Enter Shikari return with album number two “Common Dreads” – an unusual blend of post hardcore, electro and Dub Step.

There is a lot to digest here. On my first listen I had to leave the room several times. The record is chaotic, not always a bad thing, but sometimes it’s all a bit too much to bare. Hence the leaving of the room thing.

Track one sets the scene for the record, urging fans to ‘unite through common dreads’, possessing the apocalyptic lyrics ‘And we must let the flood gates open’.

Track two, Solidarity, described by the band themselves as “a celebration of human will” continues to highlight the St.Albans based band’s miscellaneous music, this time sounding a bit like Slipknot. The Slipknot-esqueness is interrupted by a choir (yes, a choir – you read that right!) which ends the song.

What I didn’t expect are the political messages that are strewn throughout the album. Track four Juggernauts focuses on Consumerism – it’s about our wants and not our needs. One of the high points of the album.

No Sleep Tonight is about short term profit - only the chorus really grabs your attention though. 

Concluding track Fanfare for the Conscious Man’s controversial outbursts at the Queen, Blair and Brown, continue the album’s theme of ‘acting together’ against something. “We’ll be together against this, We’ll be forever against this” chant the band. 

Track six Zzzzonked is messy. Its psychedelic, heavy rock and ‘shouting’ combo is likely to make your head hurt, even more so than some of the other tracks.

 

When listening to the lyrics, some of Common Dreads’ tracks are fairly thought- provoking thanks to the bands’ political opinions. The Jester’s quirky and bouncy sounds are a refreshing break from the often disturbing shouting rage that singer Rou Reynolds mimics. His voice is actually very pleasant when he sings, stops shouting, and stops rapping like The Streets’ Mike Skinner. 

This won’t be to everyone’s taste. The unusual, overbearing mixture of genres doesn’t quite work for my delicate ears. Like Marmite, you’ll either love this or hate it. Hardcore Enter Shikari fans will no doubt go with it - whether they like marmite or not.    

Review By

Tina Koenig.