A track by track breakdown of Enter Shikari’s “definitive” new album
Enter Shikari are a band well known for bending the lines that define music genre and for that reason it’s always captivating to see what route they go down with every new release. The latest instalment in the St Albans band’s journey, ‘Nothing is True & Everything is Possible’ has been described by frontman Rou (who also led the production on the album himself) as “definitive” and “an exploration into human possibility”. So with everything being possible, I was very excited to see what Shikari had come up with.
We begin with a haunting piano intro similar to the Halloween theme. This leads us not into the path of murderous Michael Myers, but into earshot of an escalating techno synth. ‘The Great Unknown’ gives us a taste of what’s to come over the next 40 minutes, with the modern techno synth, pumping percussion and dark yet playful lyricism all becoming a running theme across the album. The opening line “is this a new beginning or are we close to the end” makes this a very fitting opening track.
After a relatively dark and mysterious introduction, ‘Crossing The Rubicon’ feels like a very easy listen. Musically, it is very different to the opener with a very ‘poppy’ sound that could be compared with the likes of The 1975. The pre-chorus contains the first of a number of references to older shikari songs with a nod to the song ‘labyrinth’ from 2007 debut ‘Take to The Skies’.
The Dreamer’s Hotel is a great example of everything Shikari are about. Electronic effects, guitar riffs, angry vocals and tongue in cheek wordplay. This song feels like a summary of everything Shikari have done previously so it’s no surprise that this was the first single from the album.
This is quite an unusual song. Justifying the “nothing is true” part of the title, Rou delivers fake news while a rhythmic track pumps out like the soundtrack to a hypnotic dance. Some of the albums darkest lyrics are contained here such as “There’s been a shooting in a Walmart so put guns on every shopping cart” highlighting a culture of fake news and sensationalism in the media.
There are so many influences on this song. Dubstep, a rap verse comparable to the streets, a brit pop chorus and a chantable hook at the end. This song points out the fact that people seem quite happy to just watch the world around them fall apart while going to zero effort to make a change. Although one of my favourites, I was left wanting more after this track.
There’s more! This is pretty much a Modern Living remix akin to ‘Havoc A’ and ‘Havoc B’ from Common Dreads. I have a feeling this would go down veeerrry well if played live!
‘the pressure’s on’ delivers one of my favourite lyrics on the whole album, “I throw myself into the day but I just seem to ricochet”. It also acts as a relaxing break from the previous madness…
… and the madness yet to come
“And still we will be here”. Well what a nostalgia trip this is! There’s enough in these 45 seconds to send chills down the spine of any long term fan. This is another direct reference to ‘Take to the Skies’ following on from ‘Reprise 1’ and ‘Reprise 2’. The same mantra is recited here only without the second part “standing like statues”. What previously sounded like a proud, hopeful rally cry in 2007 now sounds tiresome and defeated, perhaps to symbolise that not much has changed, even after 13 years, and there is very little hope left. Reprise 3 is a perfect nostalgia trip and the way it transitions into the next song, ‘T.I.N.A’, is nothing short of magnificent!
“There is no alternative. Take my hand if you want to live”. ‘T.I.N.A’ slaps you in the face with a rave-like synth riff (if that is a thing) and drags you kicking and screaming straight into ‘part 2’ of the album. Probably my favourite song on here.
This track sums up the “everything is possible” part of the title because why can’t Enter Shikari write a classical composition if they feel like it? ‘Elegy for Extinction’ starts out as a lovely fun ditty that wouldn’t be out of place in an animated Disney film. Picture a scene of beautiful rolling hills, flowers and talking bunnies. Now imagine all of that is suddenly on fire. Also, Thanos is there and he’s just wiped out 50% of the universe’s population. That’s a bit how the mood of this song turns.
Did you like the wub-dubs on ‘Modern Living’? Good, because there’s more here. Another nod to previous work also as the bass here sounds a lot like ‘Slipshod’. This is part 1 in a 2 part story about a puppet master trying to keep their puppets on strings.
“The world that you created is not mightier than our means to recreate it”. In part 2, “the marionettes awaken” and “snatch back” their strings. Shikari deliver their message through a clever metaphor once again.
This is just a really nice song. Some groovy drum and bass soundtracks metaphorical lyrics addressing the difficulties faced by some members of our society. Expect to hear this one on the radio a fair bit.
This feels like a real album closer. An angry, vengeance driven anthem about an overthrown monarch? What’s not to like?
Despite the word “piangevole” meaning “to sound mournful”, and after an album full of dark songs about a broken world, ignorance, repression and the bad things humans are capable of, ‘Nothing is True & Everything is Possible’ ends with a cheerful sounding, trumpet filled waltz off the edge of the earth. I feel this perhaps represents that, despite all the darkness, there is a light still. A small glimmer of hope that, with all the bad in the world, the fact that “everything is possible” means good things can happen too. There is still that small beacon of hope to hold on to. Or maybe its not even that deep.
Admittedly, it did take a couple of listens to fully understand the message of the album. I think this is due to the way the tracks are ordered building up the energy level then slowing it’s momentum almost instantly, although the band have mentioned before how they enjoy not making “easy to listen to” music.
This album for me is the most Shikari sounding Shikari album that Shikari have ever… Shikaried? We have the return of of the angry and politically driven Enter Shikari in contrast to the much more personal one in ‘The Spark’. ‘Nothing is True & Everything is Possible’ is like a bag of sour sweets. Each one that you pull out of the bag is a different flavour but it will have a kick to it and will make you pull a weird ‘>.<‘ face. It’s a fantastic album that really delves into each era of the Shikari back catalogue.
Rou’s vocals sound the best they ever have and he has done a fantastic job producing this record. The rest of the band, Rob, Rory and Chris, have demonstrated great diversification in their musicianship, pushing the boundaries even further than before.
This really does seem to be a new beginning for Enter Shikari and I can’t wait to hear what they come up with next.
9/10
What did you think of the album? Do you have a favourite song on there? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram:
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