IVE Drops 'REVIVE+': "It's Not About Numbers — It's About Our DIVEs"

South Korea's most consistent album act of the decade returns with their second studio album, a 12-track project that expands their signature self-love narrative into something bigger - and more honest.

IVE walked into YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on Monday evening knowing that almost three years of anticipation was riding on what they were about to release. Their second full-length album, REVIVE+, dropped at 6 p.m. KST - and the showcase held hours earlier made one thing unmistakably clear: this group is no longer interested in playing it safe.

"This album means re-ignition," said An Yujin. "Not just reigniting - spreading the flame burning under the name IVE farther and wider than ever before." The title REVIVE+ functions less as a comeback statement and more as a declaration of intent: the group that built its identity around a fiercely individualistic "I" narrative is now deliberately reaching outward.

The last time IVE released a full-length album was April 2023, when I've IVE introduced them to a global audience hungry for exactly the kind of self-assured, cinematic pop they were selling. Since then, two mini-albums and a world tour have kept them relevant - but the absence of a proper studio album was felt. REVIVE+ is the answer to that gap, and the members clearly took the weight of it seriously.

From "I" to "We"

Since their December 2021 debut with "ELEVEN," IVE built a mythology around self-confidence and self-love that was explicitly personal - "I" was the protagonist in every song, every visual, every lyric. REVIVE+ keeps that identity intact but opens the door to something more collective. The shift is subtle but meaningful: the fans - IVE's "DIVE" fandom - are now part of the story.

"Until now, our message centered on 'I,'" said Liz. "With this album, we expanded that to 'we.' We tried new things in both performance and music. We want people to see us with fresh eyes." Gaeul put it simply: "We haven't come back with a full album in almost three years. We worked so hard to show an IVE that's grown, evolved - one that doesn't stop changing."

Jang Wonyoung made clear that the "we" extends beyond the six members: "The world we've built here isn't limited to IVE. It reaches everyone who listens to our music. I want all of them to feel included in that 'we.'"

Meanwhile, Leeseo pointed to a milestone that gives the album added symbolism - for the first time in the group's history, every single member is a legal adult. The youngest, Leeseo, turned 20 this year. "This is my first comeback as an adult," she said. "It feels meaningful, and I really want to do well."

Rei, watching her youngest member grow up on stage, recalled a moment of quiet revelation at last October's Seoul concert: "We performed the same debut songs, the same title tracks - but Leeseo's atmosphere, her expressions, her stage presence had naturally changed. As her unnie, it was a strange and wonderful feeling." Leeseo responded by drawing a heart with both hands.

The Music: Two Titles, Six Solos, One Full Picture

The pre-release single "BANG BANG," out since February 9, set the table with a blast of raw energy and straight-ahead sound. The lead title track "BLACKHOLE" takes an entirely different approach - a shuffle-based track built on cinematic atmosphere and wide spatial sound, co-written by Seo Ji-eum, the lyricist who has shaped IVE's creative DNA since "ELEVEN," with additional contributions from lyricist Hwang Yu-bin (XYXX).

Liz described the visual and performance ambitions behind "BLACKHOLE": "We trained with long tables we'd never used before on stage. I think people will feel how new that is." For "BANG BANG," the group worked with male dancers to build a more powerful, physically commanding performance - another deliberate first.

Full tracklist:

Each solo was first previewed on October 31, 2025, the opening night of their second world tour SHOW WHAT I AM in Seoul. The variety speaks for itself: Jang Wonyoung's "8" is tension-laced EDM; Gaeul's "Odd" leans into a dreamy, lower-register vocal; Leeseo's "Super ICY" brings high energy; Liz's "Unreal" lands in alternative rock territory; Rei's "In Your Heart" carries lyrics in three languages; and An Yujin closes the album with "Force," a hip-hop-flavored piece built on thick bass and unapologetic confidence. Five of the six members - Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo - co-wrote their own solo lyrics.

Seven Consecutive Million-Sellers - and Counting

IVE enters their sixth year as the most commercially reliable act in fourth-generation K-pop. Every album released since "LOVE DIVE" in 2022 has crossed the one-million-copy mark - a streak of seven consecutive million-sellers. They've also appeared at Lollapalooza for two consecutive years and placed multiple albums in IFPI's Global Album Sales Chart, where they were the only girl group in the top 10 for 2025.

Labelmate group KIKI, also under Starship Entertainment, topped digital charts just ahead of IVE's comeback with "404 (New Era)" from their second mini-album Delulu Pack. An Yujin welcomed it gracefully: "It's already an honor to compete alongside such talented artists. To be loved at the same time as our own labelmates KIKI - that's something I'm truly grateful for. But this album is about proving ourselves on our own terms."

When asked about measurable goals for the "BLACKHOLE" promotions cycle, Jang Wonyoung cut through the usual press conference formality: "More than numbers, I want to meet our DIVEs on music show stages and receive their love. We prepared this album thinking of them. We just want to take the stage with joy." Liz kept it equally grounded: "I want to keep being called an artist that makes you wonder what comes next."

REVIVE+ is available now on all major streaming platforms.