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Review
There was a lot to live up to with this disc, released through their own label Ambush Reality. Enter Shikari made it on to the NME's 'New Noise List' in 2007 and their debut album Take To The Skies reached number 4 in the UK charts, going gold in the process.
Luckily, this album doesn't disappoint - in fact it wows at every turn. The mashup of post hardcore and trance is weirdly, unexpectedly good for starters. And there's a huge variety of song, rhythm and lyric styles to enjoy.
What's even better is the positive, inspiring message the group seem to promote. Some songs incite political action (''you can destroy imbalance and change your values'') others are just ridiculously cheerful, with lyrics like, ''it's glorious outside''. It's a refreshing change from the all-too-dirgey ditch rock songs can often sit in.
Though Rou Reynolds' vocals can be screechy in places, the general vibe is great with good vocals, lyrics (''Sometimes I do wish apples were our currency / So your hoarded millions would rot in a vault'') and melodies throughout. Occasionally there are flashes of Linkin Park or The Prodigy, but mostly this is a sound all Enter Shikari's very own.
Highlights are fabulously catchy first single Juggernauts, swelling grower Wall, teenage anthem Hectic with its computer-game-esque melody and the unexpectedly twinkly and lovely Gap In The Fence. The album is packed with anthems too - The Jester is Blur's Parklife for the Noughties. And No Sleep Tonight is a hardcore reply to Faithless' Insomnia.
The only complaint with Common Dreads? It's so short and sweet that when the last bars of Fanfare For The Conscious Man trickle into the distance after less than an hour, you're left desperate for more. Expect the 13 emblems currently sitting in the band's online Fan Tattoo Gallery to swell immediately on release. --Sophie Bruce
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anthems From St Albans ( part II ),
By
This review is from: Common Dreads (Audio CD)
By any standard known to man Enter Shikari are a great little band.
I have already expressed my enthusiasm elsewhere in these venerable pages for their 2007 debut 'Take To The Skies'. A stunning first showing. They make a big, big sound but the unbridled energy is always tempered by a remarkably mature and refined musical sensibility. The fifteen tracks which comprise their new release 'Common Dreads' create a veritable powerhouse of crackling, ribald electricity. With 'Juggernauts' they strike a marvelous balance between stirring anthemic harmonies, naive but warm-hearted social commentary and convincingly calibrated hard-edged rock. This ability to bring potentially conflicting elements together and produce credible and hugely enjoyable soundscapes is a real gift. 'Wall' is another powerhouse track. Mr Rolfe's drums are, here and elsewhere on the album, the glue which keeps it all together. 'Zzzonked' delivers a small nod in Prodigy's direction with the cocky but affectionate knowledge that they are the new kids on this particular block. Fresh paint on an old facade. 'No Sleep Tonight', not unlike 'Jonny Sniper' on their previous release, has a killer chorus and a very fine vocal performance from Mr Reynolds. This lad really can belt out a good tune! 'Gap In The Fence' is as fine a song as we are likely to encounter for the rest of the year. It's all good. Nothing wasted. Nothing to throw to the dogs. Blissfully brilliant ! Essential.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not entering but fully through the door!,
By Self Styled Rocker (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Common Dreads (Audio CD)
In this album Shikari move beyond their first album by miles. The fronts they choose to build on include a greater use of Rou's voice, acoustic, spoken parts, signing, and also the scream/angry vocals. There is a greater focus here on crafting individual songs, they have their own vibe and fill out into the territory chosen for it, for example on Juggernauts there is good use of a different singing style, No sleep tonight focuses on a new musical direction with greater use of synths and programming, with Gap in the fence finally breaking the barrier from Post-Hardcore with Electronics to Enter Shikari stamping their own style on both of these genres and making it their own.
Overall this is not the scream-fest of the last album. Instead pure raw screaming is mixed with a more head smart use of lyrics, topics, vocal impact and overall musical technique. For example Rou's definition of harshness is not just limited to screaming, the electronic parts draw more widely on drum and bass etc and also sampling found in pure electronic music. This effort matches Genghis Tron's effort in its audacity and willingness to embrace all the ingredients and make an unexpected recipe! This is awesome and will no doubt see a greater abundance of glowsticks and moshing at their next gigs! See also Genghis Tron, Atari Teenage Riot, Mad Capsule Markets.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Common Dreads,
By
This review is from: Common Dreads (Audio CD)
once again Enter Shikari have managed to tell a stroy through a fast paced, ever changing album. a slight change in direction from take to the skies but a fantastic album none the less. highly reccomeneded
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