K-pop group EXO is back with their eighth studio album, Reverxreleased on January 19, 2026, with the new title track Crown characterized by the SM Music Performance style.
The six-member group – Suho, Chanyeol, DO, Kai, Sehun and Lay – perform Crown with a mix of trap beats, heavy metal guitars and electronic dance sounds. The song features strong vocals and rap sections, with sirens and powerful chants building throughout.
The song compares a special person to a crown that everyone desires, with the members promising to protect it. The message seems important given the group’s situation right now. Three members – Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin – are not part of this release due to financial and contractual disagreements with SM Entertainment, according to reports. Donga.​
This is EXO’s first full-length album in more than two and a half years. Their latest album was released in 2023. The return comes after all remaining members finished their required military service, with Sehun completing his in September 2025. Lay also returned to the group for the first time since 2018, when he began focusing on solo work in China.
The album contains nine songs in total and showcases the group’s singing abilities in different musical styles. In addition to Crown, the album includes Back It Up, a dance song the group performed at the Melon Music Awards in December. Other songs are Crazy, Suffocate, Moonlight Shadows, Back Pocket, Touch & Go, Flatline and I’m Home.
Crown’s music video and dance moves use the SM Music Performance style that EXO showed fans in December, Forbes reported. The performance has eight backup dancers and 3D special effects connected to the fictional world of EXO. A signature move features all members placing crowns on their heads at the same time to match the lyrics of the song
The album sold well immediately. Reverx it reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums list in 35 countries around the world. It also achieved double platinum status on the Chinese platform QQ Music. The group held a comeback show at Kyung Hee University in Seoul on the day of release, meeting fans in person for the first time in over two years, as per CNA lifestyle.​
During the show, leader Suho said that the group plans to go on tour in April for their 14th anniversary. However, it is not yet clear whether all members will participate in the tour.
