Enter Shikari - A Kiss For The Whole World (April 21, 2023) • Page 12

Thanks! Haven’t heard the name “I See Stars” since I saw them back in like 09 lol. Definitely gonna check out Vukovi.

 

Enter Shikari have survived for so long because out all the bands who attempted to merge electronic music with punk/hardcore/rock, they're the best songwriters. They know how to weave in the EDM side of themselves without making it feel forced or tokenistic. It's something a lot of bands struggled with - I remember Asking Alexandria falling flat attempting their own take on it.

Side note: Fuck Asking Alexandria.

 

It's probably easier to focus on one type of song and figure out the influence or similar artists for it. The Prodigy and various breakbeat, jungle, or dnb for the electronic focused tracks. 90s hardcore and eccentric metal bands like System Of A Down for the heavier ones. UK post-hardcore/alt rock for the rock-ier bangers (ditto on Vukovi). They also have indie sensibilities on some material, it's tough...

In the 15 years I've been listening to them, I still haven't found any other band that blend this many sounds so unique is the right word to describe them.

As for mixing metal and EDM in an organic way overall, I'd also recommend Northlane's last two albums.

 

That’s a good point. Dead Wood, set me on fire, and it hurts are the sweet spots for me.

 

“Warm smiles” from AFFOC will be very in your wheelhouse, also

redshift
The last garrison
Shinrin yoku
Dreamers hotel
TINA

 

Listening to this again after a couple of months off. It hits really well. Some truly stand-out moments for their career and some flatter areas as well. I really dig Chris' singing parts even though they are few and far between.

Leap into the Lightning - I can't get over how catchy the chorus is and that Rou inhale scream into the breakdown *chef's kiss*
Dead Wood - Quite a ride the whole way through. I really dig the eerie beginning vibe ending in that full on crescendo.
Goldfish - They tried something a little different here from a standard Shikari track. Not sure if it's working for or against them but it's definitely interesting.

I really wish I had waited to listen to this on vinyl today instead of at work.

I can't wait for a proper US tour and getting to hear some of these live. I couldn't even tell you which ones I want to hear the most, but I know they'll definitely be playing the singles.

 

Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari) returns!

 

I'm revisiting these guys for the first time in ages. The hype around these guys was so huge when Take To The Skies came out, I have a million memories of singing along to Sorry, You're Not A Winner, Anything Can Happen..., and Return To Energizer with my high school friends. I'm happy to report that the album still holds up.

Common Dreads is also way better than I remember. I remember enjoying it, but also being a little disappointed. But damn, it goes hard. It's definitely one of the more angry albums out there. Antwerpen is still a banger. Some of the politically charged lyrics are a tad too matter-of-fact to the point where they don't feel very creative, but overall it hits more than it misses.

I'm going to check out A Flash Flood Of Colour next, which I don't think I ever actually checked out.

 

Flash Flood might be my favorite, honestly

 

TTTS is one of the only albums of its kind that I can listen to. Common Dreads is an all-timer. Flash Flood is great although doesn't grab me as much. Mindsweep is awesome. Spark is meh but with some real good catchy parts (Live Outside, Undercover Agents), Nothing is True might be their best. And i can't bring myself to listen back to A Kiss for the Whole World. some good moments but just nothing that holds for me.

 

They don’t have a bad album imo

 

This is pretty much exactly how I feel.

KFTWW is not good

 

Very interested to see what you think of their later works

 

imo AFFOC is probably my favourite album after NIT&EIP and Common Dreads and TTTS are the weakest, so I'm interested to see how you feel about their later material.

Shikari are one of those bands that don't have a bad album, and I can understand how each one could be someone's favourite. I can't name many other bands that I'd say the same for.

 

Common Dreads is insanely good.

 

Wow, gotta say I'm really loving A Flash Flood Of Colour. Lyrically, it's just as politically charged as Common Dreads, but they feel more cohesive rather than train of thought. The songwriting is much more refined as a whole and they really strike the perfect balance with the electronic elements. Stalemate is a really nice surprise from them too. Honestly, the whole mid-section of the album is maybe their best collection of songs.

I'm going to spend some more time with this one before I move on to The Mindsweep.

 

Common Dreads is their best front to back imo.

 

Yea, I’ve listened to AFFOC three times today already. I’m mad that I slept on this for so long haha. Incredible album.

 

Listen to the EP that was released between A Flash Flood Of Colour and The Mindsweep too! Some all timers on here

 

A Flash Flood Of Colour is my fave shikari album, it's bloody awesome.

 

Rat Race the song is just unbelievably good

 

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

AFFOC is their best album imo, and them at their peak, but they really don’t let up for the rest of their career. The Mindsweep is an incredible continuation of AFFOC’s stylings, feels like a brother album to it.

 

You could stack up Shikari's singles between albums into their own record and they could rival any of their actual full lengths. We Can Breathe in Space, Acid Nation, Tribalism, Thumper, Destabilise, Quelle Surprise, Radiate, Paddington Frisk, Redshift, Hoodwinker, all go hard.

 

Best b-side band I’ve been a fan of lol, they’re always incredible. Even the ones before A Kiss were amazing (more-so than some of the actual tracks lol)

 

I still need to do this. I don't know any of these songs lol.