Monsta X is back on the Billboard charts as the K-pop group continues its commercial comeback. For several years, the outfit was missing from Billboard’s rankings in America, as several members were enlisted in South Korea’s mandatory military service – something that is required for men by a certain age regardless of how successful they may be. That’s not to say that Monsta X did not release music, simply that the music shared didn’t perform as well in the United States as past projects or more recent efforts.
The boy band returns to multiple rosters this frame with a new EP, one which becomes a bestseller – though one which simultaneously brings the outfit to a disappointing low on one of the most important and competitive rosters published.
Monsta X Reaches the Billboard 200 for the Fifth Time
Monsta X earns its fifth appearance on the Billboard 200, the ranking of the 200 most-consumed albums and EPs in the United States. The tally incorporates both traditional purchases and streaming activity to paint a picture of what Americans are listening to.
The Phase launches at No. 118. That might be an exciting number for a new group emerging in K-pop, but Monsta X has been together for years at this point. The Phase is the first release by Monsta X to miss the upper half on the Billboard 200.
Only a little less than half a year ago, Unfold marked a new low for the musicians as well when it spent one frame at No. 41. The group established a then-all-time low with another EP titled simply The X, which peaked at No. 31.
Before the members began serving in the South Korean military, Monsta X cracked the top 10 once with All About Luv, which debuted at No. 5 in February 2020. Then, in December 2021, The Dreaming topped out at No. 21.
Monsta X Scores Another Top Album Sales Chart Top 10
The Phase performs significantly better on the Top Album Sales chart, which looks only at purchases. Luminate reports that in the most recent tracking period, the EP sold 11,600 copies. That figure includes digital downloads as well as purchases on physical formats.
The Phase starts at No. 7 on the sales ranking, earning the group its fifth top 10 out of seven appearances. Monsta X has now scored as many top 10s on the Top Album Sales chart as total wins on the Billboard 200, which also factors in streaming activity.
Here are all of Monsta X’s top 10s on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.
Monsta X Nears No. 1 on the World Albums Chart
Monsta X performs best, unsurprisingly, on the World Albums chart. The roster has become a home throughout the past half-decade or so for artists that perform in languages other than English and Spanish, especially K-pop superstars. The Phase starts at No. 3, tying The X and The Clan Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter — another short project — which similarly peaked in third place.
Monsta X has scored a lucky 13 hits on the World Albums chart, and all but one of those releases spent time inside the top 10. Only Fatal Love missed that tier, and by only a single rung.
Here are all of Monsta X’s top 10s on Billboard’s World Albums chart.
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4th Mini Album: The Clan Part. 2: Guilty
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Mini Album 03: The Clan, Part 1: Lost
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The Clan, Pt. 2.5 [Beautiful]
Monsta X Hits A Career High — And Low — At The Same Time
This article was originally published on Forbes.com