Enter Shikari: 'Electronics Are The Heart Of The Band'

Rejecting offers from major labels wouldn’t necessarily be a move that you might assume an up-and-coming band might make, but Enter Shikari proved that going it alone can mean a sweeter kind of success. Thanks to good, old-fashioned hard work – otherwise known as releasing several demos and touring excessively – the quartet has slowly but surely started to see a growing fan base in the UK. American audiences might still be getting familiar with Enter Shikari because the band’s first full-length Take To The Skies had a later release date in the States, but the album has already made an impression on British audiences, debuting at #4 on the UK album charts.

While there is no set formula to the songwriting on Take To The Skies, guitarist Liam “Rory” Clewlow told Ultimate-Guitar that the electronic and synth parts usually are the first to develop. Enter Shikari has indeed become synonymous with synth-driven hooks, but that aspect never intrudes upon Clewlow’s creativity. It was immediately obvious when he chatted with UG that Clewlow is the kind of guitarist who doesn’t mind stepping out of the spotlight if it means a better song will develop in the end.

UG: Was there a reason why the US release of Take To The Skies was delayed?

Rory: It was just a really, really complicated record deal that we got. It took us a while to find an actual deal. It’s basically not like a normal record deal as far as distribution/marketing. We just can’t have a normal deal – we’ve got to do things really complicated! It’s pretty ridiculous!

You had released the album on iTunes in the US before it hit the shelves. How did that digital presence affect your fan base in America?

To be perfectly honest, I’m not really sure. I didn’t actually see any of the record sales. We did get comments and things like that on MySpace about the album. Apart from a few comments, I didn’t really see much.

Considering that the band has been around for almost 5 years, how much has life changed for you with the recent success?

We’ve been touring for about 4 years now, putting on shows and then recording demos and stuff like that. We didn’t really have any other choice but to do that. When we finally started building up a substantial fan base for ourselves, all the pressure of the media and the industry started paying off. We’ve been doing it ourselves. Most record labels have to buy or spend for their bands millions or thousands, but we’ve done it for free just by working. It went from being able to sell out maybe 2,000 a year ago to being able to sell out like a 5,000 seat venue this year. I think that I heard we’re still selling like 60 albums a week in England, and it’s absolutely insane.

They always say that it’s not being there, but it’s the getting there that’s the hard part. That’s absolutely true. When you wake up, go on the Internet and hear that we’ve been nominated for an award for the first time or you hear the album sold this many copies – things that we’ve never had before – that is the funnest thing! You don’t know what is going to be around the corner, but you know it’s really exciting.

You include quite a lot of synth and electronic work in Take To The Skies. Are those usually written before you add in the guitar parts?

I would definitely say that the electronics are the heart of the band. They definitely put us all together. They give us that sort of boost. I would say that the guitar, bass, and drums are more of the backing to that main sort of melody in the electronics. I guess the drums, bass, and guitar sort of give it the more hardcore, metal edge, so that it’s not really dance music.

"We just can't have a normal deal – we've got to do things really complicated!"

After you initially hear a particular electronic line, do you automatically get a feel for what should go over it guitar-wise?

I don’t know. There are times when we’ve taken old songs that we had before the electronics. Then we add the instruments on top of that. Sometimes it starts with an electronic riff. Rou normally comes up with an electronic riff to back a drum beat and a bass line, and then what comes out of that is like a full-band song. So a lot of my work is already done. It’s just basically finding something that kind of works. It’s kind of hard to describe. With every song it’s completely different in the way we’ve written it. We don’t have a formula or anything.

Did Enter Shikari not initially have any electronics incorporated in the music?

Yeah. We were all in school and stuff. I joined the band like 4 years ago, before they were even called Enter Shikari. We were called Hybryd. Rou was playing guitar, Chris was on bass, and then Rob on drums. Part of the reason why they wanted to add a new guitarist was so that Rou could focus more on vocals and actually incorporate more electronics. He doesn’t have 3 hands. So originally there was just like a touch screen thing that makes soundscapes, kind of wishy-washy noises. We used to play it for like intros and outros and stuff like that to make some sort of weird, atmospheric noise.

We discovered this very simple preset that’s on it, and we used to play along to that. It was really good fun, so we bought a sequencer to program sounds from scratch. It’s a really, really good bit of equipment actually. We’ve expanded to a mixer as well, and he’s got a big keyboard, a chaos pad. Everything goes through a DJ mixer.

Are you someone who likes to experiment with guitar effects?

Yeah. I’m starting to get enough time to play guitar, really. I get some time at home, but I’ve just got a crappy little practice amp. I’ve got a Telecaster, which is a really nice guitar, but I don’t have any of my effects or anything at home. Most of it’s in storage, so while we’re on tour I don’t get a chance to play. I still play as much as I can.

The pedals I have aren’t as expressive as I’d like them to be. I’ve got a delay, chorus, phaser. I’ve got a second delay pedal. I turned it all up full, so that when I hit it, it makes sort of like a machine gun noise. I use chorus and delays to beef up the clean sounds. My flanger has got a little gain part, so I can…well, I can’t describe it, actually. There’s a really slow fade that adds to the electronic keyboard sound.

You have some incredible acoustic work on “Adieu.” Are you also using the acoustic on “Today Won’t Go Down In History”?

No, it’s actually an electric guitar. I used a Fender Stratocaster for that, actually. I love the clean sound on the Strat. It’s just plugged in clean. I EQ’ed it more on that one so that it’s not so beefy.

What kind of acoustic did you use on “Adieu”?

That’s a Martin. That is actually my dad’s! My dad is in bands as well. He always plays the acoustic guitar, and I’ve never been that interested in the acoustic. My dad has been playing acoustic since I was born.

"I'm starting to get enough time to play guitar, really."

Was he the one who taught you how to play guitar?

He wasn’t, actually. He plays a lot of finger picking stuff. I basically wanted to learn electric.

What does your dad think of Enter Shikari’s music?

He absolutely loves it! He’s always coming to shows. He’s not one of these sort of embarrassing dads. It’s not the kind of thing that he would primarily listen to, but he definitely appreciates it and the musicality of it.

Talk about The Zone, the limited-release compilation record. Why did you decide to only produce about 4,000 copies?

We wanted to get all of our B-sides out there, so that everyone could buy them as a whole. We wanted to give them recognition as well because, in our opinion, they’re probably much better than the lot of the album tracks. We were more proud of them. We recorded everything in like a day or two or something, and they always seem to come out almost better. A lot of people think we’re just trying to rake in the money, but we used the money we had ourselves. It’s a limited release because we’re not trying to make money from it. We just want people to hear what we’ve done. Most people really didn’t buy the singles, and even if they did, they probably just downloaded one track off of iTunes and didn’t buy the CD.

You mentioned that you’re more proud of the limited-release singles. Are there a few tracks that you think really stand out?

Probably “Acid Nation” and “Kickin’ Back On The Surface Of Your Cheek.” Whenever we record B sides, we tend to have more fun with it. Sometimes you might get something that might be a little bit too silly. I don’t know why, but we do things that we wouldn’t dare try on an A side. They always seem to come out really well. I guess it is because it expresses more of us.

Do you think that Enter Shikari will become even more experimental on future albums?

Yeah, I definitely think that with the new album there will be a lot more experimenting in the studio. With the first album, we had like 2 weeks to record the whole thing. We didn’t get much time to actually sort of try out different instruments. We did a little bit. We played lap steel on a couple of tracks with an electric-violin type of sound. We love playing around with stuff like that. So the next album will be bigger and sound more professional as well.

Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2008

Comments

[treflip]

They were fun live, back in the early days, despite their awful music.

[sevenchurches]

first post...yeo

They're alright

[sevenchurches]

aw jesus!

[Sirnogbert]

Good live band, seem 'em 3 times. Rory has a lot more potential to do kick ass things, let's hope for a few slightly more guitar oriented tracks on the next album. I do agree with him though, the synth makes the band.

[ratherbedead]

love the synth seeing them in Perth at big day out

[emo=Fights=yay]

these guys should definitely make it big, bigger than they are now. They do actually have something to offer to the music scene.
They're incredible live according to my friends who have seen them. They're big on touring. And one of the few bands that when you're bored you think.... "man i really want to listen to some enter shikari" and 5-10 minutes later your pysched about everything.

[john_latchem]

This man is an absolute hero, he is honestly the nicest bloke I've ever met... Really cool guitarist too.

[skull78]

i whish i was going to big day out to see them.... i wish i had a ticket for their side show. they are pretty sweet

the only bad thing is the screaming in the demo lol... its horrible XD

[SleepyHollow]

i agree with the fellow australians. i hate how im not going to see them this sunday. along with brand new, and rage against the machine. grrr

[TheAmenCorner89]

I really can't stand this band, i'm open minded but quite frankly dance music plus emo music makes me sick. I have friends who like them but I just can't get into their style at all

[kp_bass]

i think they're unbelievably good. you dont get the atmosphere at their gigs ANYWHERE else, plus they genuinely look like theyre enjoying themselves - which is what its all about!
rory's guitar playing is amazing it fits in with everything perfectly
kp

[yobacon]

ok there a really good band but there not emo!
Sotty ur not a winner = ace tune!

[tdfb]

these guys are awesome!
i managed to see 'em at a really small venue december '06, was ****ing amazing, the whole atmosphere was just mental and even in that small place it was in, we still made a human pyramid XD

they might not be the best at screaming, but hey! everything else about them is brilliant ^_^

[alliwant]

I really dig this band. And I'm glad they're trying to make it on their own.

[Power Trip]

I can't stand enter shikari.

Their name doesn't even deserve capital letters.

[2mins2midnite]

i hate enter shikari, no talent, full of crap but i like there hard work
but still are crap

[drumpat]

You can dislike anything that has to do with emo (omg I hate it!); it's also hard to not wanna crap on anything that calls itself hardcore these days.
But Enter Shikari are just beautifully original.

[PastaOfMuppets]

I didn't like these guys until a few months ago, then I really got into them.
I love them now, Adieu is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

[mayht]

2mins2midnite why dont you try and make a dance album and come back and say that

[treflip]

To the guy that said they're "beautifull original": they aren't. There's been plenty of hardcore and dance/trance crossover bands

[sottpwn]

Awful band...the real sign of the downfall of music. "I know, let's have the same arpeggiated chord going through every single song we do!" YAWN. It was a novelty on the first single, now it's just boring. Do these guys actually know any other functions of a synthesizer?

The only thing I respect is how they fund their albums themselves.

[sleepwalker16]

sottpwn wrote:

Awful band...the real sign of the downfall of music. "I know, let's have the same arpeggiated chord going through every single song we do!" YAWN. It was a novelty on the first single, now it's just boring. Do these guys actually know any other functions of a synthesizer?

The only thing I respect is how they fund their albums themselves.

Same here. they are shit

[ChrissyChiChi]

I just youtubed them and listened to a song called 'Sorry youre not a winner'. I have to say it sounds like every other screamo band out there but with a few keyboard bits occasionaly.
Before people start the 'OMFGG ITS NOT EMOOO LUULLZZ' by EMO i mean that type of singing that is really popular nowdays,just as before it there was the 'Blink 182 style' that everyone tried to soundlike, emo has its own one too. Or what i classify as emo anyways. So if you hate 'Aiden', 'From first to last' 'autumn to ashes' etc etc etc then you wont like it. I suspect if you are over 15 you probably wont like it either :P.
The keyboard bits are quite cool but really cannot save it, and your average techno band does the same kind of keyboard melodies far better.

[Iavor]

This makes you happy to live in Milton Keynes and to have seen the band on their early shows at the pitz, great band and I am really glad that they are making it, mean they really did work hard for it!!!

[willy_99]

they were fun live but the music is appauling

[blair30]

Anyone read Total Guitar Magazine?

2007 Awards issue
Enter Shikari - Worst band of the year.

[shut_up_n00b]

I don't like their music, but since they fund their own albums, demos, and tours then you know that their music is exactly what they want to play.

[evryday drinkin]

nothing but a buncha ****ing cynics on this message board. if you've only listened to one of their songs only one time don't post shit cuz u dont know what ur talking about..

Enter Shikari is a genuine band that has successfully incorporated electronics into rock/hardcore/metal/trance/screamo/whatever the **** u want to call it genres..

60 albums sold a wk in England with no major record label is pretty god damn impressive..

this band is the wave of the future and their influence will be heard in the music of bands to come for many years

[Lateralus17]

nothing but a buncha ****ing cynics on this message board. if you've only listened to one of their songs only one time don't post shit cuz u dont know what ur talking about..

Enter Shikari is a genuine band that has successfully incorporated electronics into rock/hardcore/metal/trance/screamo/whatever the **** u want to call it genres..

60 albums sold a wk in England with no major record label is pretty god damn impressive..

this band is the wave of the future and their influence will be heard in the music of bands to come for many years

Nah.

They're pretty rubbish.

[Decembero]

They were the second unsigned band ever to sell out the London Astoria. That is a better achievement than any of you can manage. If you don't like them then who trully gives a flying blue shite. They are amazing at what they do, they fund themselves and they are on a record label run by themselves and no other band is on that label, considering that, I would say they are pretty damn successfull!

[Decembero]

ChrissyChiChi wrote:

I just youtubed them and listened to a song called 'Sorry youre not a winner'. I have to say it sounds like every other screamo band out there but with a few keyboard bits occasionaly.
Before people start the 'OMFGG ITS NOT EMOOO LUULLZZ' by EMO i mean that type of singing that is really popular nowdays,just as before it there was the 'Blink 182 style' that everyone tried to soundlike, emo has its own one too. Or what i classify as emo anyways. So if you hate 'Aiden', 'From first to last' 'autumn to ashes' etc etc etc then you wont like it. I suspect if you are over 15 you probably wont like it either :P.
The keyboard bits are quite cool but really cannot save it, and your average techno band does the same kind of keyboard melodies far better.

you have no idea.

TheAmenCorner89 wrote:

I really can't stand this band, i'm open minded but quite frankly dance music plus emo music makes me sick. I have friends who like them but I just can't get into their style at all

You are open minded? HAH mate they arent emo for a start, your mind is tighter than a duck's arse.

[adamdrulz]

Great band and all of them are really nice, Rob (drums) took me inside their van to hang out. I wish them the best of luck, Rou said that they were going to do a full on american tour this summer

[cubfan1091]

my friend first introduced me to this band they wree so amazing. i was blown. i has like a 4 month phase where they wree all i listened to and my favorite songs would change over time. i love this band. they were playing in chicago and i was gonna go with my friends but i couldnt go and tey all got to go i was so pist. i wouldnt let them they me anything abotu the show becuz i woulda jumped through the wall out of anger that i didnt ge tto go

[the boogieman]

the use of electronics in post hardcore is a neat touch, but i gotta agree with the dude who said all their songs sound the same

[ChrissyChiChi]

Britney Spears has also sold more records than Lamb of God, yet she has not written a single song, dubbs her shit live and uses auto tune on her cd's. So selling more cd's really has no relation to talent.
I do not mean to be just a random agressor so please explain what you think is so talented about the music, im open to listen. What i do not like about it as i stated above is that the singing is identical to that style of (what i call) 'emo' singing that is so popular nowdays, the guitar lines are identical to those emo bands and is horrificaly unoriginal. The keyboards are the one bright part but as someone has already pointed out it sticks to arpegiated sequences and you can hear that style of playing done better in techno.
I applaud them for trying something vaguely new (many many rock bands use keyboards also, as well as many metal bands), but at the end of the day they are just copying the exact same style and formula of one genre (screamo) and throwing in the exact same style of another (trance), they have not added their own take on it at all.

[Death-Reaper]

ChrissyChiChi wrote:

I just youtubed them and listened to a song called 'Sorry youre not a winner'. I have to say it sounds like every other screamo band out there but with a few keyboard bits occasionaly.
Before people start the 'OMFGG ITS NOT EMOOO LUULLZZ' by EMO i mean that type of singing that is really popular nowdays,just as before it there was the 'Blink 182 style' that everyone tried to soundlike, emo has its own one too. Or what i classify as emo anyways. So if you hate 'Aiden', 'From first to last' 'autumn to ashes' etc etc etc then you wont like it. I suspect if you are over 15 you probably wont like it either :P.

True.. Most people are like EMO, I hate this.
Instead of just listening to it.
The first time I heard Enter Shikari I really didn't like them, but then I went to a concert (Yea I know, it doesn't make sense going to a concert of a band you don't like) and I must say they are very good live.
And since then I do like their music.
But still the grunting parts (Return To Energiser for instance) sound very weird and ugly to me...

[evryday drinkin]

ChrissyCh...

How is the singing identical to your prototypical emo band? Enter Shikari are english and you can hear it in their voices when they sing which obviously sets them apart from any of the whiny emo bitches ur used to hearing.

Selling cds DOES have a relation to talent when a band self-promotes itself with no backing from a record company. Britney spears has millions of dollars poured into promotion for her cds.
-----

Enter Shikari blends their music with a wide variety of singing, shouting, and screaming. Return to Energiser is one of the sickest songs on the album and demonstrates how diverse their voices and vocal arrangements are. Give it a listen and you'll see what im talking about.

[TheAmenCorner89]

evryday drinkin wrote:

60 albums sold a wk in England with no major record label is pretty god damn impressive..

this band is the wave of the future and their influence will be heard in the music of bands to come for many years

So what if you sell records if your signed or unsigned, it's just a bunch of scene kids who love their music. More records sold does not equal more talent. And no I don't just hate anything emo/hardcore because that's just pointless, I can't find anything redeeming about their music, it's not that original (pitchshifter anyone?)

Decembero wrote:

ChrissyChiChi wrote:

You are open minded? HAH mate they arent emo for a start, your mind is tighter than a duck's arse.

Uh hell yes they are emo, the vocals are whiny and screamy, them being british doesn't make any difference, so are bmth and they are awful too. I'm British does that make me exempt from being metal? Of course not

[broken circle]

It's a shame, Enter Shikari could probably be quite good, however the guitar lines are always the same. Always the same minor pentatonic scale. Same fifth chords. There's not enough variation. It's only the electronics that give them flavour, but I don't find it to be flavour enough.
Plus, they're god awful live.

[PastaOfMuppets]

TheAmenCorner89 wrote:
Uh hell yes they are emo, the vocals are whiny and screamy, them being british doesn't make any difference, so are bmth and they are awful too. I'm British does that make me exempt from being metal? Of course not

The one thing that I agree with in that is that BMTH are shit.
However Enter Shikari are far from "emo", learn what emo is before labelling bands with it.
Oh and don't go saying that the only people who like Enter Shikari are scene kids because that is most certainly not true.
Enter Shikari sound nothing like Pitchshifter too, I know there are other bands who have done that kind of crossover before ES (Mad Capsule Markets, Blood Stain Child anyone?)but they never claimed that they invented the style.

[sevenchurches]

They're not ****in emo. Rites of Spring are emo.

It's gotten so bad that the people who are writing off emo don't even know what emo is anymore. You fags

[H_ngm_n]

I think any band that has more than two breakdowns in one song is retarded, and when I listened to this band, at least six breakdowns in the song, and I just laughed. It takes no musical talent to tune to drop d, and palm mute some random strings.

[sleepwalker16]

blair30 wrote:

Anyone read Total Guitar Magazine?

2007 Awards issue
Enter Shikari - Worst band of the year.

right on.

[sevenchurches]

They're only the worst band of the year because people know they exist

[Deviant1853]

Saw them live at Download 07 while waiting for KoRn to come on. Worst band/gig I have ever seen. They spent more time running around the stage than playing. Just Pathetic.

[NWOBHM2006]

I'm open minded, I'm about as open minded as they get. If you give me a good jazz song, or some blues or a brutal riff by Kreator or some Chopin, I'll think that you've got a taste in music. Anything from Journey to Malmsteen to Megadeth is good in my book, but mixing, and I quote, "rock/hardcore/metal/trance/screamo/whatever" is the most utterly stupid thing anyone can do.
If you like hardcore (I personally think it's crap)...go listen to hardcore...I won't say anything...same for screamo and trance and all that crap. But pulling rock and metal into the equation- probably the only two genres left in the world that I'd still regard as pure- done by professional artists who can pick a guitar up and desolate the fretboard, or vocalists who are still worth shit or even a keytarist who can solo for high heaven without layers and layers of synth over it all!!! Everyone goes on about how metal fans are the least tolerant in the world... Well if fags like this stopped trying to make little scene kids think they're cool because they bought an Enter Shikari cd and pondered how deep and brooding the songs were... You get the idea

[walidb123]

I hate 'em. I really dislike how every little shit I know pretends to know them personally somehow and wear their tight little t-shirts while they mock me for liking The Ramones.

[a7xsoad]

All the electronic stuff I've heard from Enter Shikari sounds dreadful. I'm afraid it's the truth. Enter Shikari are the LAST artist I would go to get that kind of thing.

[Gu1T@r_H3r0]

Enter Shikari are neither good or original. They ARE emo I'm afraid guys, the breakdowns, the screaming, the repetitiveness of their music. There's nothing wrong with SOME emo, it's just that they use the same formula as early Funeral For A Friend, with a few unimaginative synths thrown in and people call them original?

Pitchshifter?
Mad Capsule Markets?

Bleeding Through do this breakdown-with-synth-line-over-it much better than these guys, and the screaming has some ****ing balls about it.

God I hate these guys.

[asator]

enter shikari are a brilliant band, get over it. they aren't emo, only emoish thing is rou's clean singing. you don't like them, fine. go see them live then claim not to like them.

and to this fag who can't spell guitar_hero, they are origingal, they aren't repetitive, their synth lines aren't unimaginative, they're innovative, and i love bleeding through but they are a completely different style. their synths are completely different.

[asator]

oh yeah, and the only reason they got worst band in the mighty tg is because rory said he didn't like pantera or metallica. said something about only hillbilly americans liking pantera. while personally i find that to be offensive and retarded, its still irrelevant, because its not to do with the MUSIC! if it wasn't for that, they'd never have got worst band.

[Dream Pin]

asator wrote:

oh yeah, and the only reason they got worst band in the mighty tg is because rory said he didn't like pantera or metallica. said something about only hillbilly americans liking pantera. while personally i find that to be offensive and retarded, its still irrelevant, because its not to do with the MUSIC! if it wasn't for that, they'd never have got worst band.

Thing is, Pantera were a terrible band.
Who in the world would choose Solid-State over tube, despite being able to afford any damn high-gain head you could think of?

[Infamou$17]

They're ****ing horrible. I don't care how their live is if their music is as atrocious as it is now. HORSE the band is probably the only synth-driven hardcore I've ever heard that really is awesome, especially The Mechanical Hand.

[Infamou$17]

sevenchurches wrote:

They're not ****in emo. Rites of Spring are emo.

It's gotten so bad that the people who are writing off emo don't even know what emo is anymore. You fags

You're kind of right. Rites of Spring was definitely emo. But they're old school emo. The emo bands now are bullsh*t in comparison to what emo was back when Rites of Spring was big.

[Infamou$17]

TheAmenCorner89 wrote:

so are bmth and they are awful too.

BMTH is the shit, dude.

[Gu1T@r_H3r0]

asator wrote:

enter shikari are a brilliant band, get over it. they aren't emo, only emoish thing is rou's clean singing. you don't like them, fine. go see them live then claim not to like them.

and to this fag who can't spell guitar_hero, they are origingal, they aren't repetitive, their synth lines aren't unimaginative, they're innovative, and i love bleeding through but they are a completely different style. their synths are completely different.

I have seen them live, and thus can claim not to like them. Dickwad.

Seriously though, they are emo, I know you don't want to admit it, cos emo has such a bad label attached to it, but they are. The breakdowns, the screaming, the singing, the ridiculous song titles etc.

As for Bleeding Through, I love them, and was just giving reference to a band who use keyboards in a far better way in the Hardcore genre.

[Georgeyhal]

Enter Shikari are like marmite, you either love them or you hate them.

Having seen them live I can agree with anyone who says they are energetic and engaging. When I was there they made me feel like a 5th member along with the rest of the crowd. They really made a conection. They made a great use of humour in between songs as well(jonny sniper anyone?).

I can see where some of the more musically acute members are coming from. Their music is god awefully simple, but the fact is they are doing it, and doing it well. also I would definatly recomend listening to the demos not the album. The whole DIY sound is what in my opinion made them in the first place. they kind of lost it in the album.

One last thing, the only emotistic aspect of this band is their singing, they dress like electro prepies. you would never see Rou in a pair of skinny jeans.

[sleepwalker16]

asator wrote:

oh yeah, and the only reason they got worst band in the mighty tg is because rory said he didn't like pantera or metallica. said something about only hillbilly americans liking pantera. while personally i find that to be offensive and retarded, its still irrelevant, because its not to do with the MUSIC! if it wasn't for that, they'd never have got worst band.

Don't try to find reasons for why they got the Worst Band award, they got it because their music is utter shite... come on, I heard Johnny Sniper, Sorry You're Not a Winner... what the hell is that shit? those songs had like 5 breakdows each, no god guitars, annoying vocals, and lame lyrics. why the **** shouldn't they get that award?

[metalfanatic07]

i played one of their songs on the radio the other day and first thought "What the hell is this crap" not even joking here

[Rykeli]

Take to the Skies, was added straight to my top favorite cds list. i can listen through the entire thing constantly.i love their willingness to add nothing but, no-stop creativity from every direction. from crazy effects/synths to the vocalists willingness to use a multitudes of different screams, instead of just sticking to one constant sound...

[bloodred16]

I've seen the live twice (once with Billy Talent and once at Give It A Name) and they were awful both times, however, I think the album is really good and look forward to the next release! Just don't think they can handle the bigger crowds, some bands can, some can't.

[TheAmenCorner89]

Infamou$17 wrote:

TheAmenCorner89 wrote:

so are bmth and they are awful too.


BMTH is the shit, dude.

No, bmth IS shit dude

[TheAmenCorner89]

NWOBHM2006 wrote:

I'm open minded, I'm about as open minded as they get. If you give me a good jazz song, or some blues or a brutal riff by Kreator or some Chopin, I'll think that you've got a taste in music. Anything from Journey to Malmsteen to Megadeth is good in my book, but mixing, and I quote, "rock/hardcore/metal/trance/screamo/whatever" is the most utterly stupid thing anyone can do.
If you like hardcore (I personally think it's crap)...go listen to hardcore...I won't say anything...same for screamo and trance and all that crap. But pulling rock and metal into the equation- probably the only two genres left in the world that I'd still regard as pure- done by professional artists who can pick a guitar up and desolate the fretboard, or vocalists who are still worth shit or even a keytarist who can solo for high heaven without layers and layers of synth over it all!!! Everyone goes on about how metal fans are the least tolerant in the world... Well if fags like this stopped trying to make little scene kids think they're cool because they bought an Enter Shikari cd and pondered how deep and brooding the songs were... You get the idea

+1 This guy totally gets it

[TheAmenCorner89]

I do know what emo is, and I classify enter shikari as emo due to the vocals both the clean and the screaming, the lyrics, the repetitive breakdowns, the songtitles and the music. I'm not saying all emo is bad because that's not true, for example At The Drive In are a great band. To those who say they are innovative really need to listen to more music, because they sure as hell arent innovative. Go listen to the band currently featured in 'music news' section, Cynic. Now they are a truly innovative band

[Decembero]

^^ LOL you guys. Deep and brooding songs? They have songs about the game laser quest, and a cartoon character who taught kids to practice safe sex. They arent a serious band. They lyrics are far from emo mate. Im not saying they are innovative but I like their music is that ok with you?

Clean and screaming lyrics dont class a band as emo. That is a far over-generalised statement.

Repetative breakdowns are used in all forms of music genious.

How can you classify a song title as emo? Im pretty sure then some Metallica song titles can be emo according to your 'logic'. Like Blackened, fade to black, sad but true etc. You are being retarded mate.

Get to know a band properly before you try to bash it, and leave those people alone who listen to them, why should you give a damn what music they like?

[slashnmash]

I used to hate them, then I went to a gig of theres and it was just incredible. I am going to see them in astoria next month

[lorahhh]

Decembero :
^^ LOL you guys. Deep and brooding songs? They have songs about the game laser quest, and a cartoon character who taught kids to practice safe sex. They arent a serious band. They lyrics are far from emo mate. Im not saying they are innovative but I like their music is that ok with you?

Clean and screaming lyrics dont class a band as emo. That is a far over-generalised statement.

Repetative breakdowns are used in all forms of music genious.

How can you classify a song title as emo? Im pretty sure then some Metallica song titles can be emo according to your 'logic'. Like Blackened, fade to black, sad but true etc. You are being retarded mate.

Get to know a band properly before you try to bash it, and leave those people alone who listen to them, why should you give a damn what music they like?

You are so ****ing right! Enter Shikari are NOT emo. And you don't have to be an emo to listen to them. I love all types of music. Anything from R&B to Punk to Hardcore.

The only thing that dissapointed me was thinking to much about buying tickets for their last gig near where I live. I missed the tickets. They sold out. Damn it!

[jonathanonfire]

sevenchurches wrote:

They're not ****in emo. Rites of Spring are emo.

It's gotten so bad that the people who are writing off emo don't even know what emo is anymore. You fags

A-****ing-men.....

[jonathanonfire]

kids these days.

[fuldanips]

everybody better shut the f*** up about enter shikari they pwn any music out there. i'm 17 so i AM mature and i DO know what i'm talking about when i say their sound is unique.

[chris_libby_88]

fuldanips wrote:

everybody better shut the f*** up about enter shikari they pwn any music out there. i'm 17 so i AM mature and i DO know what i'm talking about when i say their sound is unique.

hahahahaahaaaa!!!....hahaha!!!...wait wait...ok...hahahahahahhah!!!!!

[hench45]

ha u ppl seriously fink about ur music genres 2 much lol at the end of the day theyv earned it. i remember playin wiv em like a yr ago in this little club called the Cavern in Exeter (U.K) and they were all well sound and amazin live! i mean theyr really old stuff is so much betta than theyr new stuff but uno. still a pretty good band.

[Eladamri]

fuldanips wrote:

everybody better shut the f*** up about enter shikari they pwn any music out there. i'm 17 so i AM mature and i DO know what i'm talking about when i say their sound is unique.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Oh dear.

[sevenchurches]

NWOBHM2006 wrote:

and I quote, "rock/hardcore/metal/trance/screamo/whatever" is the most utterly stupid thing anyone can do.
If you like hardcore (I personally think it's crap)...go listen to hardcore...I won't say anything...same for screamo and trance and all that crap. But pulling rock and metal into the equation- probably the only two genres left in the world that I'd still regard as pure- done by professional artists who can pick a guitar up and desolate the fretboard, or vocalists who are still worth shit or even a keytarist who can solo for high heaven without layers and layers of synth over it all!!!

what the **** are you on about? What is professional about desolating a fretboard?

How is the mixing of genres stupid? Stupid in whose eyes? Yours. Not stupid in mine or people who can listen to the music without disparaging every secomnd of it.

[arcticnicole]

there's something new in enter shikari's style and, dears, they aren't emo!! please don't speak if you have to say some shit! you don't even know what an emo is....

[lorahhh]

Georgeyhal :
Enter Shikari are like marmite, you either love them or you hate them.

Having seen them live I can agree with anyone who says they are energetic and engaging. When I was there they made me feel like a 5th member along with the rest of the crowd. They really made a conection. They made a great use of humour in between songs as well(jonny sniper anyone?).

I can see where some of the more musically acute members are coming from. Their music is god awefully simple, but the fact is they are doing it, and doing it well. also I would definatly recomend listening to the demos not the album. The whole DIY sound is what in my opinion made them in the first place. they kind of lost it in the album.

One last thing, the only emotistic aspect of this band is their singing, they dress like electro prepies. you would never see Rou in a pair of skinny jeans.

I AGREE!

Thank god someone actually knows what their talking about.

People, if you don't like them don't try to lable them. You not liking them will cloud your judgement. I'll do the same for bands you like, that I hate.

[TheAmenCorner89]

Okay fine they aren't emo, certainly not original emo. But I can't stand their music, yes i've heard the demos, I've been to their gig after being dragged there by friendsand I can still say I hate their style of music which to me sounds like dance plus emo, maybe i'm wrong but thats what it sounds like

[Decembero]

TheAmenCorner89 wrote:

Okay fine they aren't emo, certainly not original emo. But I can't stand their music, yes i've heard the demos, I've been to their gig after being dragged there by friendsand I can still say I hate their style of music which to me sounds like dance plus emo, maybe i'm wrong but thats what it sounds like

Yeh, u hated them from the start man. They never really had much of a chance to turn your opinion around. But thats cool, everyone has an opinion on bands like this where you either love them or hate them. They are far from the style of music I really love to hear everyday but I still give them a wee listen just to mix it up a bit.

[Wildchild92]

Exactly Enter Shikari's heart of the music is electronics because they have no real musical talent. They have catchy vocals and tunes but nah Enter Shikari is not for me.

They should learn more scales and shred. Thats more like it.

[WinslowBob]

I have no idea who this band is, but I always laugh at the way you cynics and critics come out of the wood works to downplay bands.


What is even funnier is that most people will never go anywhere with music and yet criticize. You're a complete moron if you say they have NO talent. No talent means they cannot even play. They have talent. Maybe not as much as others, but they have talent.

Because maybe you'll realize it one day, but the general populace doesn't necessarily care if you can shred or not. And if you never realized it, the general populace are the ones who buy most of the music. One day this fact will slap you in the face and you'll stop acting like the pre and/or pubescient teenagers most of you are.

[AngerIsAGift06]

WinslowBob wrote:

I have no idea who this band is, but I always laugh at the way you cynics and critics come out of the wood works to downplay bands.


What is even funnier is that most people will never go anywhere with music and yet criticize. You're a complete moron if you say they have NO talent. No talent means they cannot even play. They have talent. Maybe not as much as others, but they have talent.

Because maybe you'll realize it one day, but the general populace doesn't necessarily care if you can shred or not. And if you never realized it, the general populace are the ones who buy most of the music. One day this fact will slap you in the face and you'll stop acting like the pre and/or pubescient teenagers most of you are.

i agree with the shredding bit, but honestly peoples beef is that this band aim their music at people they dont like. and honestly i dont like em either

[Rosseta Stoned]

I really like these guys, but Rou sounds awful live, if you ask me.

[AngerIsAGift06]

give me prodigy pitchshifter or victory pill any day over these teen ripoffs

[josepharmillei]

WinslowBob wrote:

I have no idea who this band is, but I always laugh at the way you cynics and critics come out of the wood works to downplay bands.


What is even funnier is that most people will never go anywhere with music and yet criticize. You're a complete moron if you say they have NO talent. No talent means they cannot even play. They have talent. Maybe not as much as others, but they have talent.

Because maybe you'll realize it one day, but the general populace doesn't necessarily care if you can shred or not. And if you never realized it, the general populace are the ones who buy most of the music. One day this fact will slap you in the face and you'll stop acting like the pre and/or pubescient teenagers most of you are.

Well said mate.

If they haven't got any talent then have you got any more than they have by spouting bollocks on forums about them?

Not likely.

[l2enegadeOfFunk]

They're not emo. That's just silly. Emo encapsules a lot more than just screaming and breakdowns. It's in the overall message of the band also, their style, their lyrics. None of Enter Shikari's lyrics or themes have anything emo about them...at least not in the sense of what "emo" has come to be defined as.

Anyway, genres are complete bullshit. That person that was going "rock and metal are the only genres that are good anymore", do you know how retarded, ignorant, arrogant and closeminded a statement that is? Genres are a load of bullshit, I hate seeing people arguing about a band's genres in the first place, particularly when they're being abusive towards a band while doing so. Genres should not matter. People should listen to "music they like" rather than listening to "rock they like" or "metal they like" or "screamo they like", if you get what I mean. You can't pigeon-hole your taste into one genre. Be a bit more open-minded. Besides, many bands can't really be pigeon-holed into a certain genre.

To get one thing straight, Enter Shikari NEVER claimed to be the original users of the whole synth trance/metal hybrid shit that you guys keep going on about. Bands like Sky Eats Airplane were doing it too (they're pretty good, look them up) and a good few other bands. Enter Shikari fell prey to this sensation that swept through Britain and Ireland, fuelled by the media all giving up soundbytes like "second unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria" or "the first band ever to fuse trance and metal into one brutal cascade" or some shit like that. I don't GIVE A SHIT about that stuff. That's the media being sensationalist and putting words in Enter Shikari's mouths. They just want to play their music. Stop comparing them to a million other bands. Just **** off already.