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Rating: There are people who listen to cool bands that are trendy at a certain time just to feel cool. I'm usually not among them, but I admit that sometimes I fall for it.
It was the time when Enter Shikari were quite in vogue and I often stumbled across articles about them online. Reviewers talked of "Amazing ability to fuse styles," "Exciting youthful chaos," and "Sonic exuberance," and the keyword was Dance-Metal. The concept, in short, attracted me a lot, and, driven by sudden and bewildering, not to mention decidedly alarming exuberance, I downloaded their album from E-Mule (and at this point, thank goodness for you, my dear mule!), ready to be hit by a wave of ElectrifyingChaoticandSurprisinglyExuberantDanceMetal, but to my chagrin, I discovered that... the synths with the tacky riffs are absolutely terrible!!!
Now, I don't know if a person can afford to review an album having listened to 6 tracks out of 17, but I swear to you that digesting over an hour of heavy guitars + synthesizers + various other strange influences (all that was missing were Afro-Cuban rhythms and we would have been set) is a formidable feat that definitely exceeds the limits of my abilities.
Not to justify myself but, as the cherry on top, the singer contributes to increasing the THICKNESS of the album (take it as you will) by alternating Clean and Growl parts, as very few other current Emo bands know how to do!!!
I leave you to your conclusions by pointing out that in this review the keyword is no longer the curious expression Dance-Metal, which is quite trendy, but the word cool.
Consider this a warning.
P.S. Listen to Forward, Russia!. They also make a lot of noise, but there's no comparison.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Enter Shikari (04:07)
SHIT!
SHIT!
I've been hiding here for a thousand years,
waiting for your ghost
I've been hiding here for a thousand years,
waiting for your ghost
YOUR LIFE'S ABOUT TO FLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES
YOUR LIFE'S ABOUT TO FLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES
Stand your ground,
this is ancient land
I was guided here
by the spirits hand
We shall meet,
at Hells gate
This is fate
THIS IS FATE
this is fate
THIS IS FATE
Not all is lost the spirits shriek
You will be hunted WE SHALL SEEK
Perserverance, turn the page
Enter Shikari Enter Shikari
We're not hiding
WE'RE NOT HIDING
We're not hiding
WE'RE NOT HIDING
We're not hiding now
WE'RE NOT HIDING NOW
I'm in the zone
ALLRIIIGHT!
And still we will be here,
standing like statues
AND STILL WE WILL BE HERE,
STANDING LIKE STATUES
02 Mothership (04:37)
Go tell all your friends that this is the end
Go tell all your friends that this is the end
Go tell all your friends that this is the end
This is the end
I don't understand a word you're saying
what are the clouds running from?
There's something in the air tonight
Something is wrong, spit it out!
I just fell from that Mothership
They said that
Your answers, they're always lying on the ocean bed
Your answers, they're always lying on the ocean bed
There's something in the air
There's something in the air
In the air, in the air
Tonight, I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake
In the air, in the air
Tonight, I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake
And I'll scream with a thousand voices...
I am sane
I am sane
My soul felt so safe up there
No self-centred natives destroying our earth
I just fell from that Mothership
They said that
Your answers, they're always lying on the ocean bed
Your answers (your answers, your answers) they're always lying on the ocean bed
Walk the plank, walk the plank, walk the plank
Walk the plank, walk the plank, walk the plank
Walk the plank
Your answers they're always lying on the ocean bed
Your answers they're always lying on the ocean bed
Your answers they're always lying on the ocean bed
Your answers they're always lying on the ocean bed
04 Labyrinth (03:57)
HELP!!!
The air turns black
The birds drop from the sky
This eagle has landed
I'm choking on your pride
But the walls are closing in
And you don't appreciate
That in my hands tonight
Is where your fate lies
Her face drains...
Stand up, take a bow you have
No reason to celebrate
Your lost in the labyrinth
Scream now it's not too late
Nothing seems to break the walls down
We'll break the walls down
Well, it looks like the end of tonight for our friend here
He's finding it hard to keep his head
Especially with his girl screaming in his ear
We've gotta ask ourselves, do they deserve this
Speak now or forever hold your peace
Will he make it out
I hope he makes out
He's gotta make it out
He's gonna make it out
05 No Sssweat (03:20)
Where's your respect? (Where's your respect?)
Why bite the hand that feeds you
It's not over yet not over yet (not over yet)
Plenty more fingers for you to nibble
I'd like to see you get your teeth round this
I'm sure your jaw will surely be missed
Not even salt can make your hands taste good
I'm still crunching your lifeline
Not even salt can make your hands taste good
I'm still crunching your lifeline
You do this every fucking time
No sweat (no tears) no guilt
You do this every fucking time
No sweat (no tears) no guilt
Not even salt can make your hands taste good
I'm still crunching your lifeline
Lifeline, lifeline, lifeline,
Blood fills your palms,
Lifeline, lifeline, lifeline
Blood fills your palms,
Lifeline, lifeline, lifeline
Blood fills your palms,
Where's your respect? (Where's your respect?)
Why bite the hand that feeds you
It's not over yet not over yet (not over yet)
Plenty more fingers for you to nibble
I'd like to see you get your teeth round this
I'm sure your jaw will be surely missed
Not even salt can make your hands taste good
I'm still crunching your lifeline
Not even salt can make your hands taste good
I'm still crunching your lifeline
You do this every fucking time
No sweat (no tears) no guilt
You do this every fucking time
No sweat (no tears) no guilt
Do this one more time and I'll bit your fucking fingers off!
08 Return to Energiser (04:39)
You look like you
Rented a smile
From someone but you
Rented the wrong size
Take it back
You should take it back
BURY IT
That's not what you want
That's not what you want
Cause that would grow more
That's not what you want
That's not what you want
We still have
the element
of surprise
defence shields
DOWN
Return to energiser [x4]
Wave your bloody white flags
surrender
give in
that's not what you want [x4]
that's not what you
We still have
the element
of surprise
defence shields
down!
Return to energiser [x8]
And all hell breaks loose, when you're here...[x4]
10 Jonny Sniper (04:36)
A whisper from the wind, and I can't help but listen.
A crashing of white waves, and I cant help but listen.
They're trying to entertain and I cant help but...
(Painting A Picture Of Myself)
And I'll always be here for another.
Over and over and I'll always be here.
The screaming of the earth and I cant help but listen.
They're trying to entertain, but I can't help but...
(Painting A Picture Of Myself)
And I'll always be here for another.
Over and over and I'll always be here.
This is all I need to feel alive.
(Painting A Picture Of Myself)
And always be here for another .
Over and over and I'll always be here.
This is all I need to feel alive.
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Other reviews
By Tobby
The unusual mix of '80s synthesizers laid thickly on solid metalcore/post-hardcore foundations guarantees the band’s success.
Praise to Enter Shikari for managing to build their success on one good idea.
By Jester
There is no evolution without mutation.
Music that... manages to revive a genre affected by static immobility like the 'core' scene.
