Ten years since Enter Shikari released the frantic and furious album, Take To The Skies, the band have released several albums, all politically charged and have even been credited with pioneering the genre of electronicore. But how will time have changed the band with new album, The Spark.
Having formed in 1999 under the name Hybryd, Enter Shikari went through a couple of name changes and line-up additions before finally smashing onto the scene in their current form at Download Festival in 2005. Having followed the band eagerly for last 12 years, this reviewer takes the latest release into the demo room.
“The Sights” is led in by “The Spark” (50 second title track and opener of the album with no lyrics). It’s a bright and almost poppy synth led track that feels totally at odds with Enter Shikari’s first album, Take to The Skies‘ fury and raw production. Lead vocalist, Rou Reynolds’ shouted vocals and distorted vocals are still present, but not tempered by the familiar anger. This lighter theme to the songs is repeated later in the album with Undercover Agents. Whilst the same soul of the band is retained, it feels as though they’ve written the song with a view to making the track chart-accessible, whilst this is no bad thing, it makes this reviewer mourn the memory of the first album.
“Live Outside” retains the synth and sampling that has always been, and likely always will be present in Enter Shikari’s work. The song seems to draw slowly back away from the poppy nature of “The Sights” and back towards the origins of the band, with spoken word refrains, a faster and deeper bassline and more chaotic feel, the song starts to take us back towards the Enter Shikari we know. Later in the album we’re met with a heavier, trap-beat led and rap vocalled “Rabble Rouser”. The track is shot through with screeching guitars, pounding bass and the chaotic, distinctive vocals Reynold’s is known for as he shouts and wails through his angst-laden lyrics. The final minute in particular of the track is a big shout out to Enter Shikari’s return to previous, excellent form.
“Take My Country Back” is, as the title clearly implies, political. It is the band railing against the current British political climate. The band have always been very politically minded with many lyrics from past songs being anti-establishment and focussed on world-state, not just the one country. However, the band seem to have drawn their disillusionment inwards to this angry and powerful commentary on Britain with lyrics like ‘I don’t want to take my country back, I want to take my country forward’.
“Airfield” opens softly, with Reynold’s attempt at a gentle and melodic set of vocals, amidst a gentle but somewhat haphazard piano melody. If this reviewer is honest, he’d be more confused if the piano sounded totally perfectly played. As the song progresses, a powerful bassline sets the undertone for the whole song and even gains accompaniment from an acoustic guitar and light, airy synths. The song eventually erupts into an anthem-like section that will likely be an excellent resting point midway through one of their spectacular live shows or even to calm the crowd towards the end. “Shinrin-yoku” is in much the same vein as “Airfield” with soft vocals and melody but retaining the same drama.
Hiding closer to the end of the album, is “Revolt of the Atoms”, quite possibly the best song of the album. With a surreal nature to the lyrics (literally about atomic matter revolting against the world to try and destroy us and everything) and a heavier bass and synthline, it’s a surefire success at any gig they’ll play. It’s a tense and complex song that is sure to feature in many a moshpit.
Overall, the album shows the band’s growth and the maturity that they’ve gained since the debut 10 years ago. However, whilst the angry political core of the band may still be there in essence, they have grown up, and the more polished, less raw recordings are reflections of this. The album isn’t bad by any stretch, it’s just not as stand-out as their previous work has been.
Author: Steve, Southgate store
