WayV announce new release date for upcoming mini-album ‘Phantom’

23 November, 2022

wayv comeback phantom december mini album 2022

SM Entertainment has announced a revised release date for WayV’s upcoming mini-album ‘Phantom’.

The China-based NCT subunit were announced last month to be making their long-awaited return to music with their upcoming fourth mini-album, titled ‘Phantom’, previously slated to drop on December 9.

However, Label V took to the boyband’s Twitter page last week (December 1) to announce that the release of the record has been postponed. While a reason for the postponement was not explicitly stated, the announcement came only a day after it was announced that former Chinese president Jiang Zemin had died.

Today (December 8), the music label tweeted that ‘Phantom’ will now be released on December 28. “Once again, we would like to ask for your kind understanding and especially from the fans who have been waiting for WayV’s fourth mini-album ‘Phantom’. Please give your full support for the album that will be released on December 28th,” Label V’s announcement read.

When the album was first announced last month, the company said in a press statement that ‘Phantom’ will consist of eight tracks “of various genres” – including a title track of the same name – six of which are brand-new. The EP will include two singles released as standalone tracks last year: the Xiaojun and Kun duet ‘Back To You’ from June 2021, as well as the Ten and Yang Yang joint track ‘Low Low’ released in August 2021.

Alongside the announcement, the South Korean label and its Chinese subsidiary company Label V also unveiled the track art for ‘Phantom’. The first concept photo of the group for ‘Phantom’, depicting the subunit’s faceless silhouettes, was also shared.

Notably, the group image features only six out of WayV’s original line-up of seven, sparking speculation among fans that Lucas may not have been involved in the production of this record. The Hong Kong-born member has been on an indefinite hiatus since August last year after being embroiled in a cheating and gaslighting controversy. However, neither SM Entertainment nor Label V has issued an official statement regarding his involvement with ‘Phantom’ at the time of publication.

‘Phantom’ will mark WayV’s first music in a year and nine months. Their last record was March 2021’s ‘Kick Back’ mini-album.

Prior to WayV’s comeback announcement, the six-piece Chinese subunit made an appearance on a recent NCT reality programme Welcome To The NCT Universe, which officially introduced a handful of SM Rookies trainees to the public. Hosted by NCT bandmates Shotaro and Sungchan, Welcome To The NCT Universe saw WayV appear for talking segments and performances alongside various other NCT subunits including NCT 127 and NCT Dream.

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