The template doesn’t sound great. When you write down a description of Enter Shikari it doesn’t sound like it would work. A band that bludgeon you with political messages through a hybrid of screaming vocals, screeching guitars, and over the top dubstep.
However, when packed into sweaty venues across the country, the format seems to work. The band has matured from their days of giving out Jonny Sniper themed condoms at gigs, to having a real political message to scream from the rooftops. It’s through this political message that third album A Flash Flood of Colour gained a range of new fans, and a wealth of plaudits. Britain has been crying out for bands to set their crosshairs on the government, rather than more songs that can soundtrack any miscellaneous romantic comedy.
These new recruits to the Shikari bandwagon packed in the Glasgow Barrowlands, and were immediately rewarded by the blitzing opening combination of ‘System’/’Meltdown’. The sense of energy from the band and crowd is matched bombardment of lighting as the band decree “We are one”. The band genuinely it feel like a political uprising is about to start from the grassroots of the Glasgow Barrowlands.
‘With Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ being dropped from this tour, after years of lethargic playing, the new singles have become an even bigger part of the set. As the band move onto ‘Sssnakepit’, it’s clear it was it was a good decision to move on from their former calling card. The track is remixed into a mash of dubstep that has entire venue bouncing.
Then ‘Gandhi, Mate, Gandhi’ comes, a vicious rap/rock track that start encourages the whole venue to stick up two fingers to the powers that be. However, hidden under all the angst, the band are still just the same guys they were at the release of debut album Take To The Skies, as the band invite on a personal butler to bring them a round of drinks halfway through the track.
As frontman Rou Reynolds picks up his acoustic guitar for Gap in the Fence, the band show they are more than they are portrayed as. While the band clearly leans towards heavier music, this track provides a tender moment not normally associated with the Shikari mould. The song wins outright for the most passionate hand grabs of the night.
In the same vain, the encore starts with ‘Constellations’, a light track that shouldn’t work in front of the crowd that is baying for more blistering tracks. However, with two cannons at either side of the stage shooting out confetti, and the Shikari triangle emblazoned across the stage, there is a special feeling in the air.
The bands close their set with ‘Zzzonked’. The song and dives through a mix of thunderous electro, and screeching vocals, defining the band’s sound perfectly. A great closing track, for another great Enter Shikari performance.