Enter Shikari - Take to the Skies (Ambush Reality)
4/5
By: Gareth Roberts
No-one can accuse Enter Shikari of lacking invention - and balls as well come to think of it, after all; fusing techno, emo and metal is a peculiar choice, and by all accounts it shouldn't work, but by the grace of God... it does.
'Enter Shikari' kicks things off with a bang as synths battle for supremacy over a guitar sound Slayer would deem too much whilst Rou's screamo vocals are offset by the System of a Down style backing voice. Their emo influence is compounded on 'Mothership', a song that holds back on the muscle somewhat, opting instead for a more accessible sound that wouldn't sound out of place on Radio 1. Possibly.
Having already done enough to make me forget the fact that they have a penchant for wearing shorts on stage (well, it did put me off a little bit, it was - after all - Oscar Wilde that once said that only shallow people don't judge by appearance, and you know, he was quite bright), from then on its pretty much a case of plain sailing. 'Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour' (tick another 'emo' box on your reference list) effortlessly proves that Enter Shikari are a force to be reckoned with. 'Labyrinth' is another anthem in waiting although granted, for someone of a certain age like myself, the screamo bits do grate on the conscience somewhat, but there is no denying that these youngsters know their way around a tune, and by the time the song closes with a burst of techno-tastic synth action, the love affair (now accessorised with glowsticks a-plenty) is well and truly in full swing.
'Sorry, You're Not a Winner' and 'Jonny Sniper' (another classic in waiting) provide further moments that make you wish you were sixteen again, and all in all 'Take to the Skies' has proven to be a very enjoyable listen. It's likely that you'll either love them or hate them, but on this evidence to lean any way other than the former would be a travesty. Never mind the skies, these young bucks should be aiming higher than that.
Watch the video to 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour' HERE.
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