Everyone’s always looking for ‘the next big thing,’ and as far as the punk/hardcore scene goes, this English four piece might well be it. As it stands, these guys will definitely have one of two legacies; they will be remembered for pioneering a ‘trance/hardcore’ movement, or as the band that failed to do so.
Yes, you read right, hardcore mixed with trance. Personally, even if this album sucks it’s going to be refreshing to at least hear a hardcore album that isn’t completely about “brutal” bass lines and hammering breakdowns.
Having formed in 2003, Enter Shikari have previously released three EPs and built a solid fanbase from constant touring. Their breaking moment came when they played 2006’s Download Festival to a packed out tent and becoming the second ever independent band to sell out London’s Astoria. Here is their debut album Take To The Skies, which peaked at number 4 on the UK charts. Locally, they’re attracting attention on Rage and Triple J on which you may have heard Sorry, You’re Not a Winner.
The first thing you might notice as you look at the tracklisting is the curious number of tracks without a title. As is usually the case with untitled tracks on most albums, these too, are all instrumental numbers (with the exception of the last track), and they seem like pointless inclusions. Five instrumental tracks in all, most fail to exceed 30 seconds and lead into their neighbouring tracks, prompting the question as to why they aren’t just part of other tracks anyway.
What is great about this release is that any possible gimmick aspect aside, this album is still a breath of fresh air from your regular hardcore releases due to the varied nature of the songs on it. Of course, there’s screaming, there’s double kick drums and there are breakdowns, but there’s also melodic singing, soft-ish sounds and even straight up punk rock.
Want even further proof that the approach they take to writing actually works? Everything they have achieved to date has been through sheer hard work and a completely organic growth. To us Aussies they may have ‘appeared out of nowhere’, but as well as having built a fanbase over the past four years, it might surprise many to learn that this album was funded by themselves and released on their own record label. They haven’t had major label backing, and it might just go to show that these guys are destined to one day be credited as pioneers of their genre.
A solid effort, well worth a listen if you’re a fan of any associated genres.
