South Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) has returned to the spotlight with their eighth EP titled «7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns», Yonhap reports.
The project marks a significant departure from the expansive conceptual narratives of youth and growth that defined their previous eras. Instead the quintet has chosen a remarkably candid route to mark their first release since all five members renewed their agency contracts with BigHit Music in August 2025.
The meaning behind the thorns
During a media showcase held at Korea University in Seoul TXT shed light on the introspective nature of the record. According to their agency the inclusion of «Thorns» in the title is designed to symbolise the internal unease and uncertainty the members have navigated over their seven years in the industry.
Hueningkai revealed that the album focuses heavily on the honest emotions they experienced leading up to the contract renewal process. Prior to heading into the studio the band engaged in lengthy discussions with their production team about their current mindset and musical ambitions.
«We asked ourselves what the most honest story we could tell at this point was and we agreed it should reflect the emotions we’ve felt over the past seven years,» Taehyun explained.
Yeonjun and Taehyun further elaborated on these hidden struggles by highlighting the intense pressure to continually reach new heights and the stark contrast between their early ideals and their current reality.
Exploring the new tracks
The six-track EP is spearheaded by an electro-pop lead single named «Stick With You» alongside B-sides such as «Bed of Thorns», «Take Me to Nirvana (feat. Vindina Weng)», «So What» and «21st Century Romance».
Soobin noted that the title track explores the sheer desperation of clinging to a fading romance. Expanding on this theme Beomgyu added that the song also serves as a poignant metaphor for the band’s unwavering resolve to continue pursuing their shared dreams.
A unified second chapter
Touching upon their recent contract negotiations Taehyun shared that it took the group less than an hour to agree on their future together. He expressed immense excitement for the path ahead and credited their seven happy years together for making the decision so simple.
Yeonjun credited their dedicated fanbase known as MOA for their enduring success and emphasised his ultimate desire for the team to stay together and create music for a very long time. Reflecting on the entire process Soobin admitted the renewal period made him realise just how precious his bandmates truly are to him.
Looking towards their highly anticipated second chapter Taehyun promised fans that their musical spectrum will continue to expand as they look forward to their next release.
