ALBUM REVIEW: Enter Shikari – Lose Your Self
A new album by ENTER SHIKARI is always a big deal. However, an unannounced album released in its entirety at midnight on Thursday by ENTER SHIKARI is an even bigger deal. Fans thought they hadn’t heard right at their sweaty Satan’s Hollow show in Manchester but at midnight, they had heard right. They were in unmarked territory, there were no singles, no marketing campaign, we were thrust into the new era of the St. Albans quartet in incredible fashion with their eighth album, Lose Your Self. An album that takes us by the hand to guide us through this unpredictable world. It’s much darker and heavier than previous albums but that sense of euphoria and hopefulness that is so pivotal to SHIKARI’s sound is ever present as they help us make sense of everything happening.
Album opener, Lose Your Self kicks off with the familiar synth sound that stretches across their discography before a great riff kicks in as frontman Rou Reynolds’ whispering lyrics set up the album before launching us into the fray. It takes aim at the unpredictable nature of the world by seeing what we want to see rather than looking at the bigger picture of what is going on. It’s frenetic, intense and is a great way to kick off this new era. Up next is Find Out The Hard Way, taking aim at the world and those who look past everything happening and don’t realise what is going on until we are past the point of no return. It’s a damning indictment that despairs at the fact that instead of acting as one together then nothing is going to go right for us if we all stay divided. It’s punky and has some great musical moments, especially a breakdown halfway through that is ripe for some hectic moshing later this year on the band’s arena tour. Following this is Dead In The Water that works hand in hand to its predecessor. A fun beat works well against the nature of the lyrics of being stuck and feeling helpless that nobody will be coming to help as all the rich bastards have everything for themselves, it may feel futile but sometimes you need to stand your own ground.
As the album gathers pace, we reach an early album highlight with Demons. A moving song that challenges the listener to face their demons and talk to them, instead of running away from them only for them to come back down the line. The emotion in Reynolds’ voice is genuine throughout this track but it’s done in that funny, SHIKARI manner with the concept of “inviting them in for dinner” and “boil up the bastards innards”. You feel a huge release during this one and it will provide some catharsis for those who struggle.
A darker tone comes into the album with The Flick Of A Switch, when there was some form of catharsis previously, there is a bit of despair. There is a fun bounce to this song with a great drum and bass feel, contradicting the dark nature of this one as it tells us it tells us to rise up against those who feel like they control us. I Can’t Keep My Hands Clean is a great continuation of this as no matter how hard you try to keep out of the dirt of the world, you always somehow end up falling back into it in some sick cycle you struggle to break free from.
Another album highlight comes to light with It’s Ok. A damning track which once again makes us face the ugly real image of the world and how we have let a sinister cabal horde the world’s wealth and how people are seemingly okay with it and that once they realise what is happening, it’ll be much too late as we feast on cockroaches as the fat cats look down on us with what they have stolen. Musically, it’s incredible as it features a subtle waltz sound that would fit well in a circus, which is what we are living in isn’t it? It segues beautifully into A Flick Of A Switch II, a musical with marching drums and a wonderfully dirty riff which works as a signal for us to rise up.
Shipwrecked! begins our journey to the albums end with an emotional, goosebump inducing moment that has the band yearning for a life that isn’t controlled by media and billionaires. The line “How I long for a different story” almost brings tears of frustration to your eyes as the thought of a better life for everyone. This track is the quintessential feel that ENTER SHIKARI represents. It fills you with hope in the face of adversity and makes you want to chart your own course rather than follow a crowd, it is simply beautiful stuff. Closing out the album is a trilogy of tracks; Spaceship (I. Avec Abandon), Spaceship (II. Angoscioso), and Spaceship (III. Maestoso) are all a culmination of what this album means. Whilst there is a desolate feel to the world through these tracks offer us hope as it details the story of an arc leaving earth in search for a better life, but it’s not much different on board to the world they’re leaving. It’s an emotional gut punch right at the album’s end but ends on that glimmer of hope that has been prevalent throughout Lose Your Self. The last line, “Change is gonna come, my love” rings true and fills you with a passion to help make everything better for not just yourself, but everyone you love.
It may take a few listens to truly get what this album is about. But when you finally get it, you will defy anyone to not feel tearful by its end. ENTER SHIKARI have shown that with Lose Your Self, they are a band we need right now to help us in the right direction. The world may be bleak, yes, but in the face of said bleakness, there is a glimmer of hope for a world that is fair and beautiful and it is up to us to make it so. You can always bet, no matter what, that ENTER SHIKARI are always here to fight our corner and help those who need it the most. Yes this album is dark but by the end, it feels like a warm hug that lights a fire inside you. And that is something we are always going to need.
Rating: 8/10
Lose Your Self is out now via SO Recordings.
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