The Code is the fifth extended play by the South Korean boy group Monsta X. It was released by Starship Entertainment and distributed by LOEN Entertainment on November 7, 2017. It consists of seven tracks, including the title track "Dramarama".
In October, Monsta X had announced the comeback, through the official SNS channel, alongside the personal photos of intense colors and visuals. In the released image, the dreamy color and close-up of each member's face were included in the background, with some sensuous typography and part of the seven logos for each member,[1] while subsequently released the story images for each member, ahead of their comeback.[2]
"Dramarama" received critical praise, alongside the music video, with Taylor Glasby of Dazed describing both of them as "intriguing and alluring", noting the music video's concept of time travel with ambiguous meaning while praising the song's ability to highlight the "individual signatures" of the group members.[4] Writing for Rolling Stone, Kim Jae-ha added that the song's "throbbing bass line", "funky rhythms", and "searing guitars", intensified its "hypnotic incantation" effect to the listeners.[5]
As of 2022, the EP had sold over 170,000 units in South Korea.[7] It also peaked at number one on the weekly Gaon Album Chart.[8]
"Dramarama" debuted at number seven on the BillboardWorld Digital Song Sales chart upon its release while the song "From Zero" debuted at number one in 2020.[9] It had marked the group's first-ever weekly music show win, achieving it on The Show.[10]
^Kim, Eun-ji (March 12, 2018). '컴백' 몬스타엑스(MONSTA X), 개별 티저 이미지 공개…기대감 ↑ ['Comeback' MONSTA X releases individual teaser images... anticipation ↑]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2018 – via Naver.
^Kim, Hwi-seon (November 7, 2017). [★포토]몬스타엑스, 'THE CODE'로 컴백 [[Photo] MONSTA X, comeback with 'THE CODE']. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via Naver.
2019년 12월 Album Chart [December 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
2019년 12월 Album Chart [December 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
週間 CDアルバムランキング - 2017年11月06日~2017年11月12日 [Weekly CD Album Ranking from November 6, 2017 to November 12, 2017]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
週間 CDアルバムランキング - 2017年11月13日~2017年11月19日 [Weekly CD Album Ranking from November 13, 2017 to November 19, 2017]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.