Enter Shikari, House VsHurricane @ Fowlers Live,Adelaide, (19/09/10)

Tue 21st Sep, 2010 in Gig Reviews

It had been a while since I’d ventured to Fowlers for a live show, but being there for this one made me realise how good a venue it really is for live music. Enter Shikari have visited our shores for the Big Day Out and Soundwave festivals in previous years, yet they had always wanted to come back for their own tour. And going by the crowd’s reaction at their Adelaide stop-over, it was certainly worth the wait.

First up was Adelaide 5-piece Nazarite Vow, who, aside from a few good moments, were relatively unimpressive on the night. They are certainly great at producing solid hardcore sounds, but the development of melody in their music would have taken their sound to the next level, as many of the tracks seemed to lack any direction. After seeing them a couple of times now it feels like they have never really taken the next step as a band, even though they continue to gain great support slots around the place. Nevertheless, they provided a fiery opening and had the crowd well and truly pumped up for the rest of the evening.

Second support act, Melbourne’s House Vs Hurricane, managed to take proceedings up a notch with their brand of synth-laden hardcore. The band mostly showcased tracks from their recent debut album Perspectives, however it was songs from their EP Forfeiture which gained the biggest reaction from the crowd. The mosh-pit gained momentum in tracks like Forfeiture and Comforting Our Thoughts In A Continuous Blue, two songs which really demonstrate what this 5-piece are all about. The songs contain a constant piano melody and generally result in sparse breakdowns that allow the electronic element of the band’s sound to shine. Yet it was the interchanging of screams and melodic vocals that really had the mosh involved, moving the overall sound up and down like an emotional rollercoaster. The band showed a level of intensity that never waned throughout their half-hour set, and by now everyone had definitely had the opportunity to limber up in the wake of the headline act.

Walking out to the sound of opening track Common Dreads from their 2009 release of the same name, Enter Shikari immediately had the crowd in rapture. This intro led straight into Solidarity, and the marked change in the band’s sound since their 2007 debut album Take To The Skies was easily noticeable. Firstly, vocalist Rou Reynolds had a far greater influence over the tracks, and in the live arena, his more spoken outlook on the band’s sound draws an immediate comparison to The Streets’ Mike Skinner. The difference in this case is that Rou brings far more intensity and emotion to his vocal, which largely translates through to the band’s heavy sound. Secondly, the 4-piece has developed a much more industrial brand of electronic-hardcore in their songs, and this could really be felt on the night. The band took a more atmospheric approach to the slower moments of each track to incite the crowd’s reaction once the heavier sections of their songs appear.

Newer tracks like Step Up and Zzzonked had the sweat pouring in the mosh-pit, and it was indeed hard for anyone not to get involved in the constant fist-pumping and arm-waving. However, much like House Vs Hurricane, it seemed as though the band’s older tracks still hold a massive spot in the unwavering hearts of these fans. Mothership was the first slice of the band’s debut release on the night and seriously sent the crowd into a fury. It was hard to look around and find someone who was not chanting the massive chorus with their arms in the air; this was one of many moments where it felt like you were part of something really special.

Return To Energiser was another older track that had much of the crowd delighted, as too did No Sssweat, where Rou politely asked the crowd to open up the circle pit, to which many in the sold-out venue obliged. This track just generally had everyone feeling angry, and the aggression in the performance managed to translate through to the messy nature of the pit. Other new tracks, such as Antwerpen, The Jester, and new single Stabilise, were also well received by the frenzied crowd, and the use of interludes Havok A and Havok B allowed the crowd a well earned break from proceedings throughout the hour-and-a-quarter long set. The band finished the main set with Sorry, You’re Not A Winner, a song that everyone knew the words to, and we were provided with another quite euphoric moment as the crowd all joined as one, clapping, chanting, and clenching fists as if this was the last chance to show their appreciation for the St Albans group.

After a short while the band returned for a rollicking encore that played on the crowd’s appreciation. After a barnstorming version of Enter Shikari, the band’s namesake track, the 4-piece produced a ripping interpretation of fast-paced single Juggernauts, which demonstrated Enter Shikari’s increased electronic presence in their sound. Set-closer Ok, Time For Plan B was the perfect way to end the night as Rou’s vocals expressed everyone’s want to finish off on a high (“Let this metal commence/one last time”). By now I think everyone had lost every last litre of sweat in their bodies and given all they could to the intense mosh. This was a fine send-off for the masters of electronic-hardcore at present, and although others may try and recreate their sound, Enter Shikari proved on a cold Adelaide Sunday night that the original is still the best.