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Introduction to Enter Shikari
Who they are
Enter Shikari are a band formed in St Albans in 2003 by the lead singer Rou Reynolds and bassist Chris Batten. The band were originally known for their mix of heavy metalcore and synth-based electronic music that became known as electronicore, but this sound has heavily changed throughout their discography, with the majority of their electronic music being based around Drum and Bass and the band being a lot less heavy as a whole. They have also become a lot more politically vocal throughout their career, as well as more independent with Rou now producing a lot of their music to the point where their most recent album was fully produced by them.
The Mindsweep (2015)
The Spark (2017)
Destabilise (2010)
The Paddington Frisk (2013)
The Mindsweep: Hospitalised (2015)
Live At Alexandra Palace (2016)
Enter Shikari are a band formed in St Albans in 2003 by the lead singer Rou Reynolds and bassist Chris Batten. The band were originally known for their mix of heavy metalcore and synth-based electronic music that became known as electronicore, but this sound has heavily changed throughout their discography, with the majority of their electronic music being based around Drum and Bass and the band being a lot less heavy as a whole. They have also become a lot more politically vocal throughout their career, as well as more independent with Rou now producing a lot of their music to the point where their most recent album was fully produced by them.
Why I love them
Probably the most versatile and weirdest band that I know of, that is actually listenable, with great and relevant social and political messages. One of the best things is because of the versatility of their music they can be good for almost all moods and situations.
Probably the most versatile and weirdest band that I know of, that is actually listenable, with great and relevant social and political messages. One of the best things is because of the versatility of their music they can be good for almost all moods and situations.
What they sound like
It's really hard to say what Enter Shikari sound like, especially their early stuff simply because it's really unique, they essentially created the genre, but it sounds a bit like a combination of metalcore such as Beartooth or Asking Alexandria meets electro similar to something like Crystal Castles with sometimes nonsensical lyrics, a punk statement and early-Biffy-Clyro-esque slow songs. However, their newer music is much more reminiscent of more mainstream rock and electro-rock such as Imagine Dragons earlier stuff and even some 1975 vibes.
It's really hard to say what Enter Shikari sound like, especially their early stuff simply because it's really unique, they essentially created the genre, but it sounds a bit like a combination of metalcore such as Beartooth or Asking Alexandria meets electro similar to something like Crystal Castles with sometimes nonsensical lyrics, a punk statement and early-Biffy-Clyro-esque slow songs. However, their newer music is much more reminiscent of more mainstream rock and electro-rock such as Imagine Dragons earlier stuff and even some 1975 vibes.
Introductory songs
1. Sorry You're Not A Winner
One of the classic Shikari songs and their first big hit, especially well known for the claps at the beginning of the song, despite the fact that the band have actually tried to get away from it Creep style. It's catchy, heavy and brilliant live, all you want from Enter Shikari.
2. Mothership
Rou Reynolds has a bit of a weird obsession with space and aliens, and this is the first evidence, although the chanting "Go tell all your friends that this is the end" is more apocalyptic than extraterrestrial. Another classic Shikari song that shows off their electronic side a bit more, especially live when it's frequently remixed out of recognition but is still absolutely brilliant.
3. Anaesthetist
A fairly obviously political song about the NHS and healthcare as a whole it's a live favourite, although not really one of mine, it shows off how passionate the band are about the issues that they believe in whilst still managing to make a good song to mosh to.
4. Satellites
A very different song from any of the previous ones on this introductory list, my favourite from the new album and what I think is one of their best songs that they have written. Again it is about an issue that they care about, LGBT+ rights and is sensitive and empathetic towards the community whilst also just being a really really good song.
5. Live Outside
1. Sorry You're Not A Winner
One of the classic Shikari songs and their first big hit, especially well known for the claps at the beginning of the song, despite the fact that the band have actually tried to get away from it Creep style. It's catchy, heavy and brilliant live, all you want from Enter Shikari.
2. Mothership
Rou Reynolds has a bit of a weird obsession with space and aliens, and this is the first evidence, although the chanting "Go tell all your friends that this is the end" is more apocalyptic than extraterrestrial. Another classic Shikari song that shows off their electronic side a bit more, especially live when it's frequently remixed out of recognition but is still absolutely brilliant.
3. Anaesthetist
A fairly obviously political song about the NHS and healthcare as a whole it's a live favourite, although not really one of mine, it shows off how passionate the band are about the issues that they believe in whilst still managing to make a good song to mosh to.
4. Satellites
A very different song from any of the previous ones on this introductory list, my favourite from the new album and what I think is one of their best songs that they have written. Again it is about an issue that they care about, LGBT+ rights and is sensitive and empathetic towards the community whilst also just being a really really good song.
5. Live Outside
Definitely the song that the band have become to be known by and what they want to be known by, a song about anxiety and one that is weirdly fitting in the current situation. It's such an amazing song live, I'm lucky enough to have heard heard an equally amazing acoustic version as well but honestly is just such an uplifting song in almost all situations.
The albums
Take To The Skies (2007)
The debut from the band which is probably their heaviest in terms of rock and metal which means some of the diehard fans will consider it their best. It has got some of the band's absolute best songs such as 'Labyrinth', 'Sorry, You're Not A Winner' and 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour' as well as starting the classic live chant of 'And still we will be here, standing like statues'. It's a great album full of heavy hitters but lacks the complexity, diversity and political rage that the following albums have and what Enter Shikari are known for, but if you're a metal fan, start here.
Key song: OK Time for Plan B
Common Dreads (2009)
Common Dreads (2009)
A much more conceptual album than the debut with a larger common theme and idea as well as taking on a lot more political ideas in songs like 'Solidarity', 'Gap In The Fence' and 'Fanfare For The Concious Man'. The album is not too musically different to Take To The Skies except it has more songs that are softer compared to the debut and has more theatricality to it. The majority of the songs on it are mainly retired from live shows nowadays, especially with the new album being what it is, apart from tracks like 'Juggernauts', 'No Sleep Tonight' and 'Step Up' as they haven't all aged quite as well as some of the band's other work.
Key song: Juggernauts
A Flash Flood Of Colour (2012)
The third album from the band is arguably just as heavy as the LPs that come before it, but in a different way, the electronic side of the band is more evident than previously, especially compared to Common Dreads and a lot of the heaviness comes from this, 'Arguing with Thermometers', 'Gandhi Mate, Gandhi', 'Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide' rather than metal instrumentation, although it is the album that prominently features Rou's screams and growls (unfortunately, they're so good). This is what I consider to be the album that bridges the gap between old and modern Shikari, with the introduction of more alt-rock based songs that are very common in their music today like 'Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here', Stalemate' and 'Constellations', and is therefore fairly divisive amongst fans but I actually consider it to be one of their best.
Key song: Arguing With Thermometers
The Mindsweep (2015)
It's between this and Common Dreads as the weakest album for me, even though The Mindsweep was really formative for the band in that it changed the focus of the band more towards the 'human experience', as Rou puts it, and it has some great songs. 'The One True Colour', 'Anaesthetist' (overrated), and 'The Bank of England' are some of the band's most popular work but the stretch on the album from 'Anaesthetist' to 'The Bank of England' (with the exception of 'The Last Garrison') is fairly dull and uninspired. Rou really went for a more complete and poetic concept with the album by framing it with a two-part song, but it doesn't really come to much in the end unfortunately.
Key song: The Last Garrison
The Spark (2017)
The album that fully embraced the poppier and more commercial side of the band, which is an incredibly divisive move, but showed that they can still create songs to mosh to, 'Take My Country Back', 'Rabble Rouser'. However, the musical shift is really apparent in stuff such as 'The Sights' and Rou creates a handful of the more sentimental songs from their discography just on this album. It's a really bold change for the band but one that they don't seem to be regretting or massively moving away from considering that the follow-up isn't dissimilar in that sense but it works and they can still write a massive song.
Key song: Undercover Agents
Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible (2020)
The most recent studio album by the band, it continues to be on the lighter side of the band's discography but is still excellent and shows some new direction for the band, read my full review here.
Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible (2020)
The most recent studio album by the band, it continues to be on the lighter side of the band's discography but is still excellent and shows some new direction for the band, read my full review here.
Key song: The Dreamer's Hotel
Other notable releases
Tribalism (2010)
An album of B-sides, remixes and live versions of songs that obviously isn't a huge contribution to the band's discography or amazing as an album but the title track is really great and includes some pretty good remixes
Destabilise (2010)
A brilliant single from the band back when they still did properly heavy stuff, this one isn't too deep or anything although Rou says it's about humanitarian unity and all that, it's just a bit of a banger.
The Paddington Frisk (2013)
A completely full on song that feels like their heaviest and most manic song, it's supposedly about the little dance that dead bodies do when they're hung and it's just so incredibly full on, especially live and with a weird music video to boot.
The Mindsweep: Hospitalised (2015)
A remix album of The Mindsweep that actually massively improves it in my opinion and shows how much the band love electronic music and Drum And Bass, even though they didn't actually do the remixes themselves.
Live At Alexandra Palace (2016)
I'm lucky enough to say I've seen 3 live sets of Enter Shikari and this album manages to pretty accurately show you how chaotic their live shows are.
What else to listen to if you like them
In the same way that it's difficult to say what the band sound's like it's difficult to really tell you what else you might like because they don't sound like many others. However:
If you like the earlier more metal stuff I reccomend bands such as Architects, especially their newer more progressive stuff, Northlane, Asking Alexandria, Bring Me The Horizon.
If you like the more electronic side of the band I reccomend just checking out Drum And Bass in general such as Hospital Records, Andy C and some other groups such as Crystal Castles.
If you like the more alt-rock/pop side of the band stuff such as The 1975, Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party, Cloud Nothings, Japandroids, We Were Promised Jetpacks.
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