Enter Shikari
A Kiss For The Whole World
Out now
It’s been 16 years since Enter Shikari’s debut album and while some things definitely stay the same there’s clearly been a lot of growth in this band over the years. The album takes on an epic proportion right from the start with a brass section playing before kicking into their signature drum and bass. Rou’s lyrics take on a mature theme, reflecting the political stance the band has taken over the last few years. Even the screamed vocals seem somehow less harsh than when they started. Songs like It Hurts add elements of female vocals that elevate the songs, again with lyrics that bare Rou’s soul. Songs like Leap Into The Lightning show that the band isn’t ready to give up on their roots though, with plenty of electronic noise mixed into a more tech metal sound, which then blurs into Feed Your Soul that acts as a electro dance reprise. Dead Wood stands out with its string symphony, and while musically different the vocals mark it as still very much an Enter Shikari number, especially after the halfway mark when the rest of the band gets added into the mix. It’s a credit to the band that they’ve grown to a point where they can create such a diverse album musically and yet still make it a cohesive whole. This is an album that is begging to be played in full at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied by a full orchestra. Well worth a listen even if you’re not already an avid fan.
Review by Mark Bestford