Album Review: Enter Shikari "A Flash Flood of Colour"

written by: Shekinah Apedo



Artist: Enter Shikari
Album: A Flash Flood of Colour
Producer: Dan Weller and Enter Shikari
Label: Ambush Reality/Hopeless Records
Release Date: January 17, 2012

Headliners in the United Kingdom, its been a few years too long but the St. Albans foursome have finally spread the noise of Revolution! across North America. Back to back appearances on Vans Warped Tour (2010 & 2011), tours with Alesana (2009), Haste The Day (2010), A Day To Remember (2010), and most recently The Devil Wears Prada (2011). ENTER SHIKARI let loose the chains of their stifling contract with Interscope Records (Eminem, Lady GaGa) and signed a new U.S. record deal with indie label, Hopeless Records (Yellowcard, Silverstein) in June 2011.

The long-awaited 3rd full-length, A Flash Flood of Colour, is the inaugural North American debut. Enter Shikari's passion for a notable cause is what makes their music so attractive and this album worth repeat spins. A Flash Flood of Colour features a hybrid of hardcore rock and various sub-genres of electronica (dubstep, trance, drum & bass, jungle); instrumentally it could go for a video game soundtrack. It's erratic, energetic, lyrically inspiring, and obviously was fun to record, as heard in the random snippets of off-key talking in the background ("Arguing With Thermometers", "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi"). Welcome these British lads with a fanfare of praise for their newest release! Here's my narrative approach of a track by track review of A Flash Flood of Colour.

1. "System..." sets forth the thesis of this revolutionary piece of music; speaking against the instability and ineffectiveness of the political system. Our generation's gotta fight to survive!

2. "...Meltdown" is the beginning of the end where humanity marches forth in widespread rejection of paper thin legislation. Dubstep and Drum & Bass mesh well on this track, amping up the "cause" as a now or never emergency. Revolution is in the hands of the people... Fuck all borders and fuck all boundaries! Fuck all flags and fuck nationalities!

3. "Sssnakepit" is a raging rock anthem with Drum & Bass leading in and ushering the song to a close. Gang vocals instruct the masses to push back against oppression.

4. "Search Party" navigates the hunt for an alternative to the current political climate. History has been repeating itself to the detriment of the world's people.

5. "Arguing With Thermometers" is an aggressive electronica banger raging against the roadblocks of progress.

6. "Stalemate" documents the inhumanity of humanity and the atrocities of rabid global war (Afghanistan, Palestine) that disgracefully profit the obscenely wealthy. Previous wars made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's wars make trillionaires out of billionaires. Tomorrow's war will fuel generations of hate.

7. "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi", an all out verbal assault dropping profane bombs on the global economic system. Tracked to a video game-styled electronica rhythm, it reminds me of playing that final level in Tekken or Mortal Kombat; that intense build up seaming with anxiety. This is angst track goes ballistics lyrically and musically, toying with a number of vocal & sound effects. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think the primary purpose of your life, of my life and the entirety of the human race's is just to blindingly consume to support a failing economy and a faulty system.

8. "Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here" glides in with Rory Clewlow singing and the song proceeds going back and forth between verses with Rou Reynold's attacking chops and Clewlow's calm tone. The last minute and a half, there's a instrumental free-for-all highlighting guitars and Rob Rolfe on drums (3:00-3:47).

9. "Pack Of Thieves" explains the innate position of the mass proletariat, born into a faulty system, however with all of us being connected there is a hope for change. Don't be fooled into thinking that a small group of friends cannot change the world.

10. "Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide" gives a prophetic warning that empires always fall. It's a rambunctious freight train of spastic rock and synth culminating in the historical cycle of one world power's demise and another's rise.

11. "Constellations", a spoken word track, closing out with a final call of inspiration to ignite the flame of revolution. Forgiveness is our torch and imagination our sword.

Rating: 8/10

Notable Tracks: "...Meltdown", "Arguing With Thermometers", "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi", "Pack Of Thieves", "Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide"

Enter Shikari is:
Roughton "Rou" Reynolds — lead vocals, programming, keyboards
Liam "Rory" Clewlow — guitars, backing vocals
Chris Batten — bass, backing vocals
Rob Rolfe — drums, backing vocals