KPop Demon Huntersis one of Netflix’s latest animated movies, and it is one that has already leaped atop the charts asNetflix’s most streamed movie. As self-explanatory by its title, it’s about a trio of demon hunters who moonlight as a k-pop band, with their singing voices serving as a literal beacon blocking the demon world from the human world.
The positive reviews for this musicalprove that this is more than just a fun actioner:Kpop Demon Huntersis a love letter to the k-pop genre at large. K-pop is beloved worldwide, particularly adopted and popularized in western culture. K-pop has swept multiple nations, and weaves its way into the plot ofKpop Demon Hunters. K-pop fans appreciate the accuracy in portraying the genre, while the songs are catchy enough to garner new k-pop fans. For new and old fans, these albums are worth checking out.
13UKISS - Neverland
Release Date: August 12, 2025
For much ofKpop Demon Hunters, the lead trio of HUNTR/X are in opposition to rival demonic boy band, the Saja Boys.One of the vocal talents who provided the singing voices to the Saja Boys is Kevin Woo, a former member of UKISS. Woo’s post-UKISS career has seen him take part in the production ofDead by Daylight’s"All-Kill" chapter.
UKISS helped launch Woo’s career for the better. The band boasts 11 studio albums, but the best of all while Kevin Woo was still with the group isNeverland. It’s a grand mix of upbeat electronica with ballads that resonate emotionally with listeners. Woo’s biggest contribution to the album is arguably on the title track, as “Neverland” prominently features Woo on the chrous and bridge. As such, Woo’s voice anchors the album in many ways.
12Dreamcatcher – [Apocalypse: Save Us]
Release Date: Jul 11, 2025
Depending on the tone of the scene at certain points in the story, theKpop Demon Hunterssoundtrack can sound brooding and intimidating at times.There are few better infusions of dark rock that k-pop fans can come across than songs by Dreamcatcher. In fact, truthfully, there may not be a better example of rock within k-pop than withDreamcatcher.
WhenRolling Stonethemselves refer to the South Korean girl band as “The Face of Rock in K-pop,” they must be doing something right. Their best work is reflected in[Apocalypse: Save Us], where they fully live up to those high expectations and then some. There’s something utterly cinematic about this album, using each song to tell a narrative. Even if readers don’t speak the language, they can feel the crescendo escalate with each track, just like with a movie.
11PURPLE KISS – HIDE & SEEK
Release Date: Jun 26, 2025
HIDE & SEEKis a perfect reflection of who PURPLE KISS are as a band: utterly versatile and bursting with energy. Listeners will be hard-pressed to find two songs on this project that sound alike. Looking at the first few tracks alone, “Zombie” is fast-paced and energetic, while “2am” is a much slower track in the vein of R&B.
Then, the third track on the album is quintessential hyperpop for “Cast pearls before swine.“This album features a similar level of versatility as the music found inKpop Demon Hunters. The movie knows how to provide a good balance of different sounds and tones that fit the vibe of the story as it progresses. Similarly, HIDE & SEEK is capable of providing a balance of different sounds without any songs on the album ever feeling out of place or losing some semblance of consistency.
10BLACKPINK - The Album
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Many will call BLACKPINK the holy grail of the k-pop genre. While their position as the best in k-pop is debatable, it’s hard to deny that they may very well be the most successful k-pop girl group today, and sit among the most successful k-pop acts in music. Their success was further established througha set at Coachella recently.
The Albumis truly that - BLACKPINK’s definitive magnum opus.
BLACKPINK has transcended the genre of k-pop to become one of the most noteworthy music groups on the planet. They helped popularize the k-pop genre on a western level in a way that allows for a movie likeKpop Demon Huntersto evoke interest from American audiences, let alone find success in the States.The Albumis truly that - BLACKPINK’s definitive magnum opus. It’s BLACKPINK’s masterpiece that represents their skill level and success to the fullet.
9Stray Kids – ODDINARY
Release Date: Jun 05, 2025
As a title likeODDINARYmay suggest, the album is chaos incarnate. As is often the case with k-pop, this album blends multiple genres into one, but more often than not, a typical pop sound can still be deciphered from the melodies. The melodies just use elements from other genres to cater to each song.
This Stray Kids project, though, blends all these genres in a way that compiles them on top of each other rather than simply lend one to another. It feels like a genuine fusion of genres in a way that the final product is hard to give a proper name to, given how utterly unique each track manages to be.One can argue that the album dramatically recontextualizes what k-pop is capable of as a genre, and does so in a way that yields itself as a pleasant surprise to listeners new and old.
8Key - Gasoline
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Gasoline isthe second part of Key’s retro trilogy that started with hisBAD LOVEmini-album and ends withKiller, a reissue ofGasoline.The cinematic approach to crafting this trilogy is perfect for fans ofKpop Demon Hunters. Each entry in that trilogy is worth giving a listen to, but the best of the lot by far isGasoline.
Conceptually, the album has as many dark underlying themes asKpop Demon Hunters,reflected in dark disco synthpop sound that can be pulled from the album. Songs like “Another Life,” “Villan” and “Ain’t Gonna Dance” stand out among the rest as incredibly hypnotic tracks that know how to suck the listener into the album, making it hard not to give them repeat listens whenever possible. Kpop vibes like this arewhyKpop Demon Huntersbecame a global hit, so audiences would be remiss not to give this a listen.
7ATEEZ – ZERO: FEVER Part.2
Release Date: August 09, 2025
Rather than an LP,Zero: Fever Part.2marks Ateez’s sixth EP. It’s much shorter than most of the projects mentioned thus far at under 25 minutes, but that makes it all the more of a worthwhile listen for new k-pop fans. Before committing to something longer, consider a case for listening to an extended play instead.
For those curious to dip their toes into the genre, but feel overwhelmed at the thought of committing to such a lengthy album for a genre they’re learning to comprehend, then letZero: Fever Part.2serve as a starter pack of sorts. Even better,Part.2has a unique sound and identity compared to its predecessor, meaning listeners need not worry about needing to hearPart.1before understanding what’s going on (although it’s still highly recommended).
6TWICE - Formula of Love: O+T=<3
Release Date: Jun 21, 2025
Kpop Demon Huntersfeatures cameos from TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung, who in the movie perform their hit singles “Takedown” and “Strategy.” U.S. audiences especially may recognize “Strategy,” a single they worked on with Megan Thee Stallion, providing one of many notablecollaborations between k-pop and western superstars. For many Americans, “Strategy” was their gateway introduction to TWICE.
Many of those same Americans are hoping to dive further into the South Korean girl group’s discography, but when their catalog spouts a whopping 10 albums, trying to get into them may sound like an overwhelming feat. For new fans hoping for more TWICE, there’s no better place to start than theirFormula of Lovealbum. It’s their Korean studio album, and was their first major hit, giving the group their first triple platinum certification, debuting at number three on the Billboard charts.
5Taemin – Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1 & 2
Release Date: August 06, 2025
This is technically cheating considering that this makes for two albums for the price of one entry.The reason why they must be discussed simultaneously is that listeners cannot experience the whole of this project without listening to them both back to back.Act 1andAct 2tell a cohesive story that must be listened to all at once.
For both albums, there is a narrative that can be deciphered from the meticulously sequenced songs. Even for listeners who can’t speak the language of Korean, they can feel the vibe of every song escalate with each passing song. Like much of k-pop, multiple genres can be heard blended together, including R&B, synthpop, and there’s even elements of jazz. All of these genres are masterfully compiled together into one consistently captivating effort. It’s a one-of-a-kind double album that is a must-listen for music lovers in general.
4Audrey Nuna - TRENCH
Release Date: August 18, 2025
Audrey Nuna prides herself on being both a rapper and R&B songstress. Her rap skills are evident on tracks like “Jitterbug,” “Me & My Baby,” and “Pajamas,” while her singing skills are especially prominent on “2High,” “Starving” (featuring fellow rapper Teezo Touchdown), and “Mine” (which sounds like an electronic spin on Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy is Mine.”
While May Hong is Mira’s primary voice actor on Kpop Demon Hunters, Audrey Nuna provides the singing voice. Mira is introduced as the rapper of the group, and the production team could not have found a better choice to bring Mira’s rap skills to life. Nuna’s intense rap flow co-signs incredibly well in unison with her utilization of trap beats. The combination allows her to do her native New Jersey proud, as NJ is notable for its rap scene featuring notable names like
