Release Date: March 3, 2026
Track Listing
- BREAKOUT
- FOCUS
- CODE
- Can’t Be Broken
Review
To say 2025 was a tumultuous time for EVERGLOW is an understatement. In June, all members except Yiren (who remains under contract with Yuehua China) left Yuehua Entertainment after their contracts expired. Mia then departed the group for personal reasons, leaving EVERGLOW as a four-member group facing an uncertain future.
That changed in September, when the remaining members signed with CHXXTA Company to continue their activities. A month later, it was announced that EVERGLOW were preparing a new mini-album for release in early 2026.
That brings us to this review, where I take a look at their fourth mini-album, CODE. To understand where CODE lands, it is worth looking at the group’s established identity. Long-time Forevers will know that EVERGLOW have established a very specific sound and concept for their title tracks. When you hear one of their songs, you can immediately tell it’s them.
That consistency can be both a strength and a limitation. There’s a built-in expectation with every release, and if it’s not met, the reaction can be strong.
The shift away from their well-worn template for A-sides began with 2024’s Zombie. Their typical anthemic dance-pop gave way to slower, darker music and lyrics. It was an interesting detour that showed a different side of EVERGLOW, though not everyone agreed with the change.
So what about CODE? Does it continue down that path, or return to what has worked for EVERGLOW in the past?
Musically, the title track CODE pushes the energy past 11. This places it firmly in EVERGLOW’s comfort zone for A-sides. What sets it apart, however, is just how hard the instrumental goes. Where past title tracks often balanced accessibility with a distinct edge, CODE leans much more heavily into intensity.
That shift is also reflected in the group itself. With two members gone, the line distribution is much more even among the remaining four. It has been a common complaint that EVERGLOW has felt like Mia and friends for a long time. This is what they sound like without that dynamic.
That evolution also carries into the song’s message. Lyrically, CODE is assertive and energetic. Unlike some of their past title tracks, it is not centred on self-empowerment or overwhelming attraction. Instead, it focuses more on transformation as a disruptive force. It is about letting go and embracing the freedom of being your raw, uninhibited self.
In that sense, it feels like the opposite of SLAY, which leaned into external power and dominance. CODE, on the other hand, is more about internal awakening and breaking free from what is holding you back.
As for the other three songs on this EP, the opening two carry a similar attitude to CODE and build nicely toward the title track when played in sequence. Of the two, FOCUS stands out. It opens with a slow, bass-heavy groove that keeps the focus on the vocals. As the song reaches the bridge, it briefly ramps up into a 4/4-driven section before dropping back into that slower groove.
The final song on the album is Can’t Be Broken. This is the only pure pop track, with pop-rock leanings and a big sing-along hook. The song conveys a sense of resilience, strength, and identity. Given the long road EVERGLOW has travelled to reach this album, it feels like an appropriate closer.
At the end of the day, CODE feels like both a return and a reset for EVERGLOW. It brings back the high-energy sound that defined their earlier releases, but pushes it further while reflecting the changes within the group. The shift in line distribution, the more intense production, and the focus on internal transformation all point to a group that is recalibrating rather than simply repeating the past.
It may not completely reinvent their formula, but it doesn’t need to. CODE successfully re-establishes EVERGLOW’s identity while demonstrating that they are still capable of evolving within it.
