and lyrically, as the group looks ahead with clarity and resolve. Reflecting on their past as trainees and their journey since debut, the lyrics express the group’s unwavering determination to live each moment to the fullest without regrets. "Another Life" stands as a bold statement of ambition, hope, and the unrelenting drive to shape their own future. [17]

Promotion

On May 1, 2025, SM Entertainment announced that Riize will embark on their concert tour titled Riizing Loud, set to take place from July 2025 to February 2026. The tour will include 24 shows across 14 cities throughout Asia, and will serve as a major promotional effort for the album. [18] Prior to the release of Odyssey, on May 19, 2025, Riize held a showcase event titled "Riize the 1st Album 'Odyssey' Premiere" at Blue Square Hall. The event was broadcast live on YouTube, TikTok, and Weverse, aimed at introducing the album and connecting with their fanbase. [19]

To promote the song "Fly Up", they performed the lead single on Mnet M2's Move to Performance on May 21. They later performed the song on various music shows, Mnet's M Countdown on May 22, KBS2's Music Bank on May 23, MBC's Show! Music Core on May 24, and SBS's Inkigayo on May 25. [20]

Track listing

Odyssey track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Odyssey" Lee Seu-ran
  • Mathilde Clara Nyegaard
  • Oscar Ögren
  • Joel Gunnarsson
  • Kasper Almkvist
  • Nyegaard
  • Ögren
  • Gunnarsson
  • Almkvist
2:32
2."Bag Bad Back"Bigone
Strong Dragon3:13
3."Ember to Solar" (잉걸) Kenzie
  • Woomin Lee "Collapsedone"
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Jyll
  • Andreas Ringblom
  • Collapsedone
  • Reinstein
3:21
4."Fly Up"
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Julia Bognar Finnseter
  • Jop Pangemanan
  • Albin Tengblad
  • Aaron
  • Olsen
  • Pangemanan
2:58
5."Show Me Love"
  • Ha Yoon-ah
  • Lilijune
Zara3:10
6."Passage" 
  • Yoon
  • Jeong
0:40
7."Midnight Mirage"Danke
  • John Flynn
  • Wyatt Sanders
  • Colin Magalong
  • Flynn
  • Sanders
3:23
8."The End of the Day" (모든 하루의 끝)
  • Kim A-hyun
  • Humbler
  • Kim
  • Humbler
Humbler3:43
9."Inside My Love"Kenzie
PhD2:40
10."Another Life" Moon Seol-ri
  • Chanti
  • Pizzapunk
3:47
Total length:29:27

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [21]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Odyssey
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA) [30] Million1,000,000^
South Korea (KMCA) [31]
SMC
Platinum250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for Odyssey
RegionDateFormatLabel
South KoreaMay 19, 2025 CD
Various
United StatesJuly 11, 2025 CD
  • SM
  • RCA

References

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  2. Hwang, Hye-jin (April 28, 2025). 라이즈, 5월 19일 첫 정규앨범 'ODYSSEY' 컴백…톱티어 넘어 ‘원톱’ [Riize makes a comeback with their first full-length album 'ODYSSEY' on May 19th... Beyond the top tier 'One Top'] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025 via Naver.
  3. Kyung, Ji-min (April 29, 2025). 라이즈, 터질 듯한 자신감의 증명..'원톱' 스케일 프로모션 예고 [Riize, proving their bursting confidence..' One-Top' Scale Promotion Announcement] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025 via Naver.
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