Album Review: Enter Shikari - 'A Kiss For The Whole World'
Following up the success of ‘Nothing is True and Everything is Possible’ in 2020, Enter Shikari take it up a notch with the brilliant ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’.
Being coined ‘Rock royalty’ by Rolling Stone, enter Shikari certainly welcomed their new title with the album-opener. The title track kicks of Enter Shikari’s latest masterpiece in such regal fashion, with its perfect blend of prestigious sounding brass instruments, mixed with the Shikari that we all know and love, with their huge drums and big guitar sounds. The opening track ‘A Kiss for the Whole World x’ is the perfect opening for the band’s latest release.
It’s no wonder that the group have sold out their upcoming leg of gigs, particularly after fans got their hands on the singles which preceded the record’s release. One of the most notable among these is ‘It Hurts’. From its deeply resonating lyrics to its undeniably heavy instrumentation, it’s one that’ll be massive at live dates. The drum and bass breakdown in the track proves the sheer brilliance of Shikari, for there are few outfits out there today who can mix up their style in such ways that they do. ‘It Hurts’ is sure to get the crowds jumping and completely losing themselves in the moment.
After the success of their record in 2020, the band have stated that they were left feeling as though they had ‘ceased to exist’, and their movements as a group were massively limited for a couple of years. This seems almost inconceivable as it almost feels that the group have taken over since their return at the Download Festival Pilot. They’ve achieved something truly remarkable by bringing themselves back from their feelings before the festival, and the new record is a true reflection of just how brilliant Enter Shikari are.
The record flows seamlessly and there are tracks which brilliantly bridge the gap between tracks. The end of the brilliant ‘Leap into the Lightning’ is met with the short ‘feed your soul’ which is almost exclusively drum and bass. It’s the perfect bridge, as listeners will be rooted to the record, since it shows no signs of letting up. There’s no time to turn your attention elsewhere. This rack flows into ‘Dead Wood’, which goes back to the traditional instrumentation of the opening track. It builds up and up to a hugely climactic section where the band deliver a truly remarkable performance, mixing electronic vocal sound with classic rocking instruments. Innovation that only few acts today dream of attempting, let alone pulling off. There seems to be a real importance in the lyrics as this one closes out. Vocalist Rou Reynolds calls out ‘I wish I could feel the way you feel’.
Having only given fans a handful of the tracks from the album beforehand, Enter Shikari are really set to completely and utterly blow the minds of so many with their new record. There is such a range of styles within the record and fans will be mesmerized. One of those that’s sure to blow minds is ‘goldfish’ which finds itself towards the rear of the album. The bass running through the number is undeniable and is set to be one of those that you can really feel in your body when performed live. Once again, it proves to be a brilliantly innovative vocal performance which is brimming with great electronic sounds as well as classic, heavy guitars.
The final tracks on the record are two of the most interestingly titled on the latest release, with ‘Giant Pacific Octopus (I don’t know you anymore)’ as well as ‘giant pacific octopus swirling off into infinity’. The first of these is so lyrically relatable for so many with its repeated question of ‘Does anybody even really have a clue who they really are?’ It has to be said that Shikari are one of the most transparent acts about today, in that they are so straight up with fans, and they acknowledge that everyone feels certain ways.
The final track of the record follows on from that before it and it is a clever electronic breakdown which builds up to a point of gentle sounds, almost a point of clarity. It feels like the record has taken us as listeners to a point where we have reached a degree of peace.
‘A Kiss for The Whole World’ is simply unmissable. It’s an innovative and carefully crafted masterpiece which the band can be so proud of. Fans, old and new, are sure to go crazy for this one.
Words by Matthew Caslin
