XG have released their first full-length album, ‘THE CORE – 核’, today (January 23rd). The 10-track record arrives alongside the official music video for its focus track, ‘HYPNOTIZE’, which premiered on release day.
‘THE CORE – 核’ includes previously released tracks ‘GALA’ and ‘4 SEASONS’, with the project described by XG’s team as a cohesive first album that foregrounds identity and musical integrity. The record also forms part of XG’s “X-POP” concept, a genre built on the belief that “good music holds value in and of itself”.
‘HYPNOTIZE’ is a house-fueled track built around rhythmic piano lines, with themes of fascination and hypnosis. XG performed the song for the first time earlier today on South Korean music program Music Bank on KBS2.
The ‘HYPNOTIZE’ music video places the album’s “core” idea in a deep-sea setting, using the ocean as a stand-in for realms beyond human reach. It continues XG’s interest in the unknown, redirecting it from the vastness of space to the depths of the ocean.
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‘THE CORE – 核’ arrives ahead of XG’s second world tour, XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE. Beginning with dates in eight cities across Japan, the tour opens with three shows at K-Arena Yokohama from February 6th. The Japan leg concludes with three Tokyo shows at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium on April 10th, 11th and 12th. Dates for Asia, North America, the UK and Europe, Australia and Latin America are yet to be announced. Their first world tour ran across 2024 and drew approximately 400,000 attendees across 47 shows in 35 cities worldwide.
THE CORE – 核 is out now via XGALX. Watch the ‘HYPNOTIZE’ music video below.
XG
THE CORE – 核
Release Date: 23/01/2026
Label: XGALX
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
CD: CDJapan
